CUMBERLAND, Maine - Falmouth high graduate Clara Brown will be on the world's stage next month as a cyclist in the paralympic games.After a fourth, fifth and six place finish in the Tokyo games Brown is returning to the Olympics where she will focus her energy on just two events this time around---the time trial and outdoor race.'I felt like it was wiser and confirmed that with my national team coach that I should just entirely focus on the road,' said Brown. 'That's where my strength really lies in general. I'm not a big power rider, and track is pretty much raw power."After the Tokyo summer games in 2020, Brown moved back to Maine where she has enjoyed her training and continued her success in world championships. She'll head to this Olympics with a different mindset than Tokyo."l felt I had a lot of pressure on myself going in for results and I left disappointed that i didn't have a medal, and I felt like I had failed in a lot of ways and i think this quad has allowed me to reframe what success is and allowed me to appreciate performances when they come together and how much goes into something that you are proud of,' said Brown. Brown suffered a spinal cord injury during a gymnastics accident at age 12. she regained her ability to walk but has been left with neurological impairments. Since entering the sport of cycling she's had achieved incredible success, accumulating 11 world championship medals including 3 golds. Her best finish in the Tokyo games was 4th, so a podium is a goal, but she also is looking forward to a non-pandemic games with fans and social interactions. 'Really excited to have a non-pandemic games with family and friends, spectating in person,' said the two-time Olympian. 'Being able to engage with other athletes and have the social aspect to it because that's what makes the game so special is the village environment."Brown is undecided whether she will pursuit competing in the Los Angeles games in 2028...but she's well on her way to a second career in aviation. she says she just completed her first private-pilot check-ride this past Sunday.
CUMBERLAND, Maine - Falmouth high graduate Clara Brown will be on the world's stage next month as a cyclist in the paralympic games.
After a fourth, fifth and six place finish in the Tokyo games Brown is returning to the Olympics where she will focus her energy on just two events this time around---the time trial and outdoor race.
Advertisem*nt
'I felt like it was wiser and confirmed that with my national team coach that I should just entirely focus on the road,' said Brown. 'That's where my strength really lies in general. I'm not a big power rider, and track is pretty much raw power."
After the Tokyo summer games in 2020, Brown moved back to Maine where she has enjoyed her training and continued her success in world championships. She'll head to this Olympics with a different mindset than Tokyo.
"l felt I had a lot of pressure on myself going in for results and I left disappointed that i didn't have a medal, and I felt like I had failed in a lot of ways and i think this quad has allowed me to reframe what success is and allowed me to appreciate performances when they come together and how much goes into something that you are proud of,' said Brown.
Brown suffered a spinal cord injury during a gymnastics accident at age 12. she regained her ability to walk but has been left with neurological impairments. Since entering the sport of cycling she's had achieved incredible success, accumulating 11 world championship medals including 3 golds. Her best finish in the Tokyo games was 4th, so a podium is a goal, but she also is looking forward to a non-pandemic games with fans and social interactions.
'Really excited to have a non-pandemic games with family and friends, spectating in person,' said the two-time Olympian. 'Being able to engage with other athletes and have the social aspect to it because that's what makes the game so special is the village environment."
Brown is undecided whether she will pursuit competing in the Los Angeles games in 2028...but she's well on her way to a second career in aviation. she says she just completed her first private-pilot check-ride this past Sunday.
