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

[Fred's ol' XP]

Hi Bonnie,
Doesn't that sound like an elastic cord?  Usually available from 
fabric stores, craft supply shops, etc.
Fred, near San Diego
www.cyclingforsight.org

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
>
>
>
>
>
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