Let's recapture the spirit of London at Rio games, says Paralympic star

 
Rallying call: Sprinter Jonnie Peacock
Miranda Bryant17 July 2014

Paralympics star Jonnie Peacock says he wants to use Rio 2016 to build on the huge success of the London Games and boost the profile of disability sport across South America.

The 21-year-old athlete said he hoped the surge in support created by the 2012 Paralympics, where he won gold and broke the world record in the T44 men’s 100 metres, would be replicated in Rio. Peacock, whose fastest time is 10.84 seconds, said: “London was an amazing event and boosted Paralympics through the roof.

“It was amazing to be part of that crazy event and definitely pushed the Paralympics onwards and upwards ... It would be amazing if we could recreate what we did in London in Rio.

“Each Paralympics gets bigger and better and hopefully Rio can continue that trend and hopefully spread it across South America, and North America too, and get them behind Paralympic sport.” Peacock will be marking two years since the London Games by racing at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games on Sunday.

He will face American rival Richard Browne, who beat him last weekend at the Glasgow Grand Prix, German Felix Streng and South African Arnu Fourie on a two-mile track being installed today on Horse Guards Parade.

Peacock said he cannot wait for the event and is hoping to beat Browne, who holds the world record for the men’s T44 100 metres with a time of 10.75 seconds set at last year’s Anniversary Games.

He said: “It’s going to be something that’s different from anything else . It’s going to be really cool. I can’t wait to see what it’s like.”

Other Team GB competitors at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games include Olympic gold-winning long jumper Greg Rutherford and rising 100 metre star Chijindu Ujah.

Wheelchair athletes Hannah Cockcroft, a double Paralympic gold medallist, and David Weir, six-time Paralympic champion, will also be taking to the track.

Peacock, who is originally from Cambridge and now lives in Loughborough with his girlfriend, had his right leg amputated below the knee after he contracted meningitis at the age of five.

He said that although he cannot take part in the Invictus Games at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in September, because it is for injured servicemen and women, he said it looks like an “awesome event” and he plans to get tickets.

He also said it might help new emerging talent to come through. He said: “There might be a few athletes from the event that could maybe make that jump to Paralympics some day.”

For tickets to the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, go to britishathletics.org.uk or call 08000 556056.

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