Sophie Christiansen is an eight-time gold medal Paralympian, whose competitive career in dressage spanned 20 years before she retired in 2024. She continues to be a 5 News Disability Reporter, a post that she has held since 2021. But that isn’t all, for Sophie isn’t just athlete; she holds a first class master’s degree in mathematics from Royal Holloway, University of London, and has been a software developer at an investment bank since 2014. As a speaker, Sophie uses her lived experiences to cover topics such as overcoming adversity, disability awareness, and leadership and teamwork.
When Sophie was born, she was two months premature with cerebral palsy and she suffered health problems including jaundice, blood poisoning, a heart attack, and a collapsed lung. When she was six, she began physiotherapy in the form of horse riding at her local Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) group. By 16, she made her debut at the Athens 2004 Paralympics – being the youngest British athlete – and she was pleasantly surprised to come away with a bronze medal. Shortly after, Sophie was named BBC London Disabled Athlete of the Year. When the Beijing 2008 Games came around, Sophie won the grade la freestyle gold, as well as a silver in the individual test. Then, at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, she won golds across the board.
Straight after her Rio success, Sophie was shortlisted as fifth out of 16 household names for BBC’s Sport Personality of the Year, being the highest placed female and para-athlete that year. In addition to her Paralympics success, Sophie was victorious at both World and European Championships from 2005 until 2015, winning 13 golds, 3 silvers, and 1 bronze. In recognition of her successful career, Sophie was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to disabled sport in 2009, Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to equestrianism in 2013, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to para-equestrianism in 2017. In 2024, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Variety Disability Sports Awards.
Sophie retired from competitive dressage with 30 senior championship medals in total. Now, she continues to use her platform to speak up about the realities of living with a disability, tirelessly advocating for equality. A truly distinguished and inspiring figure in the world of sport, you won’t want to miss having Sophie Christiansen as a speaker at your event.
How to hire Sophie Christiansen
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Sophie Christiansen for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Sophie Christiansen's official speaker topics are listed below:
- Disability awareness
- Diversity & inclusion
- Overcoming adversity
- Leadership & teamwork
- High performance
"Sophie spoke at the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) conference and was enormously well received by our delegates. To an audience of industry leaders, Sophie openly shared her story of amazing Paralympic success along with her challenge to find a job worthy of her first-class degree in Maths. Sophie shared the hurdles she encountered along the way to securing a job and the support she receives in her current role. Sophie really captured the theme of the conference and inspired many of our delegates to address their disability employment practices." - Kate, Chair of the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative
"Sophie spoke at our school awards evening and I couldn't recommend her more highly. Somehow Sophie managed to be thought-provoking, touching and funny all in the space of one talk. Sophie was happy to answer questions from the audience, proving to be quick-witted and eloquent. Everyone at St Philip Howard School loved her! Thank you, Sophie, for being such an inspiration to us all." - David, Head Teacher, St. Philip Howard School
- 2024 – Retired from competitive para-dressage after a 20-year career, during which she amassed 30 senior championship medals
- 2024 – Received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Variety Disability Sports Awards
- 2021 – 5 News Disability Reporter
- 2017 – Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to para-equestrianism
- 2016 – Placed fifth in BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year – the highest place female athlete
- 2016 – Rio Olympic Games – Achieved a hat-trick of three gold medals in Individual Championship Test Grade Ia; Individual Freestyle Test Grade Ia; and Team Test
- 2014 – Became Software Engineer
- 2013 – Promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to equestrianism
- 2012 – Honorary Fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London
- 2012 – Honorary Life Vice President at Riding for the Disabled
- 2012 – London Olympic Games – Repeated her hat-trick success, winning three gold medals in the same categories
- 2009 – Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to disabled sport
- 2008 – The first para rider to ever be award Raymond Brooks Ward Trophy for Most Outstanding Young Rider
- 2008 – Beijing Olympic Games – Won two gold medals (Individual Freestyle and Team Test) and one silver (Individual Championship Test)
- 2004 – BBC London Disabled Athlete of the Year
- 2004 – Athens Olympic Games – Made her Paralympic debut at age 16, securing a bronze medal in the Individual Championship Grade I event
- World and European Championships:
- 2015 European Championships: Won three gold medals
- 2014 World Equestrian Games: Achieved two gold medals and one silver
- 2013 European Championships: Secured three gold medals
- 2010 World Equestrian Games: Won two gold medals and one silver
- 2009 European Championships: Claimed two gold medals and one silver
- 2007 World Championships: Earned one gold and one bronze medal
- 2005 European Championships: Achieved three gold medals
- Holds a Master’s degree in Mathematics from Royal Holloway, University of London
- Passionate disability rights advocate, actively working to improve accessibility and inclusivity
