Fabienne Andre: 'I found my place and community through sport'

Fabienne André has never needed anyone to tell her exactly what she is capable of, but she did need someone to give her the opportunity to be included.

The soon-to-be two-time Paralympian, also a Commonwealth medallist and double European champion, has asserted herself as a dominant force within British para-athletics and is one-to-watch in Paris this summer.

Yet it wasn’t until the Brighton-born athlete started swimming as a teenager that her life was knocked onto a new path. What she once accepted as a prerequisite to her exclusion has become her biggest driver to bringing about change in the world of disability sport - an Achilles heel turned Herculean strength.

“My whole journey started from discovering sport," she said. "A doctor recommended I start swimming after I had a major leg operation and for the first time I found myself doing something that focused on what I could do.

“When you have a disability sometimes there’s an emphasis on what you can’t do, or what you have to do differently to others, but in sport it’s about finding commonalities and solutions so you can.

“Working in the NHS in the physical and occupational therapy department means I’m very passionate about promoting sport and inclusivity in schools, so no one’s left sitting on the sidelines.

“Showing people there are adaptive or accessible sports out there; I truly believe there’s something out there for everyone, you just might not find it on the first try, it could be the eighth or ninth.

“It’s hard not to compare yourself to others but ultimately you have to do the best you can. If you do that you’ll be the happiest, most successful version of yourself.”

While the now 27-year-old went on to swim competitively at national level, winning four medals at the Cerebral Palsy World Games in 2018, being exposed to the sporting world was about so much more.

“I always showed determination to do hard things and push my body, but not being included in things at school meant I always felt like I was on the back foot and trying to make myself heard or find my space," she explained.

“I found my place and my community through sport. I went to watch the swimming at London 2012 - ironically I wasn’t aware of athletics at the time - and I think that was a real turning point for me.

“I never recognised a place for myself in sporting environments but going to the Paralympics was the first time I was exposed to people like me outside of my usual circles.

“I realised I had a space and that I could be valued as a person and someone with a disability. It showed me there was a place where people like me are celebrated.”

André’s career blossomed on an even bigger stage after she made the switch to athletics, but despite winning double European gold in the 100m and 800m in 2018 and Commonwealth bronze in 2022, silverware is not the main motivation.

She added: “I wish I’d found sport earlier because it completely changed my outlook on my place in society, let alone my outlook on the physical capabilities I had and could have.

“The opportunity to experience sport wasn’t there for me or encouraged when I was at school, so now I absolutely want to make it easier for others coming after me.”

With that in mind, André is relishing the fact she is part of a formidable British wheelchair sprinting trio - alongside seven-time champion Hannah Cockroft and Kare Adenegan - who are set for some more enticing and inspiring battles in Paris.

“I’m really inspired by my teammates," said André. "I love that as a trio of athletes we all have very different stories and motivating factors, but together we have a unique opportunity to impact the sport going forward. It’s really important that we harness that.”

For now though, Andre has her sights set on producing a podium-worthy performance at her second Paralympic outing at Paris 2024.

“I could never have imagined representing my country and wearing the Great Britain vest as a young child. It’s an incredible opportunity," she added.

“Every single Paralympics is unique. To get to go once and call yourself a Paralympian is amazing and no mean feat, so to follow that up and go again - there’s nothing better.

“I’ll be aiming to maintain or gain a position on the podium but it’s always one step at a time. Anything can happen so as long as I get to the start line and execute the best race I can, I’ll be happy.”