[Sportsandrec] Libby Clegg aims for Paralympic gold - Daily Record

[Bonnie Lucas]

In this article, a "rubber rope," is mentioned. Does anyone know where one
might acquire such a thing? I don't think I've heard of such a thing. 

Thanks,
Bonnie

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred's ol' XP [mailto:regenerative at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 11:15 AM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
Subject: [Sportsandrec] Libby Clegg aims for Paralympic gold - Daily Record



Bringing home gold would be dream come true for Scottish Paralympic sprinter
Libby Clegg

STARTING to lose her sight at a young age has not stopped Scottish sprinter
Libby Clegg aiming for gold at London's Paralympics.
Blind sprinter Libby Clegg aims for gold
  Blind sprinter Libby Clegg aims for gold

BLIND Scottish sprinter Libby Clegg is used to overcoming adversity in her
life but going for gold in London's Paralympics will be her toughest
challenge.

Despite starting to lose her sight when she was still in primary school, she
has gone on to become a world champion, yet insists a win at the Games would
be her greatest achievement.

Libby said: "Bringing a gold back home would be a dream come true - I just
hope I can do it.

"I've got a lot of support and I'm hoping Scotland will get behind me on the
big day.

"To win would make all the hard work and hours of training worth it.

"I feel so proud to be part of Team GB for the Paralympics and winning a
gold medal would be incredible."

Libby, 22, from Newcastleton, Roxburghshire, is preparing to take on some of
the world's most accomplished athletes and hopes to go one better than the
silver she won in Beijing's 2008 Paralympic Games.

She is the reigning world champion in both the
100 and 200 metre sprints, and is hoping to add to her impressive track
record when she lines up at the Olympic Park on September 1.

Libby Clegg competing at the Beijing Paralympics
  Libby Clegg competing at the Beijing Paralympics

She said: "This is the moment I have been waiting for. Every bit of sweat
and tears has been leading up to this point. I feel ready to bring home a
gold.

"I don't want to jinx myself and I know I will be competing against strong
individuals but I'm ready to give them a run for their money."

Libby was just nine when she was diagnosed with Stargardt's macular
dystrophy, a deteriorating eye condition, slowly robbing her of her sight.

She is now registered blind and has only slight peripheral vision in her
left eye. Her eyes are painfully sensitive to light and she prefers to wear
dark glasses while running.

Libby can only read large print and relies on family and friends for help.

She cannot read her mail, look at clothing labels or read cooking
instructions, all things she understandably finds frustrating.

But being fiercely determined, she has never let any of these obstacles hold
her back.

She said: "Losing my sight has been hard to deal with but it has happened
and I've just got to get on with it.

"Sitting around feeling sorry for myself won't change a thing.

"I don't want to think about the day when my sight is completely gone.

"I know it will happen one day and I will deal with it but it does scare
me."

Libby has learned to cope with her condition with the help and support of
the Royal School for the Blind in Edinburgh, which she attended from the age
of 12 to 18.

There she mastered life-changing skills, which helped her adapt to gradually
losing her sight.

She said: "The school was great because every single person is in a similar
situation. I made friends with people suffering with the same condition as
me and I felt accepted.

"Just knowing other kids were like me helped me come to terms with losing my
sight. They were instrumental in helping me cope.

"I had to learn how to adapt to life without perfect vision and without a
doubt the staff at the school helped me get to where I am today."

Realising she had a passion for running, Libby joined a club shortly after
her diagnosis.

But it wasn't until she was 14 that she realised she was good enough to
compete at a serious level.

She said: "All I wanted to do was run and when I joined the running club I
soon realised it was the one thing I was good at."

"I was able to compete by myself and I took part in almost every competition
until my vision got worse."

In 2006, after falling over while competing in a race, Libby was advised to
run with a guide by her side to help her balance.

She now runs with guide Mikail Huggins who is attached to Libby's hand by a
rubber rope, allowing them to move in sequence with one another.

"Mikail is my eyes. He is attached to my left hand during every race.

"He is a fantastic sprinter and we are both on the same level in terms of
endurance and fitness. 
He will be with me at the Games and he is every bit as determined as me to
win."

In preparation for the Games, Libby is
undertaking a tough fitness regime, including gruelling visits to the gym
and three intensive sprint training sessions a week.

She has been placed on a special diet to make sure she is in peak physical
condition.

She is excited about meeting the other Paralympic Team GB members in
Portugal, where they are now fine-tuning their strategies for London.

Speaking before she left, Libby said: "I can't wait to get to Portugal and
meet the other Team GB athletes. I think when I am there it will really sink
in.

"Right now I am training up to three hours a day and I am setting myself
goals to beat my last sprint time."

Libby, who will be staying at the Olympic Village, has already visited the
2012 athletics track.

She said: "As soon as I saw it, the nerves kicked in.

"It looks fantastic and I stood there thinking how lucky I am to be part of
such an incredible global event.

"I feel like every moment of my life has been leading to this point and
maybe in a way if I didn't lose my vision then I wouldn't be this driven to
succeed.

"I think everything happens for a reason and my disability has led me here
and for that I am blessed."

Libby is being sponsored in her Paralympic bid by Edinburgh Solicitors
Property Centre.

Malcolm Cannon, chief executive at ESPC, said: 
"Once you have met Libby you cannot fail to be inspired by her enthusiasm,
approach and determination to succeed.

"She has achieved so much in her mere 22 years and she has not let her
disability hold her back."


http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/health-fitness/libby-clegg-aims-for-p
aralympic-gold-1228505