Cronin set for World Para debut after injury 'toll'

In 2021, Bree Cronin was 17 years old and dreaming of combining a career in the army with one in athletics.

But her world changed when she was hit by a car outside Cardiff Central Station.

She sustained multiple leg fractures from the incident and her life ambitions were put on hold as she began her recovery.

Four and a half years later, 12 months after taking up Para-athletics, she is preparing to compete in the F44 discus at her World Para Athletics Championships debut, which takes place from 26 September to 5 October in New Delhi, India.

"I broke a few bones and nothing went back to normal, I'm pretty much stuck like this," she said.

"I went to a military college and I was a very fit person at the time, it was a very big change from there to here.

"It was a very rough few years, it definitely took a toll on me."

Cronin says she struggled a lot mentally during that period but a return to sport has helped her confidence.

"I think people encouraged me to get back into it because of the mental side of things because I used to be so active," she said.

"Before the injuries I was already a discus thrower as an able-bodied athlete and I've always wanted to be in that sport.

"I was doing pretty well and I didn't want to give that dream up so it took me a while to realise I could go back into it.

"I couldn't do this a year ago or six months ago really, my confidence has definitely grown. I'm learning to be okay with what's happened."

The now 22-year-old admits she had some hesitations about taking up the Para version of the sport she had once adored.

"I was scared because I didn't want to know myself as not being able to do something I used to love doing so much," Cronin said.

"Because I used to be able-bodied, coming from that background is very different and it's easy to be hard on yourself mentally.

"I decided to find the path and it's gone smoothly so far, and I'm enjoying it again which is something I've really wanted."

Cronin won silver in this year's British Athletics Championships, behind team-mate Funmi Oduwaiye, who she also trains with in Cardiff.

"Funmi was pretty confident I'd be going with her [to New Delhi] but you never know with these sorts of things," Cronin said.

"It's definitely nice to go with someone I know and room with, especially with my first year going into it as well, it's all very new and different to me.

"It feels incredible to be selected and the chance that's been given to me again, I'm grateful for it.

"My mam was in the room when I got the phone call, she was screaming, it was nice."

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Cronin, from Abertridwr near Caerphilly in south Wales, is the latest of her family to shine on the sporting stage.

"My brother Brook is a boxer and my uncle Denys was a professional boxer, he fought Chris Eubank years ago [1990 in Cardiff]," she said.

"My brother is still doing boxing and my cousins are into weightlifting, it's a very sporty family."

In terms of her own ambitions, Cronin's mindset is not one of what could have been, but the excitement of what lies ahead.

"I'm looking forward to the experience [in New Delhi] and just want to enjoy it, there's a lot of things that will be new to me when I go," she added.

"I just want to feel how incredible it is to be selected and the chance that's been given to me again, I'm grateful for it."