Danson paralysed following accident

Triathlete Claire Danson has revealed she is paralysed after a cycling accident in August.

Danson, the younger sister of Great Britain and England hockey player Alex, suffered horrific injuries, including a severed spinal cord, in a collision with a tractor less than three months after winning gold in the 30-34 age category at the European Championships.

She revealed the extent of her injuries in a post on Instagram, saying she wanted to “help educate others” about spinal injuries.

She wrote: “It has taken me a while to write this but now I am ready to share my story of the incident that has changed my life for ever; a story of going from European champion at triathlon to life in a wheelchair.

“On August 28 I had a collision with a tractor whilst riding my bike. I suffered two punctured lungs, broke a finger, both wrists, the head of my humerus and both shoulders.

“I also fractured all the bones in my neck including a break to one and had multiple fractures and breaks to every one of my ribs. I have had quite a few surgeries to sort all this and now have a large amount of metal in me. All of this will heal fully.

“Unfortunately I also suffered a complete sever to my spinal cord at T9. This means that I am paralysed from my belly button downwards.

“This is of course not something that will heal. While I still have hard moments I have accepted the situation I am now in and won’t be letting it stop me do anything that I want to (including triathlon!).”

But Danson emphasised she was “still exactly the same person” and wanted to be treated as “the same old Claire”.

“I still have crazy hair and a mad laugh,” she said. “I am still the clumsiest person you have met and I will still tell the most long-winded yet entertaining stories.

“Having decided to share my story with you, including all the highs and the lows, I would like you to follow me and I would like you to learn all about spinal injuries with me.

“This world is so new to me I want to help educate others as to what it is like and what it involves.”

British driver Jamie Chadwick has confirmed she will defend her W Series title. Chadwick, pictured right, won this year’s inaugural allfemale motor racing championship, pocketing more than £400,000 in the process. The 21-year-old from Bath, signed by Williams as their development driver earlier this year, will be joined by six new faces, including Brit Abbie Eaton, 27, for the second instalment of the series. Chadwick won two of the six races this year, sealing the championship at the season finale in Brands Hatch. Britons Alice Powell, 26, Sarah Moore, 25, and Jessica Hawkins, 24, will also be back on the W Series grid.