Alumna Sophie Announces Retirement

Following a 20 year career, past student and eight-time Paralympic equestrian champion Sophie Christiansen announced her retirement from Paralympic sport earlier this month.

Sophie was born prematurely with cerebral palsy and was one of the first group of students to benefit from our school's Learning Support Centre. Her illustrious Paralympic journey began in 2004 at the age of 16, when she made her debut at the Athens games. Although she was the youngest member of the Paralympics GB squad and still a student at Charters Sixth Form, Sophie won a Grade 1 individual bronze medal and was fourth in the freestyle.

Over the next few years she became one of the most decorated Para equestrian athletes of all time, securing two golds and a silver at Beijing in 2008, three golds at London in 2012 and three golds in Rio in 2016.

Royal Main created a set of gold stamps for Sophie following her achievements at the London 2012 Olympics, and the post box outside Farrow and Ball in Sunningdale was painted gold in her honour. Two frames featuring Sophie's stamps are on display in the LSC as a wonderful nod to her achievements.

Sophie was awarded an MBE for services to disabled sport in the 2009 News Year Honours, and an OBE in 2013 for her services to equestrianism. Away from her athletic career, Sophie has a first class Masters degree in mathematics, which she utilises as part of her role as a software developer for Goldman Sachs investment bank.

Charters is incredibly proud of Sophie, and she is an inspiration to current and past students. Our entire school community wishes her well for whatever new projects await.

You can listen to Mrs Hartwell's BBC Radio 4 interview with Sophie which was recorded in 2023 below. It focuses on Sophie's Paralympic experience and how Charters helped foster her love of sport.