Kayleigh Brown, a 27-year-old boccia star from Ayrshire, has been named the British Elite Athletes Association's (BEAA) Athletes' Athlete of the Month for May. The award is determined by a vote among Britain's elite sportspeople.
This recognition follows her success at the Boccia Challenger Finland tournament, where she secured two silver medals. This competition marked her first event since giving birth to her son Klay in October 2025.
The Athletes' Athlete of the Month award is presented by the BEAA on behalf of its members, who receive World Class Programme funding from UK Sport. It celebrates the various ways British athletes inspire the nation, including sporting achievements, personal milestones like injury comebacks, awareness campaigns, and charitable efforts.
Kayleigh, from Maybole, was nominated alongside Matt Bush (para-taekwondo) and Jess Stretton (para-archery), both European champions, and Emma Wiggs, who won a Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup after an 18-month injury layoff.
“It's really nice to be recognised by my fellow athletes,” Kayleigh said. “I've been involved in a few sports over the years, and it's great that I have friends in different sports. It's nice to be acknowledged for what I achieved in Finland.”
She added: “Hopefully, it shows that it is possible to return to competition soon after giving birth, and if you want to achieve that, it definitely is possible.”
Kayleigh began her maternity leave in July 2025, meaning she had been away from competition for 10 months before returning at Finland's Pajulahti Sports Institute. Despite the break, she performed impressively, winning silver in both the women's BC2 tournament and the BC1/2 team event.
The Paris 2024 Paralympian went unbeaten in the group stage of her individual competition before losing 8-2 in the final to Chantal Van Engelen of the Netherlands. In the BC1/2 team event, the Netherlands also defeated the British trio of Brown, David Smith OBE, and Reshad Saraj in the final.
“I'm really pleased with how I performed in Finland,” Kayleigh said. “My main goal was to get back competing, enjoy the experience, and learn what it's like to compete with a baby on the sidelines.”
She continued: “When I started competing, I quickly realised the athlete instinct had kicked in, and I wanted to play my best and go far in the tournament. So, although that wasn't the main focus, I was thrilled to come home with a medal.”
