With Nottingham-based Paralympian Emma Wiggs due to fly out to Rio de Janeiro tomorrow (Thursday September 1), Notts TV spoke to her about her preparation for Paralympic gold.
In the first of a three part series with Emma Wiggs, the 36 year old speaks about her preparation for the games at the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont Country Park and what drives her to train so hard every day.
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.
“I want to be the fastest in the world and I constantly want to make the boat go as fast as I can.
Although I’m unfortunate in some ways I’m very fortunate in others because I have the opportunity to go for gold at the Paralympics.
Really though I’m nothing special.
My days rotate between water and gym days
My days rotate between a water or a gym day in preparation for the games.
I usually wake up at 6.30am to have breakfast and to let it settle before making my way to the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.
On a day when we’re out in the water, training starts at 8am where we do a warmup before taking to the water at 20 past 9.
Great to have the team back together! @RobertOliverGB @timmylodge @canoecol #makinggains #teamworkMakesDreamwork pic.twitter.com/yqjy1FbgEB
— Emma Wiggs (@emwiggsy) July 25, 2016
The first stint of our training then starts at 9 for us and lasts for an hour and a half until 10.30am.
We then have a break where we have some food and time to recover but our coaches love to show a video during this time!
Then we start warming up again at 12.15pm and get on the water at 1pm.
I’m in bed by 8.30pm – not something to admit when only 36!
We get done by about 2.30pm where we have another gap for food but then we carry on until around 4pm.
Then we go home and I usually relax for a bit before going to bed at around 8.30pm – which is not something I like to admit to as a 36 year old!
We spend Monday, Wednesday and Friday on the water and all of the other days apart from Sunday in the gym – we train six days a week.
Great weekend with friends & family in the sunshine now back working hard hitting gym! #onwards @BritishCanoeing pic.twitter.com/Tl7Lx4wc6z
— Emma Wiggs (@emwiggsy) June 6, 2016
On a gym day, I usually start at 8.30am and go solid for two hours until 10.30am and then have a break after this for some technical training.
After this we then do conditioning exercises such as squats and things like that so that you don’t pick up any injuries.
These exercises that most see as boring usually go on for about an hour.
I’ve seen big gains in the gym
I’ve seen big gains in the gym because it’s much more controlled than when you’re out on water and that as a result is more challenging.
You just have to hope that whatever doesn’t break you makes you stronger really!
What really helps is the rest time you have after a gym session so that you can reflect on the work you’ve done.
I find it’s all about getting through a session so you can enjoy that period of rest!
