Paralympian targets two more golds at Paris games

Hannah Cockroft, 32, says she hopes Paris will not be her last Paralympic games

Paralympian Hannah Cockcroft has said she is aiming for two more gold medals at the 2024 games in Paris - and she has no plans to retire yet.

The 32-year-old wheelchair sprinter, from Halifax, told the BBC that while she was always referred to as a "veteran" athlete - and she was the oldest member of the team - she was "not slowing down".

Ms Cockroft currently holds Paralympic records for the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m and has so far amassed a collection of five gold Paralympic medals.

She said: "Hopefully, I can move Yorkshire back up that medal table. Everyone remembers medals, no one remembers personal best times."

'Fit and strong'

Ms Cockroft said that she hoped the Paris Paralympics - which were due to start on Wednesday - would not be her last.

"I would love to do LA in 2028, but I'm 32 so I will have to keep an eye on my body," she said.

"But training is going really well, I feel fit and strong and I've had a really good season so far.

"The 100m is my first event, so I'm doing lots of really short sprint practices . I'm used to doing 10 to 15 miles a day, so I'm feeling fresh and good to go."

Ms Cockroft also said that since this was her fourth Paralympic Games, she knew the ropes, so was happy to help younger, less experienced team members.

"I'm the oldest girl on my start line by about four or five years - so probably quite old. So there are no surprises for me, I'll expect it all.

"I'm the person they come to if they have questions, which is absolutely fine - though I still feel like I don't know what's going on."

Ms Cockroft says the inclusive atmosphere in Paris is "fantastic" ahead of the games

When asked if she had any advice for athletes starting out at the Paralympics, Ms Cockroft encouraged them to just "soak it up" because it could be such a "whirlwind".

She also said the buzz in Paris ahead of the start of the 2024 games was "fantastic", adding that the Paralympic "narrative" continued to grow.

"Now, a lot more Paralympic athletes are household names and that has created a following of people who understand how hard we have worked to be here.

"It makes you even more proud to wear that kit and, hopefully, get that medal.

"After the Olympics closing ceremony, it's the first time I remember a president saying, 'stay tuned, the Paralympics are coming'.

"I've never had that follow-on before - saying, 'it's not finished, we've got another stage to go'.

"Every time there's a picture of a sprinter in Paris, there's also a picture of a Paralympian - and that's amazing to see."

Ms Cockroft, from Halifax, says she wants to "move Yorkshire up the medal table" at the games

Ms Cockroft is four Paralympic gold medals short of the 11 won by Britain's most successful wheelchair racer, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

She said: "I want to beat my Personal Bests and if I can I will, but ultimately the goal for the Paralympic games is the medals - so I want to win two more golds."

Ms Cockroft said lots of fans from her hometown of Halifax had bought tickets to the Paralympics and she was "so proud" to be representing her county.

"Thank you to everyone in Halifax and Yorkshire for all your support. I see every message online," she continued.

Ms Cockroft said there were currently many "really strong women" who were Olympic athletics, but the Paralympics also had athletes who were "just as good".

"So I hope everyone gets behind us just as much - and learns our names," she said.

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