Tanni Grey-Thompson Quotes

Tanni Grey-Thompson

Profession : Entertainer

Birth : July 26, 1969

I've had years of people talking about the 'real,' 'normal' or 'proper' Games when they meant the Olympics, and 'the other Olympics' when they really meant the Paralympics.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

My father was an architect and I grew up knowing more about planning regulations and the constraints of old buildings than most children.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

Legacy means so many things: accessible venues, transport, better awareness in schools, and a wonderful event which establishes healthy lives for another generation of disabled people. From that base, elite sport can emerge.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

I've lost track of the amount of time I've been spoken down to, literally patted on the head.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

Women on social media get a really hard time.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

There is something about social media which is quite sexist, misogynistic.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

As a wheelchair user and a frequent traveller, of course I have my own collection of horror stories.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

Over the years, the Government has made several pledges to put accessibility at the forefront of the travel agenda - but nothing seems to change.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

Wheelchairs get lost or damaged during transit because some staff don't always understand how important the equipment is, or the cost of it. And even if it is brought to the gate promptly after landing, there may not be enough trained staff to help get you into it.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

My parents named me Carys but when my elder sister, Sian, tried to say 'tiny' it came out as Tanni and the nickname stuck.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

Down the years, people told me I'd never have a job, never do this or that and I just ignored them.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

What the country, what the media wants to see is medals.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

I mean, I hope I intimidate the others on the track. I'm the only one who does a warm-up lap. I heard the other athletes didn't like it, they felt threatened by it. So I kept doing it. On the day of competition I don't talk to anyone I compete against either. I'm there to win races, not to be friends with people.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

I'm not sure the public is always able to differentiate between someone who's terminally ill and someone who's disabled.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

I'm fairly frequently told 'It must be horrible being like you.'

Tanni Grey-Thompson

People come up to me and say 'I wouldn't want to live if I was like you.' And I say 'Actually, my life's pretty good.'

Tanni Grey-Thompson

I am affected by my own personal experience.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

People should have goals, and that doesn't have to be Paralympic goals or even high-profile stuff because actually most people don't want to do stuff like that. Most people's goals are about getting a different job or a better job or doing something with the kids.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

The real problem is just not having any goals, or setting them too low.

Tanni Grey-Thompson

The special Olympics is about providing competition and recreational opportunities within a programme. And it's not so much about winning or losing. The Paralympics is about winning and nothing else.

Tanni Grey-Thompson