Triple Paralympian, The First Woman To Win a Paralympic Gold in the History of Wheelchair Rugby & Harlequins Foundation Ambassador
Kylie Grimes’ Biography:
Kylie Grimes MBE is a triple Paralympian who has represented Great Britain across both athletics and wheelchair rugby at the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Best known for being part of the gold medal-winning ParalympicsGB wheelchair rugby team at Tokyo 2020, Kylie made history as the first woman ever to win a Paralympic gold medal in wheelchair rugby. As part of the squad, she also helped Great Britain become the first European team to win a Paralympic medal in the sport. Drawing upon her experiences overcoming a life-changing spinal injury, Kylie is hired to speak on resilience, determination, teamwork and adapting to adversity under pressure.
Early in her sporting journey, Kylie played for the London Wheelchair Rugby Club before joining the Great Britain squad in 2011. She qualified for her first Paralympic Games at London 2012, where the team secured a fifth-place finish. In 2015, Kylie transitioned into athletics and competed at the World Championships in Doha before representing ParalympicsGB in the F51 club throw at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish. She later returned to wheelchair rugby and rejoined the national programme ahead of Tokyo 2020.
Kylie’s achievements have been recognised both within and beyond sport. In 2019, she helped Great Britain secure gold at the European Championships in Denmark before achieving Paralympic glory in Tokyo. In recognition of her contribution to wheelchair rugby, Kylie was awarded an MBE in 2022. She also became an Ambassador for the Harlequins Foundation, using her platform to encourage greater inclusivity and participation in sport.
Today, Kylie is an experienced motivational speaker who regularly delivers keynote talks for corporate organisations, schools and sports clubs. Her engaging presentations combine honesty, humour and powerful life lessons from elite sport. Whether discussing teamwork, leadership, resilience or overcoming setbacks, Kylie leaves audiences inspired by her remarkable journey from injury to Paralympic champion.
Why Hire Kylie Grimes?
Kylie Grimes MBE is hired as a speaker for her extraordinary story of resilience, adaptability and historic sporting success. As the first woman to win Paralympic gold in wheelchair rugby, she offers unique insight into breaking barriers, performing under pressure and thriving within elite teams. Kylie’s experience across multiple Paralympic sports allows her to connect with a wide variety of audiences, from businesses and leadership teams to schools and sporting organisations. Her motivational talks are authentic, empowering and filled with practical lessons on perseverance, mindset and overcoming adversity to achieve ambitious goals.
Kylie Grimes’ Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Kylie Grimes’ remarkable career:
- 2025 – Delivered a keynote speech on her journey to Paralympic success for Sevenoaks Rugby Club.
- 2025 – Appeared as a guest speaker at Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby Club.
- 2022 – Awarded an MBE for services to wheelchair rugby following her Paralympic success.
- 2022 – Became an Ambassador for the Harlequins Foundation, promoting inclusion and participation in sport.
- 2020 – Helped Great Britain become the first European wheelchair rugby team to win a Paralympic medal.
- 2020 – Became the first woman in history to win Paralympic gold in wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
- 2019 – Won gold at the European Championships with the British wheelchair rugby team in Denmark.
- 2016 – Competed in the F51 club throw at the Rio Paralympic Games, finishing fourth overall.
Videos
Kylie Grimes’ Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Kylie Grimes was an amazing asset to the Farnham Falcons women’s rugby team pre-match prep. Giving up her valuable and limited time to be with us during an exceptionally busy schedule was greatly appreciated. Her talk about how sport and teamwork have had such a positive impact on her life inspired us as a team to go out with a positive mental attitude. Some sneaky tips and code words to help players process and relax on the pitch was something the team found really helpful. Kylie is an inspiration to sport. She promotes every element of teamwork and is an honorary member of the Falcon Family.” – Farnham Falcons, Women’s Rugby Team
“Kylie gave an incredible speech to our EMEA team to mark one year of working from home. Her story was profoundly moving, inspiring and motivating. It is impossible to listen to Kylie and not gain a new perspective on the power of positive thinking. She spoke bravely and openly about the challenges she faced in her life- and how she has worked with determination to overcome them. She gave us some powerful and thought provoking insights, as well as tools and techniques to stay motivated. It was an absolute pleasure to spend an hour in her company.” – Helen Bennett, Managing Director, Weber Shandwick
“We were lucky enough to have Kylie come in to visit our Year 5 children during our ‘Being Different’ Week. She talked to them about sport and disability and what you can achieve if you really work hard for it. The children thoroughly enjoyed listening to Kylie and were very enthusiastic in asking her lots of questions especially about the Paralympics. Thank you Kylie.” – Karen Trafford, Deputy Head, St Polycarp’s Catholic Primary School
“I just had to drop you a line to let you know how utterly blown away I and everyone else was. What an incredible story you have to tell. Kylie very kindly took the time to talk to myself and my team mates on a zoom call. You really did engage everyone so well and there were tears and laughs across the screen. I think we felt like we were living those moments with you as you spoke. So thank you very much for sharing. A true inspiration and in these trying times it was a wonderful boost to hear you speak of your limitless motivation.” – Louise Nelson, FutureBrand
“Kylie is a fantastic and inspirational speaker. She spoke honestly and openly about her experiences as an athlete, providing RFU staff with both valuable insights and a greater awareness of what they can be doing to make rugby more inclusive and accessible.” – Jatin Patel, FU Inclusivity in Action, Pitch
“Kylie Grimes visited William Cobbett Primary School and led a lovely assembly, which was very child centred, on what she has achieved as an athlete in terms of her sporting career and her training regime, as well as her hopes and aspirations for the future. She interacted well with the children, demonstrating some of her equipment and explaining her sport well. It was a pleasure to have her visit the school and we will warmly welcome her once more once she has competed at the next Paralympics in Japan.” – William Cobbett Primary School
Speaking Topics
Kylie Grimes’ Official Keynote Topics:
- Resilience
- Adversity
- Motivation
- Women in Sport
How Much Does Kylie Grimes Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Kylie Grimes?
Kylie Grimes’ speaking fees typically reflect his exceptional career and international demand. Engagements vary depending on location, format, and duration; keynote appearances, conferences, and international events may command higher fees due to travel and preparation requirements.