RACHEL Bown can celebrate a crowning moment in her recovery from a life-threatening brain tumour after being named Great Britain captain for her age group at next month’s European Triathlon Championships in Geneva.

The 44-year-old, from Trowbridge, qualified for the sprint distance race on July 10 with her fifth-placed finish in the 45-49 age group at last June’s European’s in Kitzbühel, Austria, but shortly after, came close to losing her life after being diagnosed with a benign tumour.

Bown, who has pulled on a GB suit at seven international age group championships, battled back to race again and was informed by GB sprint team manager Dawn Vaughan on Tuesday that she had been handed the honour.

“I was actually captain in Turkey (when she won gold at the 2013 European Championships) but I didn’t really want to do it then because I was concentrating on my own performance,” said Larkrise School PE teacher Bown, who last week attempted to qualify for the 2016 Europeans with a 15th-placed finish in her age group at the Nottingham Triathlon.

“But this time, I’m going to enjoy it and I’ll be there for other people. I wasn’t expecting it. I was told that other athletes wanted me to do it. I’ve wanted to be known as a good athlete but it’s nice to be thought of as as a nice person and I guess my outlook on life has changed.

“I’ve been writing a book since the day I was diagnosed and I was planning on ending it at the Europeans, so that will work out really nicely.”