Grey-Thompson started wheelchair racing at the age of 13 and made her Paralympic debut for Wales at 15, in the 100m at the Junior National Games in 1984.

On 27 February 2007, Grey-Thompson announced her pending retirement, with her last appearance for Great Britain at May's Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

She was the first female wheelchair user in the world to present on television on BBC2's ground-breaking series for disabled people From the Edge.

[12] In December 2021, Grey-Thompson was appointed as Chair of the North of Tyne Combined Authority's Inclusive Economy Board.

[13] On 23 March 2010, Grey-Thompson was created a life peer on the recommendation of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC).

[15] Grey-Thompson was introduced in the House of Lords on 29 March,[16] swearing the oath of allegiance in both English and Welsh and sits as a crossbencher.

[17][18] In August 2014, Grey-Thompson was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.

[24] In November 2012, she was appointed to the three-person commission that has been set up by the Union Cycliste Internationale to investigate the Lance Armstrong doping affair.

[27] In June 2018, she was inducted into Power Brands LIFE – Hall of Fame at London International Forum for Equality.

[28] In January 2019, she was chosen as a contender for the "Greatest Person of the 20th Century" in the BBC Icons series but did not proceed beyond the 'Sports Stars' heat.

[31][32] In July 2013, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Science (HonDSc) in recognition of her outstanding service to disability and to disadvantaged people, and to her promotion of sport and the Paralympics.