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With Dame Sarah Storey swapping the velodrome for the ballroom on Strictly Come Dancing 2026, a lot of new viewers are asking about the man cheering her on from the sidelines. Her husband, Barney Storey, isn’t just a supportive spouse. He’s a Paralympic champion in his own right, a former world record holder and the co-founder of a professional cycling team.
Here’s everything that’s on the public record about Barney Storey: his tandem cycling career, his Paralympic gold medals, his marriage to Britain’s most decorated Paralympian, their family life in Cheshire, and the details that simply aren’t published.
Barney Storey: Quick Facts
| Full name | Richard Barnaby Storey |
| Known as | Barney Storey |
| Date of birth | 13 March 1977 |
| Age | 49 (as of October 2026) |
| Grew up | Corfe Mullen, Dorset |
| Lives | Disley, Cheshire |
| Known for | Paralympic tandem cycling pilot, Storey Racing co-founder |
| Paralympic golds | 3 (two at Beijing 2008, one at London 2012) |
| Honours | MBE, 2009 New Year Honours |
| Spouse | Dame Sarah Storey (married 2007) |
| Children | Two: a daughter (born 2013) and a son (born 2017) |
| Net worth | Not published |
Early Life In Dorset
Barney Storey was born Richard Barnaby Storey on 13 March 1977. According to his Wikipedia biography, he grew up in Corfe Mullen in Dorset and attended Corfe Hills School.
He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four. He went on to compete at the highest level of track cycling while managing the condition, which is part of why his story resonates with so many people living with diabetes.
What Is A Tandem Pilot?
To understand Barney’s career, you need to know how Paralympic tandem racing works. Athletes who are blind or partially sighted race on a two-seater bike with a sighted rider at the front. That front rider is the pilot. They steer, read the race and make the tactical calls, while both riders pedal flat out. The rider at the back is called the stoker.
It’s a genuine partnership. Pilots train alongside their stoker, race in the same events and receive medals too. Barney Storey made his name as one of the best pilots in the world.
Paralympic Career And Medals
Athens 2004
Barney’s first Paralympics came in Athens in 2004, piloting for Daniel Gordon. The pair finished fourth in the sprint and fifth in the 1km time trial, agonisingly close to the podium.
World Championships 2006 And 2007
The breakthrough came soon after. Barney won gold in both the sprint and the time trial at the 2006 World Disability Championships and successfully defended both titles in 2007.
Beijing 2008: Double Gold
At the Beijing Paralympics, Barney piloted Anthony Kappes to two gold medals, in the 1km time trial and the sprint. Their time trial victory came in a world record of one minute 2.864 seconds.
London 2012: Home Gold
Four years later, on home soil, Barney piloted Neil Fachie. As Team GB reported, the pair won gold in the 1km time trial in a world record of one minute 1.351 seconds, and added a silver in the sprint. London 2012 was a special Games for the family, because Sarah won Paralympic gold at the same Games.
Honours: MBE
Barney was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to disabled sport, following his double gold in Beijing.
Marriage To Dame Sarah Storey
Barney married Sarah Bailey in 2007, and she took his surname. Sarah was already a Paralympic legend at that point, having won multiple swimming golds before switching to cycling.
According to her Wikipedia biography, Dame Sarah Storey has won 30 Paralympic medals, 19 of them gold, across nine Games from 1992 to 2024, making her Great Britain’s most decorated Paralympian. She was made a Dame in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to para-cycling. Add Barney’s three golds, and the household holds 22 Paralympic gold medals between them.
Their careers have stayed closely linked ever since, both as Great Britain teammates and later as business partners.
Their Children
Barney and Sarah have two children: a daughter born on 30 June 2013 and a son born on 14 October 2017. Sarah famously returned to elite competition after both pregnancies, including winning more Paralympic golds after becoming a mother. The family has kept the children largely out of the spotlight, so we haven’t published their names here.
Storey Racing
Away from the tandem, Barney and Sarah turned their experience into a business. In 2017, the couple launched Storey Racing, a British women’s road cycling team. As Eurosport reported at the launch, the Cheshire-based couple unveiled the team at the Manchester Bike Expo with the aim of backing British talent.
Barney Storey And Strictly Come Dancing 2026
In 2026, Sarah was announced as one of the celebrities on the 24th series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Julian Caillon. Barney isn’t competing himself, but as the husband of one of the show’s best-known athletes, he’s suddenly a name a lot of viewers are searching for.
Sarah is in good company: the 2026 line-up also includes former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips and EastEnders star Lacey Turner, making it a strong year for sport and soap fans alike.
Life Today
The Storeys live in Disley, Cheshire. Barney keeps a much lower profile than Sarah these days, with no public social media presence that we’ve been able to confirm. His focus appears to be family and the team, rather than public life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sarah Storey’s husband?
Dame Sarah Storey’s husband is Barney Storey, a former Paralympic tandem cycling pilot who won three Paralympic gold medals. The couple married in 2007.
How many Paralympic medals has Barney Storey won?
Barney Storey won three Paralympic gold medals, two at Beijing 2008 with Anthony Kappes and one at London 2012 with Neil Fachie, plus a silver at London 2012.
How old is Barney Storey?
Barney Storey was born on 13 March 1977, which makes him 49 as of October 2026.
Do Barney and Sarah Storey have children?
Yes. They have two children, a daughter born in 2013 and a son born in 2017.
Is Barney Storey on Strictly Come Dancing?
No. His wife, Dame Sarah Storey, is the contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2026, dancing with Julian Caillon.
What is Storey Racing?
Storey Racing is a British women’s road cycling team that Barney and Sarah Storey launched in 2017 to support British riders.
What Remains Unverified
- Net worth: no reliable figure is published. Any number you see online is a guess.
- Current job title: his exact current role, beyond his long association with Storey Racing, isn’t confirmed.
- Social media: we couldn’t confirm any active public accounts in his name.
- Children’s names: some outlets have reported them, but the family keeps the children private, so we’ve left them out.
Final Thoughts
Barney Storey is far more than “Sarah Storey’s husband.” He’s a three-time Paralympic champion, a former world record holder, an MBE, and the co-founder of a professional team, all while living with type 1 diabetes since childhood. As Sarah takes on the Strictly dance floor, she does it with one of British para-sport’s quiet greats in her corner.
