Shona battles back to qualify for the winter paralympics
A West Lothian woman who had part of her leg amputated after experiencing six years of excruciating pain has recovered from her ordeal to become a decorated athlete.
Senior aircraftsman Shona Brownlee was named RAF Sportswoman of the year after bouncing back from her debilitating injury to excel in skiing.
The RAF said 42-year-old Shona’s achievements were “phenomenal” after she secured a place on Team GB for next year’s Winter Paralympics in Beijing.
And her family said Shona has overcome a devastating injury to excel in everything she does.
After attending Carmondean Primary and Deans Community High, Shona graduated with a B Mus (Hons) from Birmingham Conservatoire and then went on to do a Masters Degree in Music from Arizona State University.
On returning from America she took up orchestral playing and teaching in Birmingham before deciding to join the RAF.
Following her passing out ceremony at RAF Halton in 2012 she was posted to the RAF Central Band at RAF Northolt.
But during her RAF basic training, she suffered an ankle injury, causing irreparable nerve and ligament damage which developed into Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
After relying on the use of crutches for six years, she had a below the knee amputation in 2018. This has transformed her life.
Her first skiing experience was on a ski programme in Bavaria in 2018 with the Battle Back charity, before experiencing the opportunities provided through the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team (AFPST), which supports the recovery of injured personnel and veterans through the power of competing in winter sports.
Shona is now the reigning British champion across all disciplines of para-alpine skiing in her female sitting category and has won 11 gold, 12 silver and two bronze medals at Europa and North American Cup races, secured an overall third place finish in the Europa Cup in season 2019/2020 and earned her first World Cup start.
Her dad Archie said the whole family are immensely proud of Shona and everything she has achieved.
He continued: “Shona has throughout her life always set herself the highest of standards to aim for in everything she does.
“She had endured six years of constant pain following her injury, which caused us great concern about her future career.
“The prosthesis changed her life dramatically. It has been great to see her smiling again and taking on new challenges. We have all been amazed at her achievements over the past three years and are so proud of her winning this prestigious award against other very talented nominees.”
Air Chief Marshal W Wigston said in the
RAF Sport Award Citation: “Despite the challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, her achievements this year have been phenomenal and a testament to her unwavering commitment to para-alping skiing.
“With a very limited number of opportunities to qualify for the Winter Paralympic Games, Brownlee produced the results required to earn a national slot for Team GB and met the criteria by GB Snowsport too for selection, all while balancing her role as an RAF musician.
“A modest yet formidable athlete, SAC Brownlee has demonstrated such talent that she was awarded elite athlete status in 2021.
“Now the seventh para-alpine skiier in the world in her category, she has had a fabulous rise in her sport and shown genuine potential to bring home a medal from Beijing next year.”