Today’s guest is one of my new friends and heroes, Sophie Elwes. Sophie reached out to invite me on her podcast, but after reading about her, I wanted her on mine first.
In 2011, at age 22, Sophie fell 8 meters while at a party and was given a 40% chance of survival. She was left paralyzed from the chest down and dependent on a wheelchair.
Despite that, she spent several years alpine skiing as a member of the British Disabled Ski Team and then decided to finish that chapter to come back to London.
She now works for a spinal injuries charity, backuptrust.org.uk, supporting people through a mentoring service as her day job. In her spare time, she loves to waterski and wakeboard competitively and host her fantastic podcast - A Life Less Ordinary with Sophie Elwes, where she interviews impressive people who've overcome huge challenges and adversity in their lives.
Sophie is an amazing human being with a mindset that will inspire you to your core.
Listen as we discuss:
- The pain felt by Sophie's parents as they watched their daughter in a coma for 6 weeks.
- Sophie fell 8 meters while at a party and had a 40% chance of survival.
- The "Before" and "After" of becoming disabled, and why she's grateful that it happened.
- What it's like to realize, accept, and adapt to the fact that you're disabled.
- Sophie spends many days just thinking to herself, "I'm so lucky."
- How she lost her dad in the midst of the recovery.
- Becoming a top adaptive monoski racer and wakeboarder as a paraplegic.
- Does Sophie feel scared at the start of races?
- What kept Sophie going and not giving up?
- If she could go back, would she change the accident? No.
- How did it change her perception of the physical form?
- The greatest joy is making others happy.
- It is through pain that we can grow.
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Website: mogawdat.com/podcast
Connect with Sophie Elwes on Instagram @sophieelwes, Twitter @sophieelwes, and Facebook @sophieelwes. Sophie works as a mentor for the charity backuptrust.org.uk.
Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy.
YouTube: @mogawdatofficial
Instagram: @mo_gawdat
Facebook: @mo.gawdat.official
LinkedIn: /in/mogawdat
Tiktok: @mogawdat
X: @mgawdat
Website: mogawdat.com
Don't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Saturday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappy
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