Lauren Steadman: Background, career highlights, quotes

A three-time world champion and seven-time European champion, Lauren Steadman has achieved much in the world of paratri. Her crowning glory, though, came in Tokyo 2021 when she added Paralympic gold to that sizeable medal collection.

Who is Lauren Steadman?

Put simply, Lauren Steadman is simply the most decorated paratriathlete in history. Like her great ‘frenemy’ Claire Cashmore, she is an alumni of Kelly College, that sporting powerhouse in Devon, who initially competed exclusively in swimming before taking up the multisport baton.

Born without a right forearm, Steadman made an instant mark on her new sport; within a year of heading away from the pool, she was already a paratri European champion, a title she has now won seven times.

There were also three world titles during that time, the last on the Gold Coast in 2018. But her biggest triumph was winning Paralympic gold in Tokyo in August 2021, a particular sweet moment after a mistake in the race at Rio 2016 cost her a likely gold medal. Those demons have been exorcised.

A household name thanks to her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, this psychology graduate (who also holds a Masters in business and management) is the highest-profile ambassador for paratri – and one whose trophy cabinet is second to none.

How old is Lauren Steadman?

Lauren Steadman was born on 18 December 1992, making her 31 years old.

Lauren Steadman’s career highlights

August 2011: Runner-up at the worlds suggests new career path

At just 18, Steadman more than hints at a possible future in triathlon when she takes silver in the TRI-4 category at the ITU world championships in London, losing to fellow Brit Faye Mcclelland. For now, though, there’s the small matter of appearing in the pool in Steadman’s second Paralympic Games the following year, also in the capital.

June 2013: Steadman becomes the paratri queen of Europe

Now strictly a paratriathlete, Steadman takes the first of many European titles when she wins the TRI-4 category in Alanya in Turkey. Twelve months later, she wins her second European title, this time in the PT4 category in Kitzbühel.

August 2014: Steadman sits on top of the world

To go alongside the European title she won two months earlier, Steadman is victorious in the world championships in Edmonton. It’s a British-only podium, with Mcclelland taking silver and Clare Cunningham the bronze.

September 2015: A second world title is earned in the Windy City

Steadman retains her world champion status with victory on the streets of Chicago.

September 2016: A Paralympic runners-up spot is no silver lining

Despite failing to finish in the world championships two months earlier, Steadman – by now a four-time European champion – goes into the Rio Paralympics as favourite for the women’s PT4 gold. But a mistake on the swim leg hands the victory to the American Grace Norman, with Steadman “devastated” by only bagging silver. She will lose to Norman again in the world championships the following year.

July 2018: Sixth successive European crown

European championship gold comes Steadman’s way for the sixth consecutive time with victory in the PTS5 category in Tartu in Estonia. Here she holds off the challenge of fellow Brit Claire Cashmore, an old friend from schooldays who will be a huge rival over the next few seasons.

September 2018: A hat-trick of world crowns

Steadman secures her third world championship with a victory on Australia’s Gold Coast, once again holding off the challenge of silver-medallist Cashmore.

September 2019: A magnificent seven

Valencia is the crucible for Steadman’s seventh – and most recent – European title, making her undeniably the most successful female paratriathlete in history. But one title still eludes her…

August 2021: Five years on, Paralympic gold is finally hers

This is the one that counts. After the chronic disappointment of Rio five years earlier, redemption for Steadman comes with a gold-medal performance at the Tokyo Paralympics, finishing ahead of her two great rivals, Norman and Cashmore.

October 2023: Five races, five podiums

After a two-year break from the sport, Steadman returns to racing in June 2023, at Besançon, where she takes silver behind old nemesis, and friend, Grace Norman. It’s a repeat in Montreal in July, two bronzes in Swansea and at the Worlds in Pontevedra (both behind Norman and Cashmore), before she ends the year with gold at Para Cup Malaga.

September 2024: Bronze in Paris

Still suffering from long Covid at the end of July, Steadman’s third place in Paris is as good as a triumph.

Lauren Steadman quotes

On winning silver at the 2016 Paralympics, having gone into the race as favourite: “I was devastated after Rio. I was really destroyed. I didn’t go anywhere near my bike, my shoes or my swimsuit for seven months.”

On becoming Paralympic champion at in Tokyo in 2021: “I knew the pressure was there, but because Rio was a terrible experience, I was determined to just enjoy this, regardless of whether I got a medal or not.”

On her friendly rivalry with Claire Cashmore: “Claire became kind of like the big sister when I was at boarding school. Outside of racing, we’re friends. We do a lot together. But as soon as the gun goes, we’ve got to race, we’ve got to put our racer hats on and deliver what we need to do for ourselves.”

What’s next for Lauren Steadman?

Perhaps a shot at a fourth world title?