​VIDEO: USA Paracyclist Clara Brown’s Story

When Clara Brown was 12, her world changed in an instant. As a competitive gymnast, runner and skier, she sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury at the C5/C6 level, leaving her paralyzed from the neck down. Despite a laundry list of complications throughout her initial recovery, Brown regained much of her ability to move, and became a coxswain on her collegiate rowing team. While she enjoyed that position, she realized that literally pushing others to push their physical limits wasn’t enough for her, and sought a competitive activity powered by her own body. She purchased her first modified road bike, and these two wheels opened up a whole new world. She soon found herself competing internationally in road and track cycling events for Team USA. The rest is history.