Claire Danson
Cycling
Claire was a very successful GB age group triathlete having won a number of races and competed all around the world in European and World Championships. In 2019 her sporting career really started to come to fruition when she became European Age Group Champion as well as winning the London Triathlon and Staffordshire Ironman 70.3. Her goal for 2019 was to get her long distance professional racing license.
However, just days before the race where she was hoping to obtain this license Claire was hit by a tractor whilst out riding her bike. Claire sustained catastrophic injuries including multiple breaks to her neck and spine, broken ribs, a crushed right arm, broken left wrist, two broken shoulder blades, punctured lungs and a severed spinal cord. Claire was left paralysed from the chest down resulting in her life changing forever.
Claire is a highly articulate and accomplished speaker. Her story is one of impressive mental and physical strength and one that cannot fail to impress and inspire. Drawing on her experiences and her own mental fortitude Claire is able to speak about topics such as overcoming both physical and mental challenges, drive and determination, goal setting and motivation to keep going. Claire is also very keen to draw attention to the importance of mental health and developing a positive sense of worth. In this area she can talk about reframing negative thoughts, having a positive mindset, goal setting and being kind. Using her own difficulties as a way to discuss these topics and to show others how all of these things are possible and how they can improve outlooks.
What is most remarkable about Claire’s story is how quickly she came to terms with such a devastating accident. Only two days after her accident, whilst the doctors were still unsure whether she would survive, and whilst still on a ventilator unable to move any part of her body, Claire communicated the word ‘Para athlete’ to her family, spelling the word out on a letter board. Claire used this mindset throughout her rehabilitation at Salisbury spinal unit, where she continued to amaze the doctors and nursing staff with the goals she continued to set herself. In truth, Claire redefined what even they thought was possible. Since her injury Claire has used her impressive mindset to return to the sport that she loves as a para triathlete and hand cyclist. In just over three years since her accident she has taken second place in multiple triathlon challenges, cycled from London to Paris and been selected to be on the Great Britain hand cycling team.
The journey has been a tough one, full of ups and downs but Claire has tackled every obstacle thrown at her with a smile on her face and the kind of positive mindset that most people can only dream of. Her story is one that cannot fail to inspire, motivate and instill the belief in others that anything really is possible.
Claire Danson