With the World ParaAthletics Championships approaching, starting on the 14th of July this year, the Richmond Borough is getting ready to support the Athletes competing for the memorable home event to follow the brilliant Rio Olympics 2016. One particularly elite competitor in the Championships, Libby Clegg, is ready to show what she can do at the Championships. Libby is a world class sprinter who suffers from a deteriorating eye condition, Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy disease, and has proven herself to be an inspiring competitor with two gold medals in the Rio Paralympics 2016 and a silver in the London Paralympics 2012, amongst other brilliant achievements. This year Libby is hoping to continue her legacy to win gold in London with the help of her guide Chris Clarke to make the Championships something to remember.

How did competing in the Rio Olympics compare with the London 2012 games?

‘That is a difficult question. London 2012 was obviously great because I won a silver medal, but it was also a rollercoaster of an Olympics too as I was so close to winning. The atmosphere was great in London though, there was a great buzz from being in your hometown with the crowd being so supportive no matter what; Everyone was on board. Honestly, It doesn’t really matter what stadium you are in because there was still so much cheering and support from everyone around you, no matter where you were from. I remember that one year there was this Athlete that got lapped in one of the longer distance races but the crowd never gave up on him and kept cheering him all the way round the track. Of course, Rio (Paralympics) did feel different, the major difference being that I got two gold medals, which was incredible. The atmosphere was also very different as I was competing against the home favourite but it was still amazing though, I enjoyed it a lot. Although, I have to say, I did prefer London (2012) because it was special for everyone competing so close to home with the home crowd cheering you on.’

Are you looking forward to returning to the Olympic Park in Stratford for this summer’s World ParaAthletics Championships?   

‘Yes, I am looking forward to it. It is a great track to compete on with the supportive home crowd, so I really can’t wait!’

Do you think the atmosphere will be as good?

‘Definitely. We have gotten our own set of fans for pretty much every competition we do, so it is pretty great yes. The organisers are advertising ticket sales quite quickly and it is attracting a lot of new and old supporters with the addition of targeting some schools in the UK to get them on board I hear.’

You have changed your Guide since London, has Chris competed in the stadium before?

‘Chris hasn’t competed individually before on the track, but together we have competed, yes. We both raced in the London Anniversary stadium which went well and also had to race to qualify for the World ParaAthletics Championships this year, it was so nerve-racking for us but we did it!’

Are there any changes you have made regarding training for the World ParaAthletics Championships due to your deterioration in eyesight?

‘Chris, unfortunately, has an injury at the moment so I had to change my guide to a backup while training. Apart from that, not much has changed, or at least not anything exciting. It is only really the boring technical stuff that has changed in my training so that I can do my best in the World ParaAthletics Championships.’

What are your ambitions for this year’s championships? Will you be competing in the 100m and 200m?

‘I am just looking to do the best I can this season with hope that everything runs smoothly. As for what I’ll be running, I would actually really like to compete on both the 100m and 200m but it pretty much depends on how Chris is feeling after his injury. It is probably most likely that I will only be doing the 200m but I would like to stay open minded and keep my options open to the opportunity that I may get to compete in both races. ‘

Will your guide dog, Hattie, be at the track with you at the World Championships?  

‘I hope so! It would be so nice for her to be by my side supporting me. So, fingers crossed, I don’t want her to be lonely these Championships so I hope she can join me at some point.’

What are your plans for the season as a whole?

‘I start back in training at the end of May and race domestically this year. I really want to stay here as well, there is a great track in a place outside Stratford that I will be training on religiously. The conditions are good right now so I am looking forward to getting back into the races to peak for the World Championships and for what is to come from that.’

Harriet Scott, Waldegrave School