Calgary para-athlete with MS on next step to Rio Games dream

Along with her discus, a Calgary para-athlete is targeting the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, but right now it’s all about the Para Pan Am Games in Toronto.

Jennifer Brown suddenly lost her ability to walk back in 2006 after a successful track and field career, soon finding out she had multiple sclerosis.

RELATED: Step-by-step: Para-athlete with MS goes from not walking to 2016 Rio hopeful

After years of hard work and rehabilitation, the former University of Calgary Dino got back on the field and is now one of the top para-track and field athletes in Canada, in discus and shot put.

After successful outings in Alberta and Arizona, which included breaking Canadian records in discus, Brown is hoping for more success in Toronto, which is also an indirect qualifier for the Rio Games.

She said being on the high stage in Canada is extremely meaningful.

“My family and friends get to be there, they get to see me at a level of competition that they’ve never seen before and so it’s really exciting, but I never try to forget that we continue to follow a process,” she said. “There’s a whole world of other things around it because it’s a multi-sport game, it’s in Canada, those are all other factors, but really it’s a track meet.”

“It is my job to go there, it’s my job to warm up as I do, to get sharpened up as I do and to throw as well as I can on the day.”

That being said, Brown is taking in the experience.

“This is probably the neatest opportunity I may have in my track career, just because it’s so personal, it’s at home and it’s a great time for Canada,” she said.

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