Ellie was the youngest British athlete to compete at the 2008 Beijing Summer Paralympics aged 13, and the youngest person ever to be appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen the following year.
But despite her youth, the star swimmer has always shown an interest in charity work, with a focus on sports, young people and water.
"She is such an inspiration, supporting adults and children alike with encouraging words and advice." - Dwarf Sports Association UK on their patron, Ellie Simmonds
Ellie, 25, is patron of the Dwarf Sports Association UK, an ambassador for WaterAid as well as an ambassador for Scouts. "Young people need positive role models. They need places to try new things and not be afraid to fail. Scouting is one of those places," said Ellie.
She is also a Girlguiding leader in Manchester, where her Brownie nickname is Aqua Owl. Speaking about helping her local unit and being a leader, she told Girlguiding magazine: "I chat with my girls a lot so they know that I'm there for them if they're having trouble at school, for example.
"A good leader is always learning, and I've taken lots of tips from other Brown Owls and built on them. Many people aren't born leaders – it's a skill you learn. Practice makes perfect."
Dwarf Sports Association UK praised their patron Ellie as they told HELLO!: "She attends many of our events across the country, always has a smile on her face and always makes the time to chat to members and their families.
"She is such an inspiration, supporting adults and children alike with encouraging words and advice. We are very lucky to have Ellie on board."
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