Who is Paralympian and Countryfile presenter Steve Brown?

STEVE Brown has become a household name after appearing on BBC’s Countryfile.

You may also recognise him for being a Paralympic wheelchair rugby athlete. Here’s everything you need to know.

AFP

Steve Brown played wheelchair rugby for Great Britain[/caption]

Who is Steve Brown?

Steve Brown is a television presenter, athlete and a former member and captain of the Great Britain wheelchair rugby squad.

He was born on June 2, 1981 in Kent.

He already knew that he wanted his future career to either involve sport or wildlife, and he got both.

Steve told the Radio Times: “If I wasn’t playing football with my mates I was catching tadpoles and slowworms, and I loved programmes like The Really Wild Show and everything with David Attenborough.

“So that’s what I wanted to be.”

What awards has Steve Brown won?

Steve has won several awards throughout his career.

He received the New On-Screen Talent award at the Royal Television Society West of England Awards 2018.

In 2015 he was recognised in the Shaw Trust Power 100 and as a wheelchair rugby player he was a European Championship gold-medal winner.

Steve is also a Freeman of the Borough of Swale.

When did Steve Brown coach the wheelchair rugby team?

Steve gained a place in the Great Britain wheelchair rugby squad in 2006 and in 2007 was a member of the team which won gold in the IWRF European Championships.

He wasn’t selected for the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games however he led the Olympic and Paralympic Parade of the Heroes through London on the team’s return.

In 2011, Brown became captain of team, leading them to a fifth place finish in the London 2012 Paralympics.

After the London 2012 Paralympics, Brown retired from playing international wheelchair rugby but is still involved in the sport as a player and the head coach for Canterbury Hellfire Wheelchair Rugby Club.

What TV shows has Steve Brown been on?

Steve has appeared on several TV shows through the years.

The Invictus Games

Steve has been a reporter and commentator for the BBC‘s coverage of the Invictus Games in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

He described this work as “the privilege of watching people bond and go from being individuals with things in common to being part of a team”.

Countryfile

Steve has worked on Countryfile since April 2017.

It is worth every flat tyre, every muddy set of hands, every wet lap… I want to be judged on my performance.

Steve Brown

Speaking about the job, he told the Radio Times that it was a lifelong dream of his.

He said: “It is worth every flat tyre, every muddy set of hands, every wet lap… I want to be judged on my performance.

“I’m hoping people will see it’s about ability, not disability.”

Steve’s other TV credits include:

• BBC Breakfast
• Blue Planet UK
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
• Escape to the Perfect Town
• Food: Truth or Scare
• Game Changers
• Greatest Escapes to the Country
• Health: Truth or Scare
• London Marathon 2018 and 2019
• The One Show
• Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
• Springwatch
• Wimbledon 2018
• Without Limits: Vietnam
• World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge

What happened to Steve Brown?

Steve was 23 when he had the accident that changed his life.

In 2005 he was working for a holiday company in Europe when he tripped and fell from a first floor balcony.

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Steve Brown competed in the 2012 Paralympics[/caption]

He broke his neck which trapped his spinal cord.

Steve was taken to hospital for emergency surgery to stabilise his neck.

Speaking about his accident, he said: “The only parts of my body that I could move were my shoulders, my neck and my elbows.”

Three weeks later he few to England to begin his rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

What else does Steve Brown do?

Steve also works as a motivational speaker where he often talks about his injury and recovery.

His speeches include a variety of subjects such as animals, sports, Paralympics, environment, travel, disability and overcoming obstacles.

He also works as a mentor and coach for wheelchair rugby schemes.