Sarah Storey has announced her immediate retirement from international competition, ending a career that saw her become Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian. The 48-year-old will not compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, opting instead to focus on helping improve Para-sport. Reflecting on her career, Storey said, “I am so privileged to have spent 35 years as an international athlete. I genuinely pinch myself that my childhood dream of being an athlete for as long as I possibly could has led to nine Paralympic Games and opportunities across so many sporting events. This has included women’s and Para sport alike, and I feel so proud to have contributed – alongside so many incredible people – to the progress we’ve all witnessed and enjoyed in that time.”
Explaining her decision, Storey said, “The years between each Games haven’t been utilised well enough to create the momentum that I and others hoped to see.” She added, “I see this as a critical stage; there are many areas of Para-sport that still need attention, and that is something that has played a big part in my decision. I fully believe that I can have a greater impact off my bike, rather than chasing a 10th Games and possibly further titles. I’m excited to be part of a future where we inject the momentum that is needed to ensure the future is bright for all Para-athletes.”
Who Is Sarah Storey? Inside the Childhood and Early Years of Britain’s Paralympic Icon
Sarah Storey, born Sarah Bailey in 1977 in Eccles, Manchester, is Great Britain’s most decorated Paralympian, winning 19 gold medals and 30 Paralympic medals during a career spanning more than three decades. Born with a congenital condition that left her left hand underdeveloped after restricted blood flow in the womb, Storey grew up in a supportive family that encouraged her to focus on her abilities rather than her disability. She enjoyed an active childhood, spending time outdoors and discovering a love for swimming at the age of four.
Her dream of becoming an elite athlete began when she watched British swimmer Sarah Hardcastle compete at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Storey developed her talent through her primary school’s swimming club before joining a competitive club at the age of 10, despite being told she had started too late to succeed. She made her Paralympic debut at just 14 and won two gold medals, but her success was followed by bullying at school. The experience affected her mental health, while later illnesses, including glandular fever and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, kept her away from training for several years before she returned with the support of her family and medical team.
Storey’s sporting career began in Para-swimming, where she won 16 Paralympic medals across four Games between 1992 and 2004. A chronic ear infection forced her to step away from the pool in 2005, prompting her to take up cycling as part of her rehabilitation. Training at the Manchester Velodrome, she quickly adapted to the sport and broke the Para-cycling 3km individual pursuit world record within a year, beginning a second Paralympic career.
How Sarah Storey Became Great Britain’s Most Decorated Paralympian
Sarah Storey ended her career as Great Britain’s most successful Paralympian, winning 19 gold medals and 30 Paralympic medals across nine Games from Barcelona 1992 to Paris 2024. She won five gold, eight silver and three bronze medals in Para-swimming before switching to Para-cycling, where she added 14 Paralympic gold medals. Storey also won 29 world titles—23 in cycling and six in swimming—21 European titles and held more than 75 world records during her career.
Storey also competed in able-bodied cycling, becoming only the second para-athlete to represent England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, where she finished sixth in the individual pursuit. She was part of Great Britain’s able-bodied track cycling programme and won multiple gold medals at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup. In recognition of her achievements, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2019 and received the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award in 2008.
What Happened to Sarah Storey? Understanding the Disability She Was Born With
Sarah Storey was born with a congenital disability that left her left hand underdeveloped after her arm became entangled in the umbilical cord in the womb, restricting blood flow and affecting its development before birth. The upper-limb impairment made her eligible to compete in Para-sport under classification rules, including the C5 category in Para-cycling.
Sarah Storey Net Worth Explained: Career Earnings and Achievements
Sarah Storey is estimated to have a net worth ranging between £722,000 and £3 million (approximately $1 million to $3.8 million). Unlike athletes in many mainstream professional sports, her earnings have not primarily come from prize money, as Paralympic competitions generally offer limited financial rewards.
Instead, Storey has built her wealth over a 35-year career through multiple income sources, including elite athlete funding from UK Sport’s National Lottery programme, sponsorship deals with cycling, automotive and financial brands, paid speaking engagements, media work and ambassador roles. She has also held public positions, including serving as the Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester, which has contributed to her overall earnings.
