We would like to wish Fabienne Andre the best of luck in her next race for the Paralympics. This is Fabienne’s first Paralympic Games. She took up wheelchair racing after Para swimming which she started at the age of 14.
She began training as a wheelchair racer in 2018 and started competing in July 2019. Fabienne said “While competing at the CPISRA [Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association] World Games in Spain in August 2018 I was introduced to a wide range of sports other than swimming, so it provided a real insight into other sports and the elements needed to compete in them.”
The Get Kids Going! supported athlete said “I wanted to expand my sporting world. Initially, I was looking at trying both hand cycling and wheelchair racing, as I was keen to do a triathlon, which would enable me to continue swimming too. I had become good friends with a few of the wheelchair racers, so felt this would be a good place to start. Later that year I was invited to try it out at the Weir Archer Academy and something just clicked. I knew that wheelchair racing would be my new competitive focus and passion.”
In June 2021, she secured her first European title as she won the women’s T3. Then just a month later she was overjoyed to hear she had been selected for the Paralympic Games.
“Almost 2 years to the day that I raced at the Muller Anniversary Games, just 6 months after transferring sports and starting wheelchair racing with Weir Archer I got the news today that I’ve been selected as part of the Paralympics GB team in Tokyo! I am so proud to be on the team, alongside club team-mates David Weir and international WAA member Joao Correia, who will represent Portugal. A big thank you to my coach, Jenny Archer to family, friends, colleagues and everyone who has supported me so far. I can’t quite believe I’m writing this but I am now off to Tokyo Paralympics! 
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We love the photos above from her first week in Tokyo. She said “An incredible hotel view. Enjoying a few home comforts, from crochet and fresh washing too. I am soaking up and enjoying every moment and experience.”
Fabienne had tough competition in her first race on 29th August the women’s 100m T34. But for her very first Paralympic race she came 5th up against fellow Great British team mate Hannah Cockroft who broke a world record in that race in her sixth Paralympic title.
It was great to see Fabienne congratulating Hannah at the end of the race.
For now we wish Fabienne the best of luck in her next event – the Women’s 800m T34 which takes place on Saturday 4th September at 1.46am.
We’re also looking forward to cheering on all of our other Get Kids Going! athletes in the coming days. Catch up with our daily Paralympic news posts here.