A biography for Ellie Simmondshasn’t been written yet.
“Growing up, most of our family holidays were staycations in the U.K.”
“It's really exciting to get the Paralympic sport out there and inspire the next generation - I remember watching the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games that inspired me to want to got to a Paralympic Games.”
“My plan of going to Tokyo has gone out of the window, but I was able to spend three to four months with my family and I've never been able to do that before.”
“Sometimes I'll get reminded that I promote Paralympic sport and Paralympics GB. Yes, I have a role but I don't feel like an idol.”
“After watching the Athens Paralympics in 2004, I looked at the swimmers and thought, that's cool. I want to do that.”
“I can't do the whole going-out-all-night thing. I can't even stay up until 10 P. M., I just fall asleep. My friends know that we have to meet at an earlier time.”
“I've always been competitive and determined. It's part of my personality.”
“As an older woman now, I feel the pressure more, I feel all those different aspects, I'm more aware of that. Whereas as a 13-year-old, as a 17-year-old, you just do swimming, you're just doing it as sport where you don't really think of all the outside bits.”
“My philosophy is that there is no point in being sad or hating who you are.”
“I feel really honoured to be in the Walk of Fame in Birmingham with so many great people already like Ozzy Osbourne.”
“I don't watch my Rio races back. I'll look at my London 2012 races a lot. But not Rio.”
“It drives me forward knowing people are watching me and I have to swim well.”
“It's important to give kids a variety of sports. Everyone is an individual, everyone is different but there is a sport out there for everyone.”
“My mum took me to swimming lessons when I was very young, four years old.”
“I've always been focused.”
“Coming into London having the experience of Beijing is really good.”
“I made my first World Championships team at 12.”
“I spoke to my parents and my agent a year before Rio. I was like: 'I don't want to do this. I want to get away.' They said: 'Just grit your teeth for a year. Then you can have your break. And if you want to retire, you can retire then.' I was in tears. I just hated it.”