Triple Paralympian, World Champion, The First Woman To Win a Paralympic Gold in the History of Wheelchair Rugby & Harlequins Foundation Ambassador
Kylie Grimes MBE is a triple Paralympian and one of Britain’s most inspirational wheelchair rugby players, having represented Great Britain at the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Competing across both wheelchair rugby and athletics, Kylie has built a remarkable reputation for resilience, adaptability and elite performance under pressure. She made sporting history as the first woman ever to win a Paralympic gold medal in wheelchair rugby, helping Great Britain secure victory at the Tokyo Paralympics. As part of the historic squad, she also contributed to the first European wheelchair rugby team ever to win a Paralympic medal, cementing her legacy as a pioneering figure in British sport.
Following a devastating spinal injury earlier in life, Kylie rebuilt her future through competitive sport. She initially played for the London Wheelchair Rugby Club before joining the Great Britain setup in 2011. Shortly afterwards, she qualified for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where the team finished fifth overall. In 2015, Kylie switched disciplines to athletics, competing in the World Championships in Doha before representing ParalympicsGB in the F51 club throw at the Rio 2016 Paralymic Games, where she achieved an impressive fourth-place finish. She continued in athletics through the 2017 London World Championships before returning to wheelchair rugby. In 2019, Kylie helped Great Britain claim gold at the European Championships in Denmark, laying the foundations for Paralympic success in Tokyo. Alongside her sporting career, she also serves as an Ambassador for the Harlequins Foundation.
Kylie’s achievements have earned widespread recognition throughout British sport. In 2022, she was awarded an MBE for services to wheelchair rugby following her groundbreaking contribution to the ParalympicsGB programme. Her success across multiple sports highlights not only her athletic versatility but also her determination to challenge barriers and redefine expectations within disability sport.
Today, Kylie is a highly regarded motivational speaker who regularly appears at corporate events, leadership conferences, schools and sporting organisations. In 2025 alone, she delivered talks for Bere Clinic School, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, Lifeways Group and Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby Club. Kylie delivers empowering presentations that resonate with audiences seeking inspiration, resilience and practical lessons in high performance.
Why Hire Kylie Grimes?
Kylie Grimes MBE is hired as a speaker for her ability to inspire audiences with a story of resilience, determination and historic achievement. Having competed across two Paralympic sports and broken barriers as the first female Paralympic wheelchair rugby gold medallist, she offers powerful insights into teamwork, leadership and overcoming adversity. Kylie’s talks are engaging, authentic and relatable, making her a popular choice for corporate events, schools and sporting organisations alike. Whether discussing mindset, adapting to change or achieving success under pressure, Kylie leaves audiences motivated to push beyond limitations and embrace new challenges.
- VIDEOS
- TESTIMONIALS
- SPEAKING TOPICS
- COSTS
“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
“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
- Resilience
- Adversity
- Motivation
- Women in Sport
The cost of hiring Kylie Grimes depends on your event format, location, duration and any travel requirements. For an accurate and tailored quote, please contact a SpeakOut booking agent for expert guidance.
