Brittni Mason had no idea she was eligible for Paralympics. Now she’s chasing gold

Brittni Mason’s path to the Paralympics is uniquely her own. While she was at Eastern Michigan University, someone contacted her coach about including an athlete with a disability in para-sports. The team was confused because they didn’t have any athletes with disabilities.

Mason was born with Erb’s Palsy, which limits the movement in her left arm, but she didn’t know that her condition qualified her for the Paralympics.

At 21, Mason competed in her first Para World Championships in Dubai and won a gold medal in the women’s 100-meter T-47 race, which is for athletes with certain impairments. This success made her a standout athlete for the Tokyo Paralympics, which were held in 2021 due to the pandemic.

Her impressive performance in Dubai helped her gain a following, and she decided to continue her career despite having no plans to turn professional after college.

For the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Mason will compete in the 100 and 200 meters. She aims to use her platform to raise awareness about the Paralympics and help others learn about their eligibility. With over 40,000 Instagram followers, she has partnered with brands like Celsius, Panasonic, and Avendant Health to promote the Games.

Mason believes these partnerships are important because they increase interest in para-sports. “If companies invest in Para athletes, it helps get the word out and makes more people interested in watching,” she says.

This will be Mason’s second time at the Paralympics. In Tokyo, she won gold in the 4×100-meter mixed relay and silver in the 100 and 200 meters T-47. For Paris, she has focused on improving her 200 meters to boost her 100 meters performance. Her new training approach has her feeling fit and hopeful for better results.