Halifax-born Hannah Cockroft excited at prospect of representing Team England for first time at a Commonwealth Games

Five-time Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft is excited by the opportunity to represent Team England for the first time at a home Commonwealth Games in two years’ time in Birmingham.
Multiple para medal winner Hannah Cockroft is in line to represent Team England for the first time at a Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham. Picture: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images.Multiple para medal winner Hannah Cockroft is in line to represent Team England for the first time at a Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham. Picture: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images.
Multiple para medal winner Hannah Cockroft is in line to represent Team England for the first time at a Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham. Picture: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images.

One of the major announcements to come out the Birmingham 2022 medal event programme release earlier this week was the revelation of the biggest para sport programme in Commonwealth Games history.

Whilst this gives the opportunity for so many para athletes to make their mark on the Games for the first time, none come quite as successful as Halifax-born Cockroft, who is thrilled to be a part of the Games on home soil.

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“Finding out that my event, the T34, was officially going to be included as a medal event in Birmingham 2022 was so exciting,” said Cockroft. “It’s been a championships I’ve always wanted to be a part of for as long as I can remember but it’s never had my event. Finally, that’s changing and I’ll get to represent Team England.”

With the announcement coming less than 12 months before the Tokyo Paralympics, the Birmingham Games give Cockroft something to strive for.

“The announcement just makes it so much more real that once the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics are finished, I’ll still have something to aim and train for.”

Cockroft will be hoping to add Commonwealth gold to her extensive medal collection with the wheelchair racer previously thriving in front of a home crowd.

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“It’ll be something new as well, I had my first Paralympic Games in front of a home crowd at London 2012 and my first European Championships in front of a home crowd in Swansea and I also experienced a World Championships at home in 2017. But this will be my first Commonwealth Games and it’s even closer to home.

“I can honestly say that nothing beats that home crowd so I can’t wait to get back in front of them and get the chance to represent Team England. Bring it on!”

Follow Team England via www.teamengland.org

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