One year until the 'greatest show on water'!
Written by Alexandra Rickham | 28 August 2011
I'm sitting in my friend's flat waiting for one of London's best events, Notting Hill Carnival to start, watching the IAAF World Championships with Oscar Pistorius getting through his first round qualification, Usain Bolt jogging his way to the 100m final and getting ready to cheer on Team GB's Mo Farah.
Not that I need anything to get me thinking about London 2012 but I would say this Sunday morning, in this setting, little else could be on the brain.
Tomorrow is 1 year to go to London 2012 and the culmination of 4 years’ hard work. It is all starting to become very real. 2011 has been an interesting and varied year with highs and lows. Conveniently, our season ended on a high with our third consecutive World Championship title. Earlier this month we got the nod from the British Paralympic Association and gained early selection for the Games. It was everything we hoped for, and a true honour to be the first selected athletes. For me, and I suspect both of us, it also very daunting. Knowing that all our friends and family and the whole country are watching is scary but also exciting.
The great thing about being given the slot this early is the focus it gives us. Not that everything hasn't been about getting to the Games, but now every last bit of our focus and effort will be put into the next year. We have the opportunity to try new things and test the equipment we will be using. It is also immensely helpful to the support staff knowing that their time and energy are definitely going into the London Paralympics. We have been able to plan and come up with a calendar (which I now fondly call 'the death of my social life') which should hopefully ensure that coveted Paralympic medal. To be honest, I think a year to go has also made me a bit emotional. Watching everyone's championships over the last few weeks has a bit more meaning as it starts to become evident who else will be selected from the other sports.
The year ahead is huge. Our winter will be mostly abroad competing and training with our competitors. From March we should be back in the UK working with our in-house training partners and learning as much about the venue as we can. Then it will come down that one race week where hopefully we can achieve the ideal of gold on home waters.
The amazing thing about having a home Games is the support and excitement everyone is starting to feel. I went into the bank the other day and this lady asked me if I was going to be in the Paralympics because she remembered reading something in my local newspaper. She was wishing me good luck and words of encouragement. It is a rare occurrence for that to happen if the Games weren't happening at home. In light of recent problems across London the Games will be a real celebration of not only sport but of London and the UK as a whole.
For the Paralympics it is a return home. Having been a patient at Stoke Mandeville Spinal Unit, the home of the Paralympics, it means even more. The biggest and undoubtedly best Games will be in 2012. The UK has probably the biggest appreciation for Paralympic sport over other countries. 2012 will see this increase and I hope it will extend to other countries. Like everything, increased publicity gives increased awareness and motivation. I hope and expect next years’ Games will inspire more people to get involved in and with Paralympic sport, and primarily I'm just looking forward to being part of the greatest show on water.