Maria Lyle, 24, Retires After Five Paralympic Medals

Maria Lyle, a five-time Paralympic medallist, has announced that she is retiring from athletics at the age of 24. Competing in the T35 category for athletes with cerebral palsy, the Scottish para-athlete secured five medals at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Lyle disclosed that her career had imposed a significant personal toll, with a recent diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to experiences in the sport. She acknowledged her friends’ and family’s support during these challenging times and used social media to broadcast her decision to retire.

Lyle burst onto the sprinting scene at 14, clinching double gold in the T35 100m and 200m at the 2014 European Championships. In reflecting on her career, she stated that her athletic achievements don’t entirely define her identity, and declared, “I am a person with feelings and won’t be defined by the position I come in a race or the time on the clock.” She gave thanks to her coaches, training partners, friends, and family for their unwavering support during her journey. Looking forward, Lyle voiced her excitement about embarking on her new job and living a simpler, more ordinary life.

Maria Lyle could have competed for the Great Britain team at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, but she didn’t meet the initial qualifying criteria as she didn’t secure a gold or silver medal at last year’s World Championships. Even though officials will announce a second round of qualifying later this month, Lyle has decided not to make an attempt to qualify, effectively ending her illustrious athletic career.