Nine-time Paralympic gold medalist Hannah Cockroft says she is “far from done” after further success at the Paris 2024 Games.
Cockroft finished ahead of teammate Kare Adenegan in the T34 800m final to win her second gold in Paris, following an earlier success in the T34 100m, taking her career tally to nine.
The 32-year-old’s victory means she has finished on the top step of the podium in both the 100m and 800m at every Paralympic Games since London 2012.
Even though the Paralympics have just ended, she already has her eyes set on Los Angeles.
Speaking on the return of the National Lottery Paralympics to Birmingham, she told the PA news agency: “The feeling of gold medals will never get old.
“Nine of them, if you had told me 20 years ago that this is what I would have achieved, I would never have believed it, but I am far from finished.
“I really want to try to get double figures. I feel like I have so much to learn, I have so much I need to improve on, so there’s definitely more to give.
Cockroft returned to the front of the chasing pack to help Team GB win a total of 20 medals on the final Saturday of the Games.
She did so in emphatic fashion, claiming triumph in 1 minute and 55.44 seconds, eight seconds ahead of second-placed Adenegan for a British double.
Cockroft was delighted with ParalympicsGB’s efforts in Paris.
She added: “It makes me so proud to be a member of Team GB, we are the best team and a powerhouse to contend with.
“We went out there and showed everyone how good we are, we put in some amazing performances. It’s so empowering when you’re in a race and you hear the celebrations from the teammates around you, it pushes you forward, like, ‘I want this feeling.’
“Paris was absolutely amazing and everything I hoped for and more.
“I think we were so worried before the Games whether we were going to sell tickets or whether people were going to come watch us, but it was amazing and it made the gold medals even more special.
“Especially last night, Saturday night, going into the stadium in front of 70,000 people – a full stadium – that’s what you dream of when you’re a little girl.”
Cockroft will end her celebrations when she marries fellow Team GB Paralympian Nathan Maguire.
She said: “We’re getting married in three weeks, so it’s a bit of our distraction at the moment, maybe while we’re celebrating.
“It will also be a big party. This year has been a lot; world championships, Paralympics and a wedding.
“If I could give advice to my young people, it would be not to organize a wedding in a Paralympic year.
“It’s a rush at the moment to tick the boxes, but I think we’re on top and it will be worth it.”