SaqSeven-time champion Hannah Cockroft has insisted she has “not one thought” that Paris 2024 will be her last Paralympics, while sending an ominous warning to her rivals.
Wheelchair racer Cockroft has dominated the women’s T34 category for more than a decade after bursting onto the scene with two gold medals at London 2012.
The 32-year-old is ready to put her 100 per cent Games record on the line on Sunday when she defends her 100m title at the Stade de France before attempting to retain the 800m crown the following Saturday.
Cockroft, who is four Paralympic gold medals behind the 11 won by Britain’s most successful wheelchair racer Tanni Grey-Thompson, believes she is continuing to progress faster and has ambitions to compete in Los Angeles in 2028.
She told the PA news agency: “Obviously the question always comes up: will this be your last?
“I’m 32 years old and that’s the age we see a lot of women leaving our sport.
“I feel like I’m going to have to make a lot of decisions in the next cycle, but I’d like to get to Los Angeles. I’d like to see how many more Games I have in store.”
“I’m still faster, I’m still stronger, everything is still going in the right direction, so there’s no reason for me to go out now.
“I don’t have a single thought in my head that this could be the last, unless something goes wrong.”
Yorkshire-born Cockroft made a statement of intent in May by winning the 15th and 16th world titles of her glittering career in Kobe, Japan.
Yet given her enduring supremacy, she is “hyperaware” of the pressure on her shoulders.
It’s official, I’m going to Paris! 🇫🇷
I am so happy to have been selected to represent @ParalympicsGB at my fourth Paralympic Games 🤩
A huge thank you to my team, sponsors and supporters for getting me this far.
Only 67 days left until the opening ceremony! LET’S GO! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/wc9C3WE6MA
— Hannah Cockroft OBE PLY DL (@HanCockroft) June 21, 2024
“I 100 percent believe I’m the one to beat, in the most unpretentious way possible,” Cockroft said.
“I am world number one, I have held that title since 2018. And it is scary; I am so aware of the fact that the target is on my back.
“But that’s what keeps me going. I’m never satisfied, I’m never happy with a race that’s not a fast time.
“I always ask questions and I think that the moment you stop and you’re happy with the performance you’ve achieved, that’s probably the day I’m going to have to retire.”
Emerging Chinese athlete Hanyu Lan finished second to Cockroft in both the 100m and 800m at the recent world championships.
Other challengers to the Briton include Panpan Liu, also from China, and Japan’s Moe Onodera, in addition to her compatriots Kare Adenegan and Fabienne Andre.
“I’m well aware that at the world championships there were some young girls and they were really good and I’m going to have some tough competition in the next Paralympic cycle,” Cockroft said.
“And that’s what I think about all the time. I want to stay on top. I have to work hard now and lay the foundations that will hopefully carry me through the years to come.”
Saq
