After claiming an incredible ninth Paralympic crown, the Brit wants to see the kind of atmospheres generated in Paris at other major championships
Hannah Cockroft believes athletes at the Paris Paralympics received a similar level of support to what they did at London 2012.
The Brit, who became a nine-time Paralympic champion in the French capital, states that “it felt like we turned the clock back” and “this is what we came for”.
Hannah Cockroft
Most of the sessions at the Paralympics were packed to the rafters and the Parisians didn’t just cheer their home favourites but every single athlete competing at the Stade de France.
“It feels amazing,” Hannah Cockroft said. “I tried to soak up as much of the atmosphere as I could out there. I feel like 12 years ago I took it for granted and I realise now that is not the sort of support Paralympians always get, so I want to take the moment and enjoy it.”
Cockroft won two golds in Paris in the T34 100m and 800m, clocking 16.80 and 1:55.44 in the disciplines respectively.
Kare Adenegan and Hannah Cockroft (Getty)
After claiming victory over two laps, Cockroft added: ” This one was a little calmer. I knew what to expect and I probably am a little more comfortable in the 800m. It has been a long six days in between competition.
“It’s been hard to train for six days and keep watching everyone. It’s been a long gap, but it made it all worthwhile. The time wasn’t rapid, but it was comfortable.”
Cockroft won her first Paralympic gold medals at London 2012 and then won two each in both Rio and Tokyo.
The 32-year-old has now won an amazing 25 major global championship medals – nine at the Paralympics and 16 at world championships – and every single one of them is gold.
Next on the list will be the 2025 World Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Hannah Cockroft (Getty)
Cockroft told Channel 4 at the Stade de France that “it’s not a four year gap for us” and “find your favourite athletes online to support them”.
The hope is that the impact of Paris 2024 can help grow para-sport between now and LA 2028.
In the UK, that goes beyond just competition.
Off the back of the Games, Paralympics GB wrote a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer to create truly inclusive PE within schools.
The letter, labelled “Equal Play”, states that “just one in four disabled children say they regularly take part in sport at school” and that there are “1.5 million disabled children – 15% of the school population – in education”.
Hannanh Cockroft is one of hundreds of GB Paralympians that have publicly backed the letter.
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