The Paralympics get underway in Rio tonight (Wednesday September 7) and Notts TV spoke to Nottingham-based Paralympian Emma Wiggs about her love for the city as she prepared for the games.
In the second of a three part series with Emma Wiggs, the 36 year old speaks about her why Nottingham holds such a close place in her heart and why she never looked back after relocating.
The first part with Emma talking about preparing for the games is available by clicking here.
Emma will be representing Team GB in Paracanoeing, a brand new event at this years Paralympics in Rio.
She 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.
Emma 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.
“Relocating nearer to Nottingham was a great decision as it meant that I had more time to recover from my rigorous training.
I was living out a bag and commuting from Glasgow all of the while and it just was not for me.
It really changed the whole outlook of what I thought I could do and what I was then able to do in moving.
Nottingham is such a great city – it’s incredible!
Nottingham is such a great city and it’s perfectly positioned with it being in the middle of England – it’s incredible!
The National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont Country Park is where they chose to control the Paralympics program from and looking back it was a great choice.
It’s home to the bets of British canoeing and you can tell here that everyone is serious and that they are genuinely world class.
Flat lake, sunshine, coffee! Just add teammates & some hard sessions and it’s #PerfectTuesday @BritishCanoeing ???? pic.twitter.com/KvrfmfeURx
— Emma Wiggs (@emwiggsy) August 23, 2016
Tweet: Emma Wiggs at Holme Pierrepont
Nottingham has helped me to be as prepared as I possibly can for the Paralympics and I cannot wait to get started out in Rio.
It’s also helped Team GB to get some real strength in depth with the quality of what Nottingham offers.
Having some promising performances and performers is the best thing and we are hoping to go well in Rio.”
