From the age of 10, I knew what I wanted: to compete in the Olympics. That dream fuelled every decision I made, every hour of training, and every sacrifice. By 13, I had achieved what seemed impossible—I became the youngest member of Team GB. At 15, I reached another incredible milestone, becoming the youngest athlete to ever win a World Championship title. My Olympic dream was in sight, and nothing could stop me—until everything changed.

At just 16, my life was turned upside down by a catastrophic brain injury. This injury was devastating, leading to a coma and a grueling 12-month hospital stay. During that time, I had to relearn everything—how to talk, eat, and even move. Every day was a battle, but I clung to my Olympic dream as my guiding light.

Just days after finally returning home, I was back in my boat, even before I could walk again. There was no stopping me. Less than a year after leaving the hospital, I achieved what many thought was impossible: I won two silver medals at the World Championships and set a GB record. I had fought tooth and nail to get my life back and was once again on track for the Olympics.

But at 19, disaster struck again. While kayaking, I suffered a near-fatal accident that left me with life-threatening injuries. Doctors gave me slim chances of survival, but I pulled through. However, the accident left me paralysed from the chest down, and I found myself having to relearn everything I had fought so hard to regain just a few years earlier.

Despite the immense physical and mental toll, I held onto my dream of being back on the start line. However, the challenges continued to mount. I began to struggle mentally, grappling with the reality of my paralysis and the enormity of my situation. It was during this dark period that I discovered para rowing, which became my lifeline. It gave me a new sense of purpose and a way to channel my relentless drive.

Within months of returning home, I joined the GB para rowing pathway, and the Paralympics became my new goal. But fate dealt another cruel blow. Just four months after getting back on track, I suffered a spinal stroke. Out of the blue, I was left paralysed from the neck down. The stroke left me unable to move or feel below my neck. I was once again facing a long, uncertain road to recovery.

Then came the diagnosis: MELAS, a rare and complex mitochondrial disorder. This progressive disease we never knew I had, I was relieved to finally have a name for the battle I was facing, but then came the word “terminal’. The doctors told me I would never return home, let alone compete again. It is a moment I will never forget. But it lit this fire inside of me, I was ready to fight. This was not going to be the end of my story.

I refused to let go of hope. Even as my body continued to deteriorate, I fought back. I spent months in hospital battling many complications and setbacks. It was the scariest period of my life, but it was also the moment I realised the depth of my inner strength and the power of hope. Eight months later, I defied the odds once again and came home.

Back at home, I was reunited with my happy place—the water. I returned to para rowing, slowly regaining movement in my arms. I went from being paralysed from the neck down to back on the start line, less than a year after coming home. I won the British Championships and set a new GB record. I am now back on the GB para rowing pathway, with my sights set firmly on the Paralympics.

Though I live with a terminal diagnosis, it will never define me. I will never stop fighting. I have defied the odds before, and I am not stopping now. Adventure has always been a big part of my life, and I have found new ways to keep that spirit alive. I have hand-cycled around North Wales, kayaked the Great Glen Canoe Trail, and next year, I will be part of a record-breaking adaptive expedition. I continue to achieve the impossible, now back on two feet and taking steps, my story is far from over, this is just the beginning.

I have learned that anything is possible. My journey has been filled with unimaginable challenges, but each one has shown me the strength and resilience that lie within. No matter what life throws at me, I will keep pushing forward, proving that the only limits that exist are the ones we place on ourselves. My story is far from over, and I am determined to make every chapter count.