Ellie Challis
Ellie Challis may still be young, but she has already broken swimming records, stood on the Paralympic podium, and won a plethora of gold, silver and bronze medals.
As well as the Paralympics, Ellie has competed at the IPC World Championships and the British Para-Swimming International Meet, taking home an impressive 20+ medals over the years.
In early 2024, Ellie made her European championships debut, adding another major international gold medal to her collection with a win in the women’s 50m backstroke.
Her inspirational story, filled with courage and resilience, has made Ellie a popular sports speaker, using her position to raise awareness, inspire others with disabilities and inform on the prevention of meningitis.
Contact Great British Speakers today to book Paralympic swimmer Ellie Challis for your next event.
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More About Ellie Challis
When Ellie Challis was just 16 months old, she contracted meningitis and was declared dead for two minutes. She pulled through, but the virus had spread, and she had to have her arms below the elbows and legs below the knees amputated.
Growing up, she was obsessed with the story of a dolphin who learned to swim again after being fitted with a prosthetic fin. This inspired her to become a swimmer, and she broke onto the swimming scene in 2017, aged 13/14, with a 50-metre breaststroke that broke the 15-year-old GB record. Two years later, she won her first medal at the World Para Swimming Championships.
Ellie Challis | Paralympics and Beyond
Her first Paralympics appearance was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2021 she was named the youngest member of the GB team and went on to win the silver medal in the 50-metre backstroke.
Most recently in 2024, Ellie returned from the Europeans in Portugal with gold in the 50m backstroke and two silvers in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.
Ellie competed at the 2024 Paris games at just 20 years old, finishing 4th in the Women’s 100m freestyle, and winning a Gold Medal in the 50m backstroke.
Ellie Challis | Meningitis Research Foundation
Ellie took part in the creation of the Meningitis Flat with two other paralympic athletes for the world’s leading meningitis charity – the Meningitis Research Foundation and Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO), working with Sanofi.
Even at a young age Ellie was happy to take part in charity work, supporting and helping others. At age 5, Ellie and her family became ambassadors for the Meningitis Trust, and she started to visiting other children to help them come to terms with losing limbs.
Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Paralympic Swimmer Ellie Challis for your corporate event.
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