In an award facilitated by the British Elite Athletes Association, para-cyclist Claire Danson has been named Athletes’ Athlete of the Month for April by her World Class Programme peers.Danson made her international handcycling debut with Great Britain by completing three races in Italy. Her first appearance on the global cycling stage came three-and-a-half years after she severed her spinal cord in a collision with a tractor, an incident that left her paralysed.Before the collision Danson was a competitive triathlete, winning the 30-34 age category at the European Championships in June 2019. During her recovery, some of her first thoughts were about becoming a para-athlete, a mission she can now firmly consider achieved.Claire scooped the Athletes’ Athlete of the Month award to become the fourth sportsperson commended by their fellow elite British athletes.She said: “It was such a surprise and such an honour, because I was up against three other athletes I’ve looked at and known. To have been voted for was such an honour.”Danson topped a nominee list comprised of Emily Campbell (weightlifting), Penny Healey (archery) and Sophie McKinna (athletics).The Athletes’ Athlete of the Month award is given to elite British sportspeople for their achievements in competition or elsewhere, such as personal development, inspiring comebacks, charity work, awareness raising and more.It celebrates successes across elite British sport, and commends more than just competitive accomplishment – with every winner decided by the athlete community.Thank you to every athlete that voted, and congratulations to Claire for winning, as well as to Emily, Penny and Sophie for their nomination.Elite British athletes, to cast your vote next time, keep an eye on your emails from the BEAA!|https://britisheliteathletes.org/athlete-support/|
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