No Triumph, No Tragedy: Sophie Christiansen
In this programme Peter meets Sophie Christiansen, who became a triple gold Paralympic medallist at the London 2012 Games and talks about her cerebral palsy how she is using her fame to help challenge attitudes around disability:
“We should use the Games as a platform to speak about disability as the public love the Paralympics and sport but don’t always understand what life as a disabled person can be like. Whenever anyone tells me I’m doing a good job at that, it means I’m doing the right thing.”
Sophie was introduced to horse riding on a school trip when she was just six years old – eventually discovering a love of speed riding which frequently saw her Dad running alongside her ready to catch her should she fall. Her first major international competition came ten years later – the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, where, riding Hotstuff, she won an individual bronze medal. That same year, she was also voted BBC London Disabled Athlete of the Year.
Sophie was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list for services to disabled sport and an OBE in the 2012 New Year Honours list.As well as becoming a triple gold Paralympic medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, 2012 also saw Sophie achieve her Masters degree in Maths from Royal Holloway University
Peter White explores her motivation, experiences and even her love life as the two chat about life after the Paralympics and the impact the Games have had.
Same Difference 
Their are those in these sceptre isles who are born with physical & neurological disabilities . Then their are those of us who for numerous reasons are inflicted in our lifetime with a physical and/or neurological disability . Frankly, I have often wondered if many within the disability (movement) understands what the meaning of being a disabled person really means. Obviously this Parliament & it’s do not. Sadly many disabled people seem to allow the non disabled people to make such choices & decisions for them. I trust & hope that I may have moved you a little way forward as to the meaning and understanding of a person (living ) with a disability. Hopefully we (you & I) can move together against this cess pit of politics to make some progress forward. If not then you can press the switch button & I shall willingly enter the chamber of the afterlife with a sigh !
Just remember their are those of us (other human beings) with learning difficulties and downs syndrome before you decide to press which or whose button . I suspect that you are a little more fortunate & blest than they are?
Martin WWW
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