This article was first published in August 2024.
One of ParalympicsGB鈥檚 most successful athletes on the track over the last decade, with seven Paralympic golds and 16 World titles to her name, Hannah Cockroft is already one of the Game's greats, overcoming many challenges on her journey to the top of the podium.
Hannah Cockroft: Getting in the race chair really, for me, was the first time that I felt like I could do everything for myself. And I think that's what I love. I love the control, I love that everything, when I'm in that chair, is down to me.
Kimberley Boak: So, Hannah, let's take it back to where it started for you, because I believe you were about 12 years old when you were first introduced to Para sport, and that was through The Cardinals wheelchair basketball team coming into your school, right?
Hannah Cockroft: The team were the first disabled people that I ever met; I'd never seen it on television, it wasn't in magazines, the Paralympic Games weren't on TV. You know, I literally didn't know anybody else like me. So, I think for me, meeting them and seeing what they could do, made me realise that sport is for everyone.
Kimberley Boak: And it just goes to show the power of visibility as well, doesn't it?
Hannah Cockroft: Hundred percent. Visibility is so important. When you have a disability, you get told all the time what you can't do. You're never really told what you can do. You know, you go along to a local sports club and you're told 'Oh, you know, we can't let you join in', and that's really hard to hear over and over again when you are young. To know that now, hopefully, young people can see me on their screens, do what I do, and go 'I want to do that'.
Kimberley Boak: So what is it about wheelchair racing and why do you love that sport so much?
Hannah Cockroft: When I first got in that chair at 15 years old, it gave me a real sense of independence for the first time. I was 15 and I still couldn't catch a bus into town on my own. I couldn't go and stay at friend's houses because I couldn't get up the stairs to the toilet.
Getting in the race chair really, for me, was the first time that I felt like I could do everything for myself. And I think that's what I love, I love the control, I love that everything, when I'm in that chair, is down to me. It's kind of the only area of my life that I get that, so I think that's still what draws me to it.
Kimberley Boak: Have there been any challenges that you face as a wheelchair racer? Is there anything that you found difficult to overcome?
Hannah Cockroft: I went to my local athletics club and they told me that I couldn't race there because I was a health and safety risk to everyone else, even though I wanted to do athletics like everybody else. So, sometimes it's just people's attitudes that have been the biggest barrier, because once I'm in the chair I show everyone what I can do.
Kimberley Boak: Exactly, let that do the talking and you can just watch and see!
Obviously, the importance of surrounding yourself with good people is something that's really massive for you. Could you just talk to me about the importance of allyship when it comes to being a professional sports person?
Hannah Cockroft: Disability sport needs allyship. We shout about what we do as loud as we can, but kind of into a very disabled world. To get that to reach non-disabled viewers is quite difficult. So, we need allyship in the media, we need coverage, we need people to write about us, we need people to come and watch us compete, and we need people to be fans. You know, that's such a huge part of sport, it can't be ignored, the fans are so important.
Kimberley Boak: Looking ahead to Paris 2024, how are you feeling right now?
Hannah Cockroft: I think Paris has a massive opportunity to be as big, if not bigger than London 2012. I think, you know, we really need that kickstart now as a Paralympic movement. To get our faces back on screens, for new Paralympic heroes and legends to be born and for more people to see what we do and to be inspired by it.
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Growing up, Hannah found getting into sport far from easy, especially in her primary school days. Things changed however whilst she was in secondary school when the Cardinals basketball team came to her school when she was 12 years old.
鈥淭he team were the first disabled people I ever met,鈥 said Hannah. Meeting them opened up her eyes and world as she realised that disabled people did exist in sport. Determined to try to find a sport that suited her talents, Hannah looked to join a local athletics club, but was told she couldn鈥檛 join as she could pose a 鈥渉ealth and safety risk鈥 to other members of the clubs.
Not to be deterred, Hannah competed in a number of sports whilst at secondary school before attending a British Paralympic talent day at Loughborough University. Later in 2007, Hannah was given her first try at wheelchair racing and since getting into the chair, the 16-time world champion hasn鈥檛 looked back.
It was the first time I felt I could do everything for myself.鈥 - Hannah Cockroft
Hannah鈥檚 journey perfectly encapsulates the barriers many disabled children face today, from peoples鈥 attitudes concerning sport and disability, to the lack of representation on our screens.
When talking about the coverage of disabled athletes in the media, she says "Visibility is so important. When you have a disability, you get told all the time what you can't do. You're never really told what you can do." For Hannah, she wants to use her presence and success to motivate disabled youth: "To know that now, hopefully, young people can see me on their screens, do what I do and go, 'I want to do that'."
Whilst the Para sport landscape has evolved dramatically since London 2012, the seven-time Paralympic gold medallist is aware the Paralympic movement needs support from the outside to keep moving forward: "We shout about what we do as loud as we can, but kind of into a very disabled world. To get that to reach non-disabled viewers is quite difficult. We need allyship in the media; we need coverage, we need people to write about us, we need people to come watch us compete, and we need people to be fans."
For Hannah, the Paralympic Games are a vital opportunity for "New heroes and legends to be born and for more people to see what [Para athletes] do and to be inspired by it."
