British wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft is one of the big favorites for gold when the Paralympic Games opens in Paris on Thursday and she thinks she is looking stronger than ever.
The 32-year-old travels to Paris for her fourth Games, with a stunning reputation as the holder of the T34 wheelchair world records in 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m.
She also holds two gold medals from London 2012, three from Rio 2016 and two from Tokyo 2020.
Speaking to the BBC, she made it clear that seven gold medals are not the end of her ambitions, especially after winning the 100 and 800 meters gold medals in May's World Championships in Kobe (Japan).
"I 100% think I'm the one to beat, in the least big-headed way," Cockroft admitted. "I am number one in the world, and I am so hyper aware of the fact the target is on my back," she said.
However, even if everyone will be out to defeat her, the woman from the north of England believes that will be a harder task than ever for her rivals.
"I'm still getting quicker, I'm still getting stronger, everything's still going in the right direction, so there's no reason for me to step out now," she said, adding that she intends to compete until Los Angeles 2028.
"There's not a single thought in my head that this could be the last - unless something goes terribly wrong," she commented, adding that the chance of beating the 11 gold medals won by Baroness Grey-Thompson, is one incentive to continue.
"That's what keeps me going. I'm never satisfied, I'm never happy with any race that's not a fast time," she concluded.
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