Hannah Cockroft Energizes Paris Paralympics Amid Wedding Prep

Hannah Cockroft hasn’t reached her pedestal by choosing the easy path. The Paralympic T34 100m and 800m champion and world record holder in the T34 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m, is adding an extra layer of stress to her Paris experience by planning one of the most nerve-wracking life events simultaneously. “You know when people ask if you have any advice for your younger self,” she muses. “It would be: ‘Don’t plan a wedding the same year as a Paralympic Games.’”

Cockroft is set to marry fellow ParalympicsGB athlete Nathan Maguire, who competes in the T54 400m, 800m, and 1500m events, three weeks after the conclusion of the Games. Interestingly, Maguire once asked Cockroft for an autograph at a meet-the-athlete event and then discarded it. “We’ve been very busy bees, and I just keep reminding myself there is no pressure on a wedding, no expectation, you’ve just got to go there and enjoy the day,” Cockroft reflects. But the pressure is undoubtedly on now.

Cockroft first burst into the public eye during the thrilling, chilly night of para-athletics at London 2012, crossing the 100m finish line in her racing wheelchair with her powerful arms raised in triumph. That was her first of seven Paralympic golds, and in Paris, she aims to retain her T34 100m and 800m titles along with participating in the 4x100m universal relay.

After the Covid-impacted Tokyo Games three years ago, Cockroft is eager to have spectators back in the stands. “It means everything,” she states. “Ultimately, sport is entertainment… I am an entertainer, I like tension. Getting on that track with no one watching, I really struggled. I remember vividly us being introduced to the ‘crowd,’ and in my head, I was like: ‘What is the point? Why am I here?’ It was not an enjoyable experience for me.”

She adds, “I’m really looking forward to getting back out there because that’s why we do it. We want people to see the work that we’ve done, cheer for us, enjoy what we do, and for me, I want as many eyes to see my sport as possible. Hopefully, some of those eyes will think, ‘I can do that, and I want to be part of that.’ The Paralympics is one of the only spaces where parasport gets a crowd, so I milk it as much as I can.”

No longer the “very naive 20-year-old” from London 2012, Cockroft has evolved into a seasoned media personality over the past 12 years. Earlier this year, she even criticized government policies regarding disabled people. The 32-year-old has learned that garnering coverage for Paralympic sports isn’t as straightforward as it once seemed.

“I had to realize that London was not a normal Games, not what the Paralympics normally offers, and I think that was quite a difficult learning curve,” she admits. “The more four-year cycles I’ve experienced, I’ve realized that the amount of attention, media, and exposure from London 2012 wasn’t the norm.”

She continues, “Sport-wise, I’ve seen athletics grow tenfold. London had two heats for the 100m and the 200m, and this year will be the first time that I get heats for the 100m again, which is really exciting for me. The T34 girls have gone from being one of the smallest classes to one of the largest. I feel myself and my teammate Kare [Adenegan] have driven that growth with our rivalry, passing the crown from one to the other. The more you can do that, the more attention you get.”

Cockroft reminisces, “I’ve seen the whole Paralympic movement grow and the awareness of it. It was amazing to see everyone excited for the Paralympics right after the Olympics. I don’t remember ever seeing that kind of excitement before.”

Now a veteran at 32, has Cockroft found herself in a different team role? “I keep getting called the veteran, which is a massive privilege but also makes me feel very old at 32,” she laughs. “Give me a few more years.”

“Everyone keeps saying, ‘This must be your last Games,’ but I’m like, ‘Don’t retire me until I’ve retired, thank you. I’m still going,’” she says firmly.

There are still a few milestones she wants to achieve. She has yet to attend an opening ceremony, and there’s the intriguing prospect of getting a tattoo in Paris. That is, if she can find the time amidst all the medal chasing and wedding preparations.

Source: The Guardian, Particle News