Paralympic hero Ellie Simmonds shares tale of eye-opening gap year

The 22-year-old five-time Paralympic swimming champion from Aldridge, Walsall, has travelled to America, China, Mexico, South Africa, Vietnam, Thailand and Australia over the last 12 months, leaving behind her daily training routine to explore new horizons.

Documenting her journey, Ellie has spoken of how visiting countries in her own time, rather than as a Team GB ambassador, gave her 'huge confidence' and how the experience has led her to consider taking up teaching when she retires.

Ellie said: "Through swimming, I get to go to loads of amazing places, but I normally see the hotel, the airport and the swimming pool.

"Maybe I’ll get one day afterwards, so I can cram things in – but normally there’s a night out after a games, so most people are a bit hungover.

"Just over a year ago, right after the Rio Paralympics, I packed my bag for a different type of trip.

"I wanted to get away, to be a normal 21-year-old and wake up and think: “What shall I do today?”

"I’m so often visiting places as an ambassador for Paralympics GB, and I’m really proud of that.

"But I didn’t feel like I was representing anyone when I was away; I was just Ellie, not Ellie the swimmer, and, to my surprise, that gave me huge confidence."

Ellie's travel activities included people watching in San Francisco, snorkeling in Shanghai, taking yoga lessons in Mexico and playing football for Britain at the World Dwarf Games in Australia.

The former Aldridge School pupil also spoke of how people from different countries approached her differently due to her achondroplasia.

Detailing an experience in China, she said: "I spent more time alone this year than I ever have before, which can be isolating but can also help you to realise how friendly the world is, as I found in Sydney and also in Bangkok where a man helped me across the road.

"I was standing on a street corner and he decided that I needed help to cross the street.

"Of course, I didn’t: I have achondroplasia, a common cause of dwarfism, but I’m perfectly able to get about on my own.

"Still, he was trying to be kind, and I thought it was really sweet.

"He didn’t talk to me – I don’t think he could speak English – but I said thank you, and he smiled.

"While I may have shed my swimming mantle as I travelled around, I’m always a dwarf.

"China was the worst in terms of people staring at me; disabled people in China are still perceived as second-class."

Ellie is now back to training ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics but said the trip had opened her eyes as to where her long term future lies.

She said: "Once I retire, I’d love to go to university and become a primary schoolteacher – I especially like Year 3 and Year 4.

"I’d like to guide children in accepting who they are, to be comfortable and not try to change themselves."