Paralympic Games: Clegg loses out but eager to aim for Rio

IT took a world record to prevent Libby Clegg from being in the mix for a second medal at London 2012 – but she’s not as surprised as some may be about her premature Paralympic exit.

Clegg proved herself to be on world-record breaking form in the 100m as she set a new global best time of 12.17 seconds in her heats only for two others to better it in the same round.

Guohua Zhou was the better of three, clocking 11.91, before holding off Clegg, who shaved four hundredths of a second off her time from the heats in the final to take silver.

That came on the same night brother James won bronze in the 100m butterfly and she returned to the Olympic Stadium last night in a bid to win a second London 2012 medal in the 200m.

She didn’t even get out of the heats this time – although that alone doesn’t tell the full story with France’s Assia El Hannouni lowering her own world record to 24.80sec in the first race.

That time was then matched by China’s Daqing Zhu in heat three involving Clegg, who clocked a personal best of 25.10sec and missed out on the sole fastest loser spot to none other than Zhou. And, while Clegg’s miss may have come as a shock, she is after all a world bronze medalist in the event, she insists that is reflective of the modern-day standard of the Paralympic Games.

“I’m obviously really disappointed but I did everything I could and there was nothing else I could have given,” said Clegg.

“I think these Games, especially in my T12 classification, have really shown how far Paralympic sport is moving on.

“It’s absolutely fantastic that there are these world records. It was going to happen sooner or later and I think it’s fantastic it’s happened here.

“It goes to show that Paralympic sport is elite and how much it is moving on. It’s been a fantastic Games and a massive learning experience for me.

“Even though I haven’t got through to the final, I’m still really proud of myself. I’ve got a lot of things I can work on so I’ve taken away a lot from this.”

Clegg was barely off the track before stating her intentions to keep going for another four years and aim for further success at the Rio 2016.

So keen is she to sprint competitively again she’s targeting next year’s World Championships in Lyon – adamant she’s only going to get better and better.

“I’ve definitely got another four years, so roll on Rio, and next year’s World Championships in Lyon,” she added.

“I’m going to go back, do some winter work and hopefully I’ll come back better but I couldn’t have done any more at these Games. After the 100m I was very disappointed, from that I’ve learned a lot about myself and where I want to go in the next four years, and how I’m going to do it.”