Skip to content Skip to search

Republish This Story

* Please read before republishing *

We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives Creative Commons license as long as you follow our republishing guidelines, which require that you credit The 19th and retain our pixel. See our full guidelines for more information.

To republish, simply copy the HTML at right, which includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to The 19th. Have questions? Please email [email protected].

— The Editors

Loading...

Modal Gallery

/
Sign up for our newsletter

Menu

  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Latest Stories
  • Search
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Work With Us
  • Fellowships
    • From the Collection

      Changing Child Care

      Illustration of a woman feeding a baby a bottle
      • 1 in 4 parents report being fired for work interruptions due to child care breakdowns

        Chabeli Carrazana · February 2
      • Washington, D.C., offers financial relief to local child care workers

        Orion Rummler · September 20
      • As climate change worsens hurricane season in Louisiana, doulas are ensuring parents can safely feed their babies

        Jessica Kutz · May 5
    • From the Collection

      Next-Gen GOP

      Illustration of a woman riding an elephant
      • Mayra Flores’ victory set a record for women in Congress. It also reflects the growing visibility of Republican Latinas

        Candice Norwood · June 21
      • A banner year for Republican women

        Amanda Becker · November 11
      • Republican women could double representation in the U.S. House

        Amanda Becker · November 4
    • From the Collection

      On The Rise

      Illustration of three women marching
      • Can Cheri Beasley build a winning coalition in North Carolina?

        Candice Norwood · October 11
      • Los Angeles has never elected a woman mayor. Karen Bass hopes to change that.

        Nadra Nittle · September 8
      • Judge J. Michelle Childs is confirmed to D.C. appeals court

        Candice Norwood · July 20
    • From the Collection

      Pandemic Within a Pandemic

      Illustration of four people marching for Black Lives Matter with coronavirus as the backdrop
      • Some LGBTQ+ people worry that the COVID-19 vaccine will affect HIV medication. It won’t.

        Orion Rummler · November 23
      • Why are more men dying from COVID? It’s a complicated story of nature vs. nurture, researchers say

        Mariel Padilla · September 22
      • Few incarcerated women were released during COVID. The ones who remain have struggled.

        Candice Norwood · August 17
    • From the Collection

      Portraits of a Pandemic

      Illustration of a woman wearing a mask and holding up the coronavirus
      • For family caregivers, COVID is a mental health crisis in the making

        Shefali Luthra · October 8
      • A new database tracks COVID-19’s effects on sex and gender

        Shefali Luthra · September 15
      • Pregnant in a pandemic: The 'perfect storm for a crisis'

        Shefali Luthra · August 25
    • From the Collection

      The 19th Explains

      People walking from many articles to one article where they can get the context they need on an issue.
      • The 19th Explains: What we know about Brittney Griner’s case and what it took to get her home

        Candice Norwood, Katherine Gilyard · December 8
      • The 19th Explains: Why the Respect for Marriage Act doesn’t codify same-sex marriage rights

        Kate Sosin · December 8
      • The 19th Explains: Why baby formula is still hard to find months after the shortage

        Mariel Padilla · December 1
    • From the Collection

      The Electability Myth

      Illustration of three women speaking at podiums
      • Mayra Flores’ victory set a record for women in Congress. It also reflects the growing visibility of Republican Latinas

        Candice Norwood · June 21
      • Stepping in after tragedy: How political wives became widow lawmakers

        Mariel Padilla · May 24
      • Do term limits help women candidates? New York could be a new testing ground

        Barbara Rodriguez · January 11
    • From the Collection

      The Impact of Aging

      A number of older people walking down a path of information.
      • From ballroom dancing to bloodshed, the older AAPI community grapples with gun control

        Nadra Nittle, Mariel Padilla · January 27
      • 'I'm planning on working until the day I die': Older women voters are worried about the future

        Mariel Padilla · June 3
      • Climate change is forcing care workers to act as first responders

        Jessica Kutz · May 31
    • From the Collection

      Voting Rights

      A series of hands reaching for ballots.
      • Connecticut voters approved early voting. Here’s how their new secretary of state wants to make it happen.

        Barbara Rodriguez · February 13
      • Women lawmakers in Minnesota are in the vanguard of the democracy movement

        Barbara Rodriguez · February 3
      • Election workers believe in our system — and want everyone else to, too

        Barbara Rodriguez, Jennifer Gerson · November 8

    View all collections

  • Explore by Topic

    • 19th Polling
    • Abortion
    • Business & Economy
    • Caregiving
    • Coronavirus
    • Education
    • Election 2020
    • Election 2022
    • Election 2024
    • Environment & Climate
    • Health
    • Immigration
    • Inside The 19th
    • Justice
    • LGBTQ+
    • Military
    • Politics
    • Press Release
    • Race
    • Sports
    • Technology

    View All Topics

Home
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Latest Stories
  • Search
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Work With Us
  • Fellowships

We’re an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting on gender, politics and policy. Read our story.

The 19th Represents Summit

Don’t miss our biggest event of 2023!

Register Today

Become a member

The 19th thanks our sponsors. Become one.

Portrait of Lauren Steadman
Lauren Steadman in London in September 2021 (Lia Toby/Getty Images)

Sports

‘Stare at me because I deserve to be stared at’: Lauren Steadman and the evolution of representation at the Paralympics

Paralympian sportscaster Lauren Steadman spoke with The 19th about representation and why it’s OK to stare.

Sara Luterman

Caregiving reporter

Sara Luterman, The 19th

Published

2022-03-14 16:18
4:18
March 14, 2022
pm

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

*Correction appended.

Following a years-long trend in elite parasports, a record number of women competed in the 2022 Paralympics, which ended on Sunday. This year was also one of many firsts for how the Paralympics were covered. In the United States, the entire games were shown for the first time. And in the United Kingdom, a groundbreaking team of all-disabled sportscasters covered the Paralympics. 

Ahead of the Paralympics, The 19th spoke with Lauren Steadman, one of the two women on Britain’s Channel 4 sportscaster team. Steadman was born with a congenital limb difference — she was born missing much of her right arm. Steadman, a veteran Paralympian, was only 15 years old when she brought home her first silver medal for swimming at the 2015 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Most recently, Steadman won a gold medal in the triathlon during the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Steadman is primarily an athlete, but has also dabbled in reality television — she appeared on “Strictly Come Dancing,” the United Kingdom’s equivalent of “Dancing with the Stars,” in 2018. 

The 19th spoke with Steadman about the Paralympics, sportscasting and representation in both of those worlds. 

The 19th thanks our sponsors. Become one.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Luterman: You’re part of the first all disabled presenting team for Channel Four in the U.K. But this isn’t your first time presenting. 

Steadman: In the Summer Games, I was there as an athlete voice to give my perspective and interview some of the other guys post race. But that’s it so far. I finished my race on the Sunday, and on the Monday I was straight into TV [sportscasting]. The first few days were a bit of a blur, because I was trying to get out of that really regimented athlete mindset and be in the media where you’re bubbly, you’re happy, you’re asking the right questions. It took a while, but I did get into the rhythm.

  • More from The 19th
    A patient in her room at a Colorado nursing home.
  • Nursing home workers react to Biden’s ‘game-changing’ call for reform
  • What Demi Burnett’s announcement means to autistic women — and ‘Bachelor’ fans
  • 2022 elections are important, women say — but a poll suggests they may be too overwhelmed to prioritize politics

Sara Luterman: How has coverage of the Paralympics on U.K. television changed from when you first started watching to now?

Lauren Steadman: It’s changed dramatically. When I went to Beijing … there was nothing on TV at all. I don’t think people even really knew or cared about it in the U.K. Then came London. Because it was a home game, people got especially excited about the Olympics. Everyone was pretty down in the dumps after the Olympics finished. They were like, “Oh, it’s gone — but hang on a minute, we’ve got the Paralympics!” All our venues were full. They were maxed out with people who weren’t able to go see the Olympics, so they went to see the Paralympics. 

I think that Channel 4 did a fantastic job in explaining disability as well. They gave more of a comprehensive understanding. On our TVs, on the sides of buses, on the sides of airplanes, buildings, Paralympians suddenly started to appear. It got the conversation started. 

When was the first time you saw someone that looked like you in the media? Do you remember?

No, actually. I think the first time that I ever really noticed somebody else with one arm was when I went to my first swimming competition. I didn’t really know about Paralympics until I attended a local swimming club. I was probably 9 years of age then. Not that I lived a sheltered life. I’m from a small village. My parents, why would they know the world of disability? 

I went to this local disability swimming competition. And it was this whole swimming pool full of disabled people. It actually was a bit daunting as someone with a disability to look around and be like, “Oh, wow, there’s like a whole other world here.” 

It did make me feel more accepted. In my teens, I was kinder to myself, not trying to hide my arm. I was proud of the fact that I’m an international swimmer. I’ve been to the Paralympic Games, I need to own who I am, because I’m not going to grow an arm overnight. 

Sportscasting in the U.S. and the U.K. is very heavily male. Do you feel like that’s something that you’ve had to bump up against? 

Doors are opening for women. They can actually go into this. In the U.K. in particular, we’ve seen Clare Balding do a fantastic job, we’ve seen Alex Scott move into the world of football and people absolutely adore her. A friend of mine, Amy Fellows, just covered the Winter Olympics. I just think again, it’s just a shift in dynamics.

Your job is being an athlete, which is not the case for most American Paralympians.

[American Paralympic athlete Grace Norman] has decided to go part time again as a nurse just because it takes off that pressure. I do work on commercials, which enables me to really relax because I’ve got some great brand partners. I’m not entirely sure I could live off of what the UK Sport gives now, but just because I’m 29. I’m not 18 anymore. I have more expenses, and my Netflix is a must-have every month. 

I think the world is changing. And [Norman has] signed some great sponsors this year, which I think as well American para athletes haven’t always had access to — it’s been about the Olympians. I do feel that you guys do cover your veterans really well, though, when they’ve moved into the world of sport. 

Stories by experienced reporters you can trust and relate to.

Delivered directly to your inbox every weekday.

Please check your email to confirm your subscription!

Submitting…

Uh-oh! Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Let’s talk about inspiration porn. Can you tell me what that phrase means to you?

Are disabled people inspiring? Yes. I just think sometimes we get a bit caught up on the fact that we think people are calling us inspiring because we have a disability and not because of what we’ve achieved. If I had two hands and I was the same caliber of athlete that I am now — damn, I’m inspiring! 

Personally, I don’t take offense. I’m like, “thank you,” because I’ve worked hard. I hope that there are young girls around the world who have gone, “Wow, I want to be like Lauren.” I have inspired them. I have encouraged them. 

I do understand that it’s used too frequently now with Paralympians. I think that that’s just due to a lack of vocab and people not knowing what words to say. You could say that that person is uplifting, that person is challenging her own standards, challenging the world to be better, do better to be fierce. I think if we use different words [than “inspiring”] it makes people look at Paralympians differently. 

The way that the Paralympics are talked about has changed as people get a better idea of what the Paralympics is and what competing in it means. Are there ads or other depictions you think have been particularly excellent? 

So I’ve worked with some awesome brands. Citibank has been a standing supporter of me for the last cycle — their campaign is ‘It’s OK to Stare.” I’ve been stared at my whole life. Kids go, “Mom, she’s got one arm!” You can see the parents going “don’t say anything.” I used to hate it as a kid. And then I got to the point where I felt so sorry for the parent. So I’d go up to the kid and say, “Can you guess how I lost it, then?” And then they’re like, “Oh, this is a game? How does she lose her arm?” 

[Like if] I broke a world record – stare at me because I deserve to be stared at. 

Do you have any thoughts about sort of like the role of the Paralympics in disability politics?

I think you’re always going to have it and you’re going to not be able to please everyone. Also, people learn by experiencing. 

I think it might have been the best TV moment of last year. There was a deaf dancer on our version of “Dancing With the Stars.” She dances every week without music. But to the public, when they’re watching on TV, they hear the music when they see her dance. But then one week, they paused the music halfway through for about a minute. She just carried on dancing. I think that was the moment she probably won the show. Because people realized all of those weeks she’d been dancing with zero music at all. People probably thought that was nearly impossible, but she proved it wasn’t. So, to me, the best thing that can happen is people to see for themselves what it’s like to live in a different way.

Do you think that there needs to be more progress in terms of how people understand the Paralympics in relation to the Olympics?

People just assume that if you have a disability, you’re automatically getting to the Paralympics. And actually, it used to be the case, because there weren’t that many people doing it. But it’s not like that now. What it took to get a gold medal all those years back, versus what it takes now is 100 percent different. The dedication, the time, the effort to get a Paralympic gold now is not the same as what it used to be all those years ago, when you could just rock up because you’re probably the only one from about half the world that was going to do the race. 

When I go training and I’m riding up the mountain [on my bicycle], let’s just say there’s a pack of men in front of me. I do love to ride and overtake them. You get to the top and they’re thinking: “Oh my goodness, that girl just beat me.” And then when they pull into the cafe and they see me take off my prosthesis – They’re like, “Oh, my goodness. She’s got one arm and she just beat me.” It shows you the caliber of athlete that goes to the Paralympics. Because actually, they didn’t realize that until then. 

When I swim in the pool all these people will say, “You’re inspiring.” But then they see me swim. This morning, a guy was like “Wow, that was fast.”And I was like, “Yeah, I know.” 

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated that Steadman was missing much of her left arm. She is missing much of her right arm.

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

The 19th Represents Summit

Don’t miss our biggest event of 2023!

Register Today

Become a member

Up Next

A man guards the olympic flame, which stands in front of Olympic rings.

LGBTQ+

A record number of out LGBTQ+ Olympians are competing. China doesn’t want to talk about it.

China’s crackdown has affected gender-rights advocates and again raises questions about how sporting events should address the way host nations handle human rights.

Read the Story

The 19th
The 19th is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Our stories are free to republish in accordance with these guidelines.

  • Donate
  • Newsletter
  • Events
  • Search
  • Jobs
  • Fellowships
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Community Guidelines
  • Membership
  • Membership FAQ
  • Major Gifts
  • Sponsorship
  • Privacy
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram