Alice Tai MBE

Alice Tai is a multi-medal-winning Paralympic swimmer who won gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. She is celebrated for her achievements in the pool and her inspiring journey to success.

Having started swimming in a local club at the age of 8, by 13 she had secured a place on the British Para-Swimming team, marking the beginning of an illustrious career.

The pinnacle of Tai’s career then came at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. At just 17 years old, she won a gold medal in the 4x100m medley relay and a bronze in the 100m backstroke S10

Alongside her Olympic medals, she has also won over 20 other medals across the World and European Championships and Commonwealth Games. She has competed in several disciplines, including the 4x100m medley and freestyle, the 100m backstroke, butterfly and freestyle, the 50m freestyle, and the 400m freestyle.

Along with six world records, Alice is one of Team GB’s most successful Paralympic swimmers.

In 2023, Alice was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary, Amputating Alice, a poignant and inspiring documentary that followed her life and journey, particularly her decision to undergo a life-changing surgery to amputate her right leg below the knee.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book Paralympic Swimmer Alice Tai for your next event.

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More About Alice Tai MBE

Alice Tai was born with bilateral talipes, more commonly known as clubfoot, which meant both of her feet were turned inwards and downwards. By the time she reached her teenage years, Alice had endured 14 corrective surgeries and was often in a wheelchair.

She never let her condition hold her back, joining her local swimming club when she was just eight years old. Realising she would qualify as a disabled swimmer, she began competing in events when she was 11.

She debuted at the 2012 British International Disability Swimming Championships, winning silver in the final of the 400m freestyle. The following year, she progressed into senior competitions, swimming at the British International Swimming Championships. She burst onto the global stage when she was 15, winning three medals – including a gold – at the European Championships. This would be the start of her successful medal-winning run.

She made her Paralympics debut at the 2016 Rio Games, winning a gold in the 4x100m medley and a bronze in the 100m backstroke. She missed the 2020 Tokyo Games due to injury, instead appearing as a pundit for Channel 4’s coverage.

Tai’s success continued at the 2018 World Para Swimming European Championships in Dublin, where she won a staggering seven gold medals, dominating the competition and showcasing her versatility across multiple events. This feat earned her the prestigious title of Best Female Athlete of the Championships, further cementing her legacy in the sport.

In 2019, she added to her impressive medal haul at the World Para Swimming Championships in London, where she won six gold medals. Her remarkable performances contributed significantly to Great Britain’s overall success at the championships.

Alice competed at the 2024 Paris Games, coming home with a Bronze Medal in the 200m individual medley, Bronze in the 100m butterfly, a Silver Medal in the 400m freestyle, and a Gold in the 100m backstroke.

Alice Tai | Journey of Challenges

Alice’s journey has not been without its challenges. In early 2022, she made the difficult decision to have her right leg amputated below the knee due to ongoing complications and pain from her previous surgeries. This life-changing decision was made to improve her quality of life and allow her to continue competing at the highest level.

Alice made an extraordinary comeback just months after the surgery, winning a further gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.

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Alice Tai | Achievements and Accolades

Alice’s achievements in the sport have seen her awarded various accolades. In 2017, she was appointed an MBE for her services to swimming, and was awarded the Youth Sport Trust Young Sports Person of the Year at the Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards.

Then in 2019, she was named The Sunday Times’ Disability Sports Woman of the Year, the Best Achievement in Para Sport at the 2019 Sports Journalist Awards, and became the first para-athlete to be named British Swimming’s Athlete of the Year. The same year, she was nominated for the Laureus Sports Award in the disability category.