Hannah Cockroft: “People are expecting big things”

Multiple wheelchair racing champion explains why there will be no let-up after a year packed with gold medal-winning and world record-breaking performances

Hannah Cockroft continues to impress. Ahead of what will be her fourth Paralympics in 2024, the seven-time Paralympic champion took her tally of world titles to 14 with gold medals in the T34 100m and 800m during the summer. She also set world records in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m, making her a worthy winner of the AW Female Para Athlete of the Year.

How do you reflect on the season?

You know what, it’s a funny one. The whole season, I was quite disappointed with what I was doing. I raced out in Dubai in February and I clocked a world record of 1:44.43 [over 800m]. Then I just compared every result back to that one. I did a 1:51.57 at the World Championships [to win gold] and I came off the track angry and shaking my head. My coach [Paul Moseley] then told me it was one of my quickest ever times.

So, I think it’s really taken me time to put this season into perspective and figure out how I feel. It’s been a long season to start in February and then end in September with the Great North Run. In conclusion, I’m pretty happy!

After 10 years with Jenny Banks you moved coaches to work with Paul Moseley. How is the change in coaching working out?

It was a really easy changeover. I’ve known Paul since my first ever wheelchair races and he’s always been there in the background guiding me and being a friend and mentor. To know that my interests were also his meant that we were going to work well together.

The training has been a lot different. Some weeks I’m wondering if I’ve done enough whereas other times I’ve been dead. I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of working with someone new after Jenny for 10 years. With Jenny my winter was about long distance pushing and I didn’t really sprint at all. This time last year, Paul had me doing short hill sprints over the winter months. There’s a focus on recovery and there’s now a different balance, especially between the [T34] 100m and 800m. It’s different.

How was the World Championships in Paris and seeing your face on the official branding?

It was weird to see a 20ft version of my head above the podium! It was really cool. It added a little bit of pressure that people were aware of you and what you can do. People never keep it secret that they’re expecting big things.

Pressure is a privilege. I…