LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Accident in West End theatre left Brown with three dislocated vertebrae in her neck... but brave cycling star is gunning for more gold in Paris

- TOM HARLE

FRAN BROWN'S Paralympic journey began when she fell off a ladder as a lighting engineer in the West End.

While working in theatreland in 2006, she fell 16 feet and dislocated three vertebrae in her neck, becoming an incomplete tetraplegic.

"Don't go up ladders by yourself," Brown volunteers. "It's not advisable."

Three sports and 18 years later, Brown hopes to win a medal at Paris 2024 as a cyclist.

Born with Dartmoor on her doorstep to an outdoorsy dad and musical mum, Brown was propelled by a fierce rivalry with twin Helen, who was a hockey goalkeeper at national level. She reels off a rich palate of hobbies: netball, clarinet, sailing, ballet, saxophone, and mountain biking to name but a few.