Paris 2024: Warburton’s wish for elusive Paralympic gold

ParalympicsGB wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft says Paris will be her last Games as she chases an elusive gold

Hannah Cockroft says she will retire after the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with the aim of finally winning gold in the T34 800m.

The 30-year-old has won 17 Paralympic medals, including nine golds, but has never won over 800m.

She was set to retire after the Tokyo Games but changed her mind to target Paris.

She said: “Paris is the one and only time I will race at the Paralympic Games.”

She added: “I’ve done four Games now and it’s too much travelling. My body is getting old and my motivation is getting less and less and I’ve achieved everything there is to achieve in my sport."

"Paris is the one and only time I will race at the Paralympic Games. I've done four Games now and it's too much travelling. My body is getting old and my motivation is getting less and less and I've achieved everything there is to achieve in my sport."

A glittering career

Cockroft is one of Britain’s most successful Paralympians, winning 17 medals in four Games.

She made her Paralympic debut at Beijing 2008, winning gold in the T34 100m, 200m and 400m.

She repeated the feat at London 2012, before winning three more golds at Rio 2016.

She also won silver in the T34 800m at the last two Games, and bronze in the 100m at Beijing.

A tough race

The 800m is one of the toughest races in Paralympics athletics, with Cockroft facing competition from the likes of USA’s Alexa Halko and Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner.

Halko is the world record holder over the distance, while Debrunner is the reigning Paralympic champion.

Cockroft knows it will be a tough challenge, but she is determined to go out on a high.