Claire Cashmore, an English Paralympic swimmer, is passionate about sport for people with disabilities, so uses her achievements to help motivate children and adults who might see disabilities as limiting, to change their mindset. Born in 1988 in Redditch, England, Claire grew up without a left forearm. After attending Hagley Catholic High School in Hagley, Worcestershire, she graduated with a degree in Linguistics from the University of Leeds, in 2011. At present, she competes for the City of Leeds Swimming Club. In recognition of her services to swimming, Claire was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 New Year Honours.
Claire has since moved from swimming to take part in the Triathlon, which was first introduced for Paralympians at the 2016 Rio Olympics - giving Claire the title, Paratriathlon athlete. With extensive experience competing as a swimmer at four Paralympic Games, she is funded by the UK Sport Lottery of the British Paratriathlon Squad, which is based in Manchester. At the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, Claire made her debut at just 16 years old. Over a decade later, she won her first gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games, competing as part of Great Britain's 4x100m Medley Relay team, as well as a silver medal in the SB8 100m breaststroke. Riding off her Rio success, reflecting upon her career, Claire decided to move to Paratriathlon.
Claire accepted a position on the UK Sport talent transfer programme, which allowed her to make her international debut at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in Rotterdam in 2017. By 2018, Claire firmly positioned herself as a leading athlete in the PTS5 classification, as such, she is a part of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. In the following year, 2019, Claire earned a silver medal in the PTS5 class at the Yokohama ITU World Paratriathlon Series, before continuing to win a gold medal at the GB Paratriathlon National Championships and Groupe Copley World Paratriathlon Series, in Montreal. In 2021, Claire journeyed to Japan where she competed in the postponed 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. At the games, Claire walked away with a Paralympic Bronze in the PTS5 triathlon, adding to her evergrowing medal tally.
As a motivational speaker, Claire explores what it is like to be born at a physical disadvantage, and the strategies she incorporates to overcome hardship. Audiences who witness Claire present, are left with a feeling of self-motivation to overcome challenges.
Most recently, Claire Cashmore was inducted into the Top Speakers to Book for International Women's Day, in acknowledgement of her incredible sporting talent.
