Wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft: Why I’m the one to beat at Paris 2024 Paralympics

British wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft feels like she is only getting “faster and stronger”.

Paris 2024 are her fourth Paralympic Games, and she has no intentions of slowing down.

“Obviously the question always comes: is this going to be your last one?” she said.

“I’m 32 and that's kind of the age we see a lot of women dropping out of our sport. I feel like I’m going to have a lot of decisions to make next cycle but I’d like to make it to LA [and] see how many more Games are in me.

“I’m still getting quicker, I’m still getting stronger, everything is still going in the right direction; there’s not a single thought in my head that this could be the last.”

That, combined with an impeccable record at the Games, means that Cockroft is very much the one to beat in the French capital.

Since debuting at London 2012, the Yorkshire-born racer has seven Paralympic titles, dominating the T34 category across the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m.

“I 100 per cent think I’m the one to beat, in the least big-headed way,” she added.

“I am number one in the world; I am so hyper-aware of the fact the target’s on my back, but that is what keeps me going. I’m never satisfied, I’m never happy with any race that’s not a fast time.

“I’m always asking questions and I think the minute you stop and are satisfied with the performance you’ve laid down, it’s probably the day I’m going to have to retire.”

Cockroft will compete in the T34 100m and 800m in Paris.