Pippa Britton: The Paralympic archery legend fighting for inclusion in sport

Pippa Britton, Wales’ most successful archer, was the latest guest to appear on Series 10 of the Game Changers podcast.

During her playing career, Britton was one of her country’s leading athletes and remains a trailblazer in archery. As a double Paralympian and double world champion, she set the sport alight with her unrivalled skill, but more importantly, with her approach to making the world a more accepting place.

Now retired, Britton has shifted her focus to giving back to sport by combining her understanding of diversity and equality with her experience of governance.

The landscape is changing when it comes to disability sports — athletes are finally receiving the plaudits they deserve and their achievements are celebrated for the remarkable milestones they are.

However, the world hasn’t always been as supportive. Britton reflected on the time when she first noticed a real change in the tide — para-athletes were finally starting to catch the eye of the public.

“I think Beijing 2008 was probably one of the first times that not just Britain, but the world went, ‘oh, actually, these aren’t just disabled people who are having a little go at sport. These are athletes who are at the pinnacle of their career,'” she said.

“When London came along four years later, and lots of people asked me whether I think London 2012 changed attitudes towards disability, I think what happened in London — particularly in Britain — is that people really looked at the value of sportspeople — real athletes at the peak of their training, achieving amazing things and they just so happen to have a disability.”

At their home Games in 2012, Team GB finished third overall after picking up 120 medals in total. Dame Sarah Storey won four golds in