LIBBY CLEGG feels old. When she turned up at the GB team get-together for the IPC World Championships, which begin in Doha today, she admits that she felt “like a granny” compared to some of the other athletes who were present. She also feels like her body is beginning to break, which is as a result of endless sprint training. Clegg is still just 25. Regardless of her feelings of premature ageing though, the Scot goes into these World Championships as one of Britain’s best medal hopes.
Clegg, who suffers from a deteriorating eye condition giving her only slight peripheral vision in her left eye, will compete in the T12 100m and 200m and despite a slightly injury-interrupted season, she is eager to compete in the Middle East for the first time. “I’m really looking forward to it – I’ve never been to this part of the world before so it’s exciting,” she says. “Although I’m not looking forward to the heat – it could be as hot as 40 degrees but I feel like I’m in really good shape. I’ve had a bit of a rough season – I picked up a few injuries which has been frustrating but I’ve done the best I could given the circumstances and I’ve pretty much managed to get rid of all those niggles now.”
Clegg has already amassed an impressive medal haul throughout her career including two Paralympic silvers and a world championship gold. While the Scot is reluctant to make any grand claims of what she hopes to achieve this coming week, she admits that she is looking to add more silverware to her collection.
“I want to break my personal best times in both the 100m and 200m and I think that’s achievable,” she says. “And, obviously, I want to get on to the podium. I’ve got some really tough competitors this year though so it’s going to be a real tussle.”
Clegg is a significant force in global athletics but it was her Commonwealth Games victory last summer which has gained most recognition on these shores. Clegg’s 100m victory at a packed Hampden was one of the highlights of Glasgow 2014 and she admits that win changed her life. “Things are definitely different for me since the Commonwealth Games because people recognise me a lot more now,” she says. “It was great that there were so many disability events showcased in Glasgow and that’s raised not only my profile, but lots of other athletes’ profiles as well, which is fantastic. It’s really nice when people recognise me but it is quite strange, too.”
As soon as the curtain falls on the World Championships, Clegg’s attention will turn to 2016 Paralympics as she aims to improve on the silver medals she won in 2008 and 2012. It is a challenge she is relishing though. “I’m really excited about Rio – everyone is saying that it’s going to be the best Paralympics ever which would be fantastic,” she says. “I like the pressure. I know what the level of expectation is but I like that, so it doesn’t affect me in a negative way.”
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