Paris Paralympics 2024: former Pangbourne pupil, Frankie Allen, celebrates taking gold ing the PR3 mixed coxed four rowing team for Team GB

A former Pangbourne pupil is celebrating after striking gold at the Paralympics, writes Dan Colquhoun.

Frankie Allen, who went to Pangbourne College and grew up in south Oxfordshire, claimed gold for Team GB at the Paris Paralympics in rowing.

She is part of the PR3 mixed coxed four team that fended off strong competition to add to Great Britain’s impressive medal tally so far.

And she was kind enough to answer a few questions for us from the athletes village in Paris.

Q: Are you able to sum up how you’re feeling having had a few days to reflect on your success?

“I haven’t even watched the race back yet. The last few days haven’t been enough time for it to sink in but it’s been a massive whirlwind and so much excitement.”

Q: When did the process leading to the gold medal start for you?

“We have been attending training camps for a long time now and I’ve been through some brutal training to get to this point.

“The process really started when I joined Pangbourne and rowing became my main interest. I found out I could classify for the para team when I was about 14, but was too young at the time, so this has been my goal for a number of years.”

As a student at Oxford Brookes University studying physiotherapy, she currently rows for Oxford Brookes University Boat Club. She also became a double world champion at the World Rowing Championships in the Czech Republic in 2022. So, the gold medal adds to her already impressive resume.

Q: Did you ever think that the young Frankie stepping into a boat for the first time as a child would go on to become a double world and Paralympic champion?

“No, not at all! Even a year before the world championships it was still just a fever dream, let alone when I first started rowing properly at Pangbourne.

“In my head, it was always a goal but it was a goal that I never really thought would happen.”

Frankie was born with Erb’s Palsy, a condition from birth that affects the movement and feeling in a person’s arm and this, in combination with her passion for the sport, led her to join the GB para-rowing team.

Q: What advice would you have for young people who may have a disability wishing to achieve what you have?

“I want to inspire young kids in schools to get into sports, especially if they feel they can’t participate because of a disability.

“My advice to anyone wishing to maybe achieve what I have is to not let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Keep going and work hard.

“I was told a lot by physios when I was younger that I wouldn’t be able to do something like this and I wanted to prove them wrong. This is also the reason I want to be a physiotherapist so I can tell young kids that they can do it if they really want to.”

Miss Allen’s rowing coach at Pangbourne College, Richard Follett, spoke of his delight at the news of one of Pangbourne’s former athletes achieving such success.

“Frankie was an ever-present at training, always pushing herself and others in her crews with a quiet determination,” he said. “Her love for the sport and determination to succeed set her up for a golden future and we are immensely proud of all she has achieved.”

Q: Finally, what is next in the pipeline for you?

“Firstly I need to complete the placements needed for my university course. I have three to complete and have put them off for the last couple of years whilst I’ve been training so I need to complete those whilst focusing on the next World Championships in Shanghai.

“After that, the aim is Los Angeles in 2028.”