“Ripples in the Water” — My Neurodivergent Journey to the Neurodiverse Sport Event
Written by Olivia Rae. Subheadings added by the Neurodiverse Sport team to support readability.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global initiative that began in 2018 to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It encourages schools, workplaces, and organisations to recognise, support, and celebrate neurodivergent individuals—those whose brains process information differently, including people with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and more. In March 2024, Neurodiverse Sport hosted its first in-person event to mark this important week. We brought together key stakeholders from across the sport and education landscape—including Sport England, national governing bodies, and academic institutions—to hear directly from neurodivergent athletes. The goal was clear: to amplify lived experience, build understanding, and drive meaningful change toward a more inclusive sporting system. This is part one of a two-part blog by Olivia Rae, reflecting on the Neurodiverse Sport Neurodiversity Celebration Week event 2024. For part two, read “From Overwhelm to Action” — Reflections from the Neurodiverse Sport Panel.
Olivia Rae and her Brother Seb
A Different Boat
We are all in the same storm but in very different boats.
Bear with me while I talk about my very brief rowing career at school…
I was primarily a cox for the senior boys’ crews, and a key memory for me was when I accidentally steered the school’s brand new 8 into the side of a bridge. I’d only ever been in a quad and when I was learning I’d got a bit muddled with which way to steer. I’d managed to keep all the boats in one piece though, probably because the margin of error was slightly greater with a smaller boat.
I was told this new boat was easier than the ones I was used to, and the steering system was explained to me. As I embarked on the inaugural journey of the school's most expensive boat to date, there was such trust in my competency because I had been told enough times that I should get it right. Arriving back with a lovely, lengthy scratch on the boat would suggest I probably needed more understanding—and a different approach to learning.
Ripples of Recognition
In this story I was quite literally in a different boat, but what I take from it now is how I was wildly different from most people in the way I processed information and experienced sporting environments—I am Neurodivergent.
The things I became good at, and enjoyed in life, involved repetition of the same thing. When something new came up, I struggled to adapt. My experience—and that of many others—shows that not everyone functions the same way. I like to compare these divergent experiences to ripples in water. The more people speak up about their experiences, the more energy propels those ripples.
From Ripples to Waves
Now onto an actual rower—Caragh McMurtry. Caragh packed up her (again literal) rowing boat to raise acceptance for Neurodiversity in the sporting world. As co-founder of Neurodiverse Sport, Caragh has a vision to change how we treat and include Neurodivergent athletes—and help them fulfil their potential.
And on Thursday 21st March 2024, ripples became waves.
The Event Location, London
First Impressions: Survival Mode
I had the privilege of attending the first in-person Neurodiverse Sport event in London. Tower Bridge stood majestic in the background, while the sensory overwhelm of city lights set the scene for an evening I’ll never forget.
When I arrived, it felt like any other networking event. That familiar feeling of being overwhelmed crept in: people I didn’t know, the disorientation of not knowing where to go or what to do to survive socially.
My brother Seb came to support me, which helped hugely.
I’d read the event pack, I knew the schedule, I knew there was a quiet room. But even with all that preparation, once I arrived, my vision narrowed and my senses heightened. I was in survival mode.
NdS Co-Founders Caragh McMurtry and Mikey Mottram
Recognising the Storm, Respecting the Boats
But then something changed. This wasn’t just any event. It was a neuroinclusive event. Yes, the room was warm and the lights bright, but what stood out was the acknowledgment that these conditions affect everyone differently.
We were all in the same storm—but in very different boats.
The structured part of the evening began. I’d found an aisle seat and started to relax. Then came one of the most impactful moments of the night...
Authentic Leadership: Caragh’s Story
Caragh, who was scheduled to share her story solo, instead opted to be interviewed by her best friend, with her husband Mikey beside her.
Why? Because that was the most comfortable way for her to speak in such a challenging sensory environment.
That small act—of someone choosing comfort and safety—set a tone of radical honesty and validation. We weren’t just watching a talk. We were being invited into real, human experience.
I was moved to tears.
Final Thoughts
Olivia’s reflections offer a raw and relatable insight into what neurodivergent athletes often navigate just to show up—before any performance even begins. From the initial overwhelm to moments of shared truth, her experience reminds us that inclusion is not just about policy or programming—it’s about permission to be human.
When we recognise each other’s boats—and design events that honour different ways of experiencing the world—we do more than start conversations. We change the course.
If you’d like to hear more from Olivia, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
For part two, read “From Overwhelm to Action” — Reflections from the Neurodiverse Sport Panel.
Takeaways From Olivia’s Experience
For Neurodivergent Individuals:
Your responses are valid
→ Sensory overload, emotional overwhelm, and preparation needs are not weaknesses—they’re part of how your brain protects you.
You don’t have to mask to belong
→ Being in spaces that honour your needs can reduce the pressure to “fit in” or perform socially.
Connection is possible—on your terms
→ Finding one safe person or one quiet corner can make all the difference.
For Peers, Supporters, and Parents:
Your presence matters more than your words
→ Simply being there, calmly and consistently, offers powerful reassurance.
Prepare together
→ Going over logistics and plans in advance can ease anxiety and increase confidence.
Respect overwhelm without pressure
→ Don’t push neurodivergent loved ones to “stay” or “cope”—trust their signals and offer safe exits.
For Coaches, Leaders, and Organisations:
Design with difference in mind
→ Consider sensory load, clear signage, and seating choice from the start.
Model flexibility
→ When leaders choose comfort and transparency, they make it safer for others to do the same.
Validation is performance-enabling
→ Feeling seen, understood, and accepted can unlock presence, participation, and even excellence.
This blog post was written by Olivia Rae. Subheadings were added by the Neurodiverse Sport team to support readability.