DANIELLE BROWN MBE
“When I became disabled, many people just saw what I couldn't do. My parents, Liz and Duncan Brown never did. They fought for me and gave me opportunities to succeed.”
“As a teenager I acquired a disability - I have CRPS which causes chronic pain in both my feet. My school was unable to adapt sessions for me so I spent two hours a week sitting in the library which was really tough because I'd always loved sport.
I began to look around for a sport that didn't involve much running around or walking and I started archery on my fifteenth birthday with my Dad. Getting back outdoors and finding a sport that I could do was incredible - it was all about my ability and what I could do rather than what I couldn't. I progressed quickly, making it onto the Great Britain team in 3 years.
When I became disabled, many people just saw what I couldn't do. My parents, Liz and Duncan Brown never did. They fought for me and gave me opportunities to succeed, driving me all around the country to competitions and coaching sessions and I started to succeed in both the disabled and non-disabled categories. Even when the pressure to win on home soil at the London 2012 Paralympics piled on, they were there to remind me to do my best and enjoy it as that, ultimately, is the most important part. My Dad was hugely important in this - people talk about the importance of male role models for boys but they are just as important for girls too.
I competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. There I became the first disabled person to represent England in a non-disabled category and won the gold medal in the team event. Working with my teammates Nicola Simpson and Nicky Hunt showed me exactly what could be achieved in an inclusive environment: they were super supportive and enabled me to perform better.”
BARRIERS TO DIVERSITY IN SPORT
“Deep-rooted biases continue to limit opportunities for girls and disabled athletes, reinforcing outdated stereotypes about their abilities.
Girls often face stereotypes that discourage their participation in sport, while disabled athletes are frequently seen as less capable rather than equally competitive.
These biases shape funding decisions, media representation, and coaching priorities, creating systemic exclusion. Dismantling these barriers requires actively challenging stereotypes, embedding inclusive policies, and ensuring that leadership, coaching, and media narratives reflect true equity in sport.
Storytelling sits at the heart of change. We need stories about key players, by people from underrepresented demographics in order to drive real change. Shining a spotlight on amazing role models helps people think 'if she did it, maybe I can too' and help them learn from the challenges and barriers they experienced.”
WOMEN IN SPORT
Joining women's sports networking groups was very powerful as it enabled me to meet like-minded people and learn from their journeys. There are so many incredible opportunities when you work together and it's much easier to break through barriers and achieve your goals. It's important to collaborate and shine a spotlight on brilliant women doing extraordianry things. The more we talk about it, highlight problems and shout about successes, the more barriers get broken down.”
“I want to show that ability is not defined by your gender and change the narrative around what people think girls can or can't achieve. It is important to me to find ways to break down barriers so more girls can feel safe and participate in a sport they love, while also helping to build their confidence and resilience.”
