Clara

Brown

Quick Facts

• Brown was an avid athlete as a competitive gymnast, runner and skier before sustaining an incomplete spinal cord injury at the C5/C6 level at age 12
• After several years of physical rehabilitation, and some unexpected compounding injuries, Brown joined her high school rowing team as a coxswain, her first reintroduction to competitive sport after her accident
• Despite enjoying her time on several rowing teams throughout high school and early college, she sought a competitive activity powered by her own means, rather than motivating others to push to their physical limits
• During her freshman year of college, she purchased her first modified road bike, which ignited her passion for bikes both as a means of transportation and as a way to stay active
• After graduating, she was hired at a bike touring company, and it was there that she made her connection with U.S. Paralympics
• One of her clients served on the USOPC’s Paralympic Advisory Committee and encouraged her to investigate the possibility of racing competitively
• Brown was invited to a talent ID camp in Colorado Springs in June of 2018, and then proceeded to compete at the third Para-cycling road world cup in Baie Comeau in August of 2018, taking bronze in the road race
• Daughter of her father, Greg, her mother, Debbie, and her stepmother, Amanda
• Has two brothers, Prescott and Spencer, and one sister, Rachel
• Hobbies include cooking breakfast, spending time outside hiking and camping, and downhill skiing
• She is currently working on obtaining her private pilot’s license, and is hoping one day to attend law school.

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2023 – (C3 - Time Trial - Women), 8th (C3 - Road Race - Women)
• Years of participation: C3 - Road Race - Women 2019, 2022, 2023; C3 - Time Trial - Women 2019, 2022, 2023; C3 - 3km Pursuit - Women 2019, 2020, 2022; C3 - 500m Time Trial - Women 2019, 2020, 2022; C3 - Omnium - Women 2020, 2022; C3 - Scratch Race - Women 2019, 2020, 2022
• Medals: 11 (3 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze)
• Gold – 2022 (C3 - Time Trial - Women); 2020 (C3 - 500m Time Trial - Women, C3 - Omnium - Women)
• Silver – 2022 (C3 - Road Race - Women); 2020 (C3 - 3km Pursuit - Women, C3 - Scratch Race - Women)
• Bronze – 2022 (C3 - 3km Pursuit - Women, C3 - Omnium - Women, C3 - Scratch Race - Women); 2019 (C3 - Road Race - Women, C3 - Time Trial - Women)

Paralympic Experience

• 2-time Paralympian; 1-time Paralympic medalist (1 bronze)
• Paralympic Games Paris 2024, bronze (C1-3 - Road Race - Women), 8th (C1-3 - Time Trial - Women)
• Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, 4th (C1-3 - 3km Pursuit - Women), 5th (C1-3 - Time Trial - Women), 6th (C1-3 - Road Race - Women)