Nottingham-based Team GB Paralympian Emma Wiggs is confident of gold as she gets her bid for Paralympic glory underway today (Wednesday September 14).
In the final instalment of a three part series with Emma Wiggs, the 36 year old spoke to Notts TV about why she thinks she can get the gold medal before she flew out to Brazil.
Paracanoeing features at the games for the first time with the heats and semi finals taking place today and the finals taking place tomorrow (Thursday September 15).
Emma lost use of all of her limbs overnight while travelling in Australia when she was 18 after she caught a fever but she eventually regained the use of her arms.
She has since become a four time world champion in the women’s K1 200m KL2 class after having represented Team GB at the 2012 Paralympics in sitting volleyball.
The first part or our series with Emma talking about preparing for the games is available by clicking here and the second part of her talking about her love for Nottingham is available here.
“If I can go and do the performance that I know I’m capable of, it should be enough for Paralympic gold.
The 200m Paracanoe race is anyone’s really because it’s so much like the 100m in athletics.
The best people in the world are all going for glory but the plan is to just deliver what I know I can.
I am able to choose the attitude I want to be in
To even be in this position is such an honour after losing the use of my legs in that I’m really doing a sport I enjoy.
Having the opportunity to be an athlete is a privilege as, although you have to train hard, it comes with opportunities such as these.
I mean, I’m going to be on the world stage at the Paralympic games; I was a teacher before I started!
Great last full day of training at prep camp #belohorizonte @canoecol showing me how it’s done! #TopTeam #RioReady pic.twitter.com/jCXijwo4yO
— Emma Wiggs (@emwiggsy) September 8, 2016
You have to be psychologically prepared to do it though – I’ve been seeing a sports psychologist and I am able to choose the attitude I want to be in for that day.
It’s all about thinking what you can get out of each and every day.
You have to take the opportunities though and train hard, do as you’re told, I mean look at where we’ve ended up.”
