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Hannah

Cockroft

Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Look, there on the track… Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

No, it's multiple world record-holding wheelchair racer "Hurricane" Hannah Cockroft, who won not one but two gold medals at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand in January. We met with the British champion after she got home to talk press attention, text messages and celebratory visits to McDonald's…

What was your preparation like in the build-up to the IPC Worlds?
"Preparation went well. We did practice races at our training camp in Auckland and I set a new personal best, which meant I went into the competition feeling really strong. The facilities were fantastic and because we had a nutrition plan I couldn't eat crap, so I felt pretty good in myself. I met some of the All Blacks rugby team while I was there too, so I was well happy."

Winning world championship gold and breaking records in New Zealand. Was it the highlight of your career?
"The IPC Worlds were definitely the highlight of my career so far. I got to the end of my races and everyone was like, 'Why aren't you smiling?', but it just didn't seem real. I didn't want to be too cocky about it because I could come off the track and be disqualified or whatever. It still doesn't feel real to be honest!"

Who was the first person you spoke to after winning?
"My coach Peter Eriksson. He came running over to me and gave me a massive hug and said well done. He always made sure he was the first one there."

How many texts did you receive after winning gold?
"I left my phone at the hotel, and when I got back there was a text off my mum, a text off my dad, texts off my aunties, uncles and everybody! I was like, 'How do you know what's happened here?', but I had some family in the crowd and they were texting everybody as soon as I crossed the line."

What was it like on the podium?
"It was a bit embarrassing! I was so busy posing for photos with my medal that I forgot to face the flag during the national anthem!"

What did you do to celebrate that night?
"I had one drink at the hotel bar. I'm only 18 so I wasn't allowed to go out until the last night! I was like, 'Oh… thanks'. But we made up for it on the last night we were there. We went to an Irish bar with a live band and that was good. I ended up in McDonald's at 2 o'clock in the morning!"

What did you do after your events?
"After my events were over, I just went down to the track to support the other guys. I went with Gemma Prescott's family up the cable car one day - that was nice. And I went jet boating for That Paralympic Show with Channel 4. It was really cool."

What was the reception like when you got back?
"It's really strange. I thought when I'd come home no one would really know about it and no one would really care. But the night I came back I was on Look North, and the night after they wanted me on something else, and everyone wants to speak to me. It's crazy! Of course, now that I've got my video blog on Channel 4's website, I know I've really made it."