Frances Brown

Reason: She was encouraged by friends to try cycling as a way to strengthen her legs following her 2006 accident. In 2015, aided by improved balance from learning how to sit ski, she re-learned how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle. She went on to compete in Para triathlon at elite level before she gave up triathlon for health reasons in 2022, turning her focus to Para cycling. (britishtriathlon.org, 20 Feb 2023; franbrown.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (gb.readly.com, 03 Aug 2023) Awards: She was named Female Athlete of the Year for 2023 by the British Elite Athletes Association. (britisheliteathletes.org, 31 Jan 2024) Additional Info: OTHER SPORTS In 2011 she began Para climbing and went on to win two world championship gold medals in the sport. She switched to Para triathlon with the aim of competing at the Paralympic Games, which she achieved at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. "I wanted to move into a more competitive sport, but also one with a more level playing field. I started triathlon in the 2014/15 season, after winning the climbing world championships." She gave up Para triathlon in 2022 due to health reasons and turned her focus to Para cycling. "It was such a good few years [in Para triathlon]. It's a shame it was so short, but I had to make the call to step away. It was quite a whirlwind journey from starting and getting classified in 2016 through to being world champion in 2019 and then making a [Paralympic] Games especially during the pandemic and everything that was going on." (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Jan 2024; britishtriathlon.org, 20 Feb 2023; paralympic.org, 19 May 2020; franbrown.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018) OCCUPATION She works as a physiotherapist and as a session musician playing drums and percussion instruments, including the xylophone. She has played drums for British guitarist Brian May and as part of the national anthem during the Queen's Christmas Broadcast in Great Britain. Before acquiring her impairment, she had worked as a lighting designer and technician for theatres in the West End of London, England. (Instagram profile, 31 Dec 2023; franbrown.org.uk, 12 Nov 2022; Twitter profile, 24 Aug 2021; insidetrishow.org, 03 Mar 2021; paralympic.org, 19 May 2020) FURTHER EDUCATION After completing a degree in medical engineering and lighting technology at Cardiff University in Wales, she earned a second degree in physiotherapy at St George's, University of London in England. (franbrown.org.uk, 01 Sep 2018)