3rd April 2013

Peacock Excited For 2013 Season

Paralympic T44 100m gold medallist Jonnie Peacock is back in training following his success at the London Games last September and insists that although he has received more attention as a result of his thrilling gold medal, his life is continuing largely as it had before.

“Life hasn’t changed dramatically since the Games; I’m still the same person and I’ve still got to get up and go training every day. The only difference is that I’m slightly busier on my days off so it’s a little bit more difficult to find time for me but it’s really enjoyable and obviously I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

The 2013 season brings the IPC World Championships in Lyon in July and despite only recently returning to full training, the 19 year old is confident of performing well.

“We’ve got the World Championships in the middle of July and I’ve only just came back into training but I feel like I could get into reasonable shape by then so it’s going to be interesting.

“Obviously I’m not going to know until I’ve competed so we will just have to wait and see what the year brings to be honest. I know that I’m in fairly decent shape now and I’ve only just got back into it so we’ll just wait and see.”

Peacock sees 2013 as a transition year after moving house and switching coaches but insists that the changes will allow him to be at his best for the next Paralympic Games in 2016.

“This year is all about settling down after changing coach and moving house, making sure everything is settled so that I can knuckle down and focus for the next three years and just get on with it. I think it’s going to work well and hopefully I’ll be a lot faster in Rio and we’ll see some decent times.”

For the first time ever, the London Anniversary Games Diamond League event will feature a day of Paralympic action and Peacock believes that this is evidence of the progress being made by disability athletics and the public’s hunger for more live action.

“I think it’s fantastic that there will be a day of Paralympic athletics at the London Anniversary Games. One thing a lot of athletes were scared of, especially Paralympic athletes, was seeing what life holds for the sport after 2012.

“It was scary to think that 2013 actually existed and it’s great that after the reaction we had from the British public during the Games it seems that people want to see more athletics.

“I think the opportunities we have this year are fantastic. I’m sure we’ll bring in great crowds and it’s a great opportunity to compete at home again and get another taste of what we got in London last summer.”

Peacock stormed to T44 100m victory at the Olympic Stadium last September and is relishing the opportunity to return and compete at the scene of his triumph a year on.

“The London Anniversary Games is a big one for me; I really want to go back there. I love the track, it’s super quick and the main thing is that it will be nice to compete in front of a crowd full of British fans. It’s an amazing place to be and it’s going to be cool going back there nearly a year on from the Paralympics.”