Kate Brim has called Lowell her home since being adopted from Ukraine in 2003. The 2016 Lowell High School graduate recently placed first and took gold at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships, which took place in Baie-Comeau, Canada August 11-14.
Embracing Para-Cycling
During all four years at Lowell High School, Brim was part of the rowing team. Shortly after high school, she sustained a spinal cord injury from minor back surgery for a herniated disc. During her rehab, she was introduced to hand cycling and says she immediately fell in love with it.
She has been training using a stationary trainer that can mimic elevation as well as on the road throughout Lowell, Ada, Ionia, and Saranac. Many in the community have likely spotted her during a training ride as her bike is hard to miss.
In 2021 Brim took first place in the women’s handcycle division of the Riverbank Run. In 2022 she placed second in the same event.
Competing at the World Championships
In order to participate in the world championships, there are standards that the U.S. para-cycling team looks to be met or exceeded. Each person is given a classification based on disability. Brim is in the H2 category and had to maintain a 15.2 MPH average at the time trial during national championships. At the event she averaged 16.3 MPH, allowing her to compete on the world stage. As a member of the U.S. team, Brim placed first, winning gold, in the time trial race as well as the road race.
Continued training on the bike, focusing on nutrition, and participating in the Ada time trial to continue to gauge her times keeps Brim busy. Additionally, she has been working full-time at the Amazon fulfillment center in Calendonia.
When asked about what inspired her to compete in para-cycling events, Brim says, “ For me my competitive drive came from do you want to discover what I truly am possible of and not let the standards that some doctors have given me in the beginning days of my injury define me.”
What’s next for Brim? She will move to Colorado Springs and will reside at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. There she will continue to learn as much as she can about racing at the elite level. Brim’s dedication and ability in her sport certainly mean more great things are in store for her.
Photos courtesy of Katie Brim and used with permission.
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