Six-year wait over for Brown ahead of WPA European Championships

For six years Sally Brown has waited and wondered whether she would get the chance to turn out in a British vest again – but come next week her wish will finally be granted.

Not since the London 2012 Paralympic Games has Brown competed for GB but that will come to an end in Berlin as she takes part at the World Para Athletics European Championships.

Cheering from the sidelines has become a regular part of the T47 runner’s schedule, itching for the chance to compete each time she watches boyfriend Jonnie Peacock run.

But, with injury seemingly a thing of the past and a watching brief now over, the 23-year-old is revelling in the chance to make memories of her own on the track.

“Six years is a long time, I had a few stress fractures on and off, I had an emergency appendix operation one year and it all seemed to be one thing after another,” she said.

“It didn’t really hit me that much until last year in London. I watched Jonnie running at the World Championships and it was then I realised how tough it was, being in the stadium again with five years having passed since London 2012.

“There was never a point where I properly thought about giving up, there were moments where I was not sure if I could mentally do another year of being disappointed and getting injured, but I knew I was going to keep pushing.

“Even if I hadn’t been selected for Berlin, I think I would have been determined enough to keep going into next year – but there were times where you wonder if you can do that much, it is very hard.”