Running Up That Hill! Leslie Paterson's Extraordinary Story of Grit, Tenacity, Courage & Resilience: From World Champion Triathlete to 4 x OSCAR Award-Winning Screenwriting Triumph, for "All Quiet On The Western Front"

Ladies n' Genminminmin (er, min) buckle-up for Lesley Paterson's extraordinary story of 'Triathletic Ascension' from being 3 times World Champion ExTerra Triathlete to BAFTA + 4 x OSCAR Award Winning glory!

A story of grit, determination, tenacity and courage in how she overcome against all the odds, a bike crash, a broken shoulder, an injured leg AND Lime Disease to win & raise the ‘last push’ £10,000 to re-secure the rights for her film, which then went on to secure all of the Awards for "All Quiet On The Western Front", including the OSCAR for Best International Feature.

The stuff of Hollywood right there!

Lesley Paterson earned the nickname ‘The Scottish Rocket’ after wining no fewer than 5 world titles in athletics. 

More recently, she has picked up a new clutch of world-class awards in a completely different field, as the screenwriter of the Oscar-winning new version of  "All Quiet On The Western Front".

The youngest of 4, Lesley had older brothers to compete with. She played rugby with the boys and earned their respect. 
She enjoyed running for its spiritual values as well as its fitness benefits. Lesley also spent time training as a ballet dancer and later studying theatre and film in San Diego. A genuinely liberated renaissance woman, when it came to competitive swimming, Lesley said she had ‘the heart but not the numbers.’ This didn’t stop her winning her first world medal, in Maui, in a triathlon, in 2011. And that was after giving her competitors a 10 minute start while she dealt with a flat tyre in that section of the competition. Lesley is by her own confession a totally driven character with a strong focus on forward-momentum. 

Lesley and her husband Simon, a Performance Psychologist, co-wrote a book called ‘The Brave Athlete’, designed to help competitors deal with a range of issues, which could compromise their performance on the track or in their social relationships. 

At a personal level, Lesley is inspired by the unconditional love shown by her parents and the inspirational versatility of the South African runner, Zola Budd. One of Lesley’s favourite quotes is this: “Everyone is fighting a battle that you know nothing about.”

Today Lesley Paterson has more than half a dozen screenwriter/film production projects on the go. She describes herself unashamedly as a ‘hustler’ - but a very hard working hustler. Someone who always wants to be compassionate as well as passionate, inspirational as well as inspired, joyful as well as driven. 

Here is a multitalented, articulate woman with a unique story to tell. 

Tune in next week for more stories of 'Distinction & Genius' from The Good Listening To Show 'Clearing'. If you would like to be my Guest too then you can find out HOW via the different 'series strands' at 'The Good Listening To Show' website.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW wherever you get your Podcasts :)

Thanks for listening!