Paralympic gold medalist, Grit & Gold Pty Ltd., Australia

“I was born without a left hand and forearm but haven’t let that negatively influence my life. On the contrary, growing up with a disability and competing as an elite athlete gave me resilience, grit, and determination. My goal is to empower others to overcome challenges and become their best selves.”

— Annabelle Williams

Areas of expertise

Sports and sports law

— Annabelle Williams

Career

Grit & Gold Pty Ltd. – Founder and CEO, since 2019
Paralympics – Vice president, since 2018
Serves on the board of directors for several businesses and organizations, including Reaction, Swimming Australia, and ChildFund Australia
Australian Swimmers’ Association – Vice president, 2013–2020
Olympics, Paralympics, Commonwealth Games, and Invictus Games – TV reporter and sports commentator, 2018
Australian Olympic Committee – Legal counsel, 2015–2019
Australian swim team at the Paralympic Games in Beijing – Cocaptain, 2008
Volunteer ambassador for the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Challenge, since 2012; National Australia Day Council, since 2013; and Indigenous Marathon Foundation, since 2017

Education

Stanford University Graduate School of Business – Stanford Executive Program graduate, delivered the valedictory address, 2019
Bond University – Bachelor of Laws and International Relations

Awards and achievements

Competed in two Paralympic Games and broke five world records for swimming in butterfly and freestyle
Won numerous medals for Australia, including gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games
Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia at age 24 for service to sport as a strong advocate for athletes’ rights
TED speaker

Appearances and publications in other media

“The Landscape of Sports Law in Australia – Regulation of an Industry.” Sweet and Maxwell’s International Sports Law Review, 2017.
“All Brawn and a Pig’s Brain: The AFL Football Scandal.” Sports Law, Administration and Practice (UK), 2013.