Neuff Ambassador Fact File: Olivia Gallagher

Boldly brilliant in everything she does, Olivia Gallagher is rapidly taking her relatively newfound journey as a seated thrower to the next level!

Having been a hugely successful wheelchair racer for just over ten years, Olivia made the big decision to change tracks in 2025, where she started to fully immerse herself in the world of field as an F32 seated thrower. She hasn't looked back since, and it's unquestionably proving to be a thoroughly worthwhile decision!

Coached by Alison O'Riordan, Olivia has already had a phenomenal start to her seated throws journey within the space of a year. Within this time, she has triumphed on several occasions, throwing distances that have propelled her to incredible feats and opportunities!

Describing herself as "a bit of a cocktail", she is an elite para-athlete with versatility and a diverse skillset, making for an exciting journey in the years ahead!

Now on a road to LA with a brand new discipline, Olivia is taking firm control of the wheel, and we're excited to see her progression during her time with us as a Neuff Ambassador, both on and off the field!

Keep scrolling to read more of Olivia's story...

What was the driving force behind you taking up athletics in the first place? 

“I watched London 2012 and at that time I was 11. Being an 11 year old anyway is tough, but being someone with a disability trying to find out where you fit in society, I was kind of at a very low point in my life. 

I was getting bullied in school, and it was very challenging. My family was in a very “we don’t know what to do” type scenario. Thankfully, London 2012 made an appearance at that time, and that’s when I thought to myself “Ooo, maybe I could be good at something! I want to try that!”. I watched David Weir and Hannah Cockroft in their track events, and I wanted to look into these options right away!

There was a taster day at the Weir Archer Academy, which had just been formed that same year, and my dad suggested we go down and just see what happens.

Since that day (this had to be late 2013 early 2014), I began wheelchair racing just for personal fitness, and at that stage, it became a support network. Not just for me, but also a support network for my family.

Having that belief from head coaches Jenny Archer and David Weir was a massive stepping point, because it was actually knowing that they believe in me and what I could achieve.

When I first started, I was actually at boarding school, so I was unable to really see the sport and actually put focus into it. So, when I finished my GCSE’s in 2017, I decided that I wanted to try and make it to Tokyo, because we had a 4-year window.

Then, in 2019, I decided to have my lateral Cochlear implant surgery.

Prior to this, I was unable to do calls like this. I was unable to hear the start gun, unable to interact in conversation or even hear on the phone. That's how much of a difference Cochlear implants make for people's lives.

I had the surgery in January 2019. I heard the start gun for the first time that year, bearing in mind that I’d never heard the start gun beforehand. I remember when I first heard it. I was just like, “what is that noise? I don’t like it!”. I burst into floods of tears. It was so frightening. However, that was still the year for me where I really flew up the rankings, both in the UK and the world within wheelchair racing. 

That also was the year where Jenny Archer discovered how to get me to go straight, because I am blind in my right eye and can only see a bit of vision in my left. 

I did track for my first year, and then in 2015, I did The London Mini Marathon. Due to my vision, I crashed into the barrier with Big Ben in 2016.

I came around the corner too tight, and because I couldn’t see the edge of the barrier, I crashed straight into it and lost control of the speed, because it was downhill and the barrier fell on me and I fell on the concrete. But, I was determined to finish.

Even though I had a grazed shoulder, a grazed elbow, a flat tyre and a massive dent in the chair, I then got across the line in just under 45 minutes, bearing in mind that 45 minutes was the cut off point.

They literally managed to just get me over that line with, I think, ten seconds remaining.  I did it again the following year, and I learnt my lesson. Don’t go around the corner too tight!

But yeah, that was eventful, and I think that kind of became the real starting point of everything that happened.

Fast forward a few years to 2019, where I had Cochlear implants. Then, less than nine months post-operation, I managed to get myself to world number 1 in the 800m and 400m, world number 2 in the 100m and UK number 1 in all distances! We then had the Covid year, so I took a bit of time out. That was the year when I went to University, and I basically had two years for myself due to mental health.

We also found out at the same time that the event was not going to be in Tokyo. Once I knew this, I decided to have two years off for my mental health. It was a lot, as I had to teach my brain how to hear again.

I then had two years out, which I spent travelling in the United States, and I basically lived my life without having the sporting commitments. Then, I decided to make a comeback.

I came back because the event was going to be added into the World Championships for the first time ever in 2023. Jenny and I sat down, and we said, “if we want to be at the World Championships, we’ve got to be committed full-time to this for the next nine months”. Without hesitating, I then said, "Let's do it!”.

What's something about shot put training that most people wouldn't know/realise?

“That the training is a full-body workout!

You don’t think about it, but especially when you are seated, you are still using your full body. It’s very technical, and you have to get the technical side right before you can get the other stuff sorted.”

You are quite well-travelled. What other places have you been to, and how was Dubai?

“Dubai was good! I was there for a competition, so it wasn’t really a holiday (I do wish it was)! But, yeah, Dubai had a nice feel to it. 

I’ve been to Switzerland for a competition, and I’ve also been to Paris. Last year, we went to Paris again for classification, and that’s where, in 2017, I got my first track international.

Then, eight years later, I got my field international at the same place! So, this gives it a nice little story behind my experiences over there specifically.”

What is a fun fact about yourself?

“I do like a chat, so I will talk non-stop, basically!

People also don’t realise that I have all three conditions (vision impairment, hearing impairment & Cerebral Palsy). People think I just have Cerebral Palsy, when actually, I do have all three.

All in all, I’m a bit of a cocktail. My family has described me as this over the years, because I fit into a bit of everything.”

What has been the biggest lesson you have learnt in your journey so far?

“The biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that everything happens for a reason, it’s okay to make a change and you can always go in a different direction”.

Interviewers: Destiny Ogali & Jack Henderson

Transcription: Destiny Ogali

Get to know more of the team!

Emil is just one of several athletes that make up Neuff's increasingly popular ambassador team.

Comprising of athletes from all ages, events and backgrounds, our ambassadors are living proof that anything is possible in athletics, and we proudly champion everyone who we welcome on board to our team!

You can find out more about the current Neuff Ambassadors by clicking here.