To kick off NeuroPulse, your new source of information, insights and stories from people living with Physical and Neurological conditions, we caught up with Paralympic Superstar and World Champion Sammi Kinghorn as she prepares for her 3rd Paralympics in Paris.

Hi Sammi, thanks very much for taking the time to talk to us today. When we came up with the concept of NeuroPulse, we wanted to gain real insights from real, everyday people who have risen above adversity and who have not let their situation and condition stop them from realising their dreams. You are a great example of this, and we are grateful you have taken time out of your busy schedule to share your experiences.

Q: How has your season been going so far?

A: “It’s probably my best season opener in my career so far to be honest. I had races in Dubai, Georgia and then back to the Dubai Grand Prix and I achieved personal bests across the board; and I also broke the world record over the 1500m with a time of 3.07.53 which I am really proud of. I’ve always been a sprinter and as I have gotten older, I have developed my endurance. I’ve always had a bit of endurance from pushing on the road etc, but I have now developed the confidence to sit in a pack, and draft* behind others and then be able to come out and use my speed, I think this is what’s helped over the 1500m”. So that’s been really exciting and one to add to the list. So, in addition to the 100m, 400mm and 800m, I might be adding the 1500m in Paris, which will create a packed schedule but it’s exciting. .

*Drafting is when the competitor lines up behind other competitors and the person in front blocks the movement of air, creating low pressure behind. This low pressure creates a vacuum, tugging the trailing racer forwards while reducing the lead racers drag.

Q: The Paralympics is a different animal than the Europeans as you are up against athletes from all over the world and not just Europe. How does your preparation for the Paralympics differ from preparing for the Europeans?

A: “I think you prepare the same you know; you want to be in the best position yourself. I think I’ve accepted that I can’t control anyone else. All I can control is that every morning I get up and I put my best into every session. The only thing that can be different are the pack races as there are a few more of us and we’re all a bit closer together. So, it’s important to try and get used to being in bigger packs with people who are all similar times, moving around each other. Learning how to navigate through a congested pack is a lot of fun but also a bit scary when you look down and realise the speed you going, thinking oh my gosh!

It only takes one little clip or knock to force you over. You’re travelling on 3 wheels, there is nothing you can do about it. I’ve fallen on the road before which hurts, but fortunately never on the track.

Q: Can you believe Paris will be your 3rd Paralympics?

A: No, absolutely not! I can’t believe this will be my 3rd Paralympics. I still feel really young in the sport and I’m still learning. Then I think, gosh I have been doing this a long time!

Every year, I still have the hunger to improve and look at ways I can change my chair to help me improve and make me better, and this seems to be working. I genuinely still am learning, which is really exciting, but yeah I have been in the game a long time. I think that shows when I’m at the majors. I still get very very nervous, but I know now how to control it slightly better and I know my own routine. That’s what I’ve noticed, having done it for so long now. I know to deal with myself! I still have so much still to learn.

Q: How are you preparing for Paris compared with your first Paralympic Games in Rio?

A: “I think the biggest thing I have learned is to mentally prepare myself as well as just physically! For Rio, I mainly focused on physical preparation, but I have learned that mentally preparing yourself for winning, for losing, for anything and just getting yourself ready for what’s going to happen when you’re out there and then coming home aswell. That’s very important. Because when you are there you are in this huge bubble and then you come home and thrust back into the world and the day to day challenges.

Q: Yes that’s a very important point! The day after a massive achievement must seem a little unusual. How do you keep yourself motivated?

A: “In Tokyo, I was hiding my medals and I remember thinking, right, that one’s done, time to move onto the next. I’d put them in a drawer and not let myself think about the achievement. My job wasn’t done yet and I can’t relax and celebrate yet! This was really difficult to do. I managed this a lot better at the recent World Championships in Paris; I was able to go to bed and sleep and telling myself, it’s all alright.

I think my motivation comes from the fact I am at a Paralympic Games and it doesn’t get more exciting than this. I feel so lucky and grateful to be there. My motivation comes from that excitement!

Motivation isn’t the bit I find hard; it’s battling the exhaustion which is the toughest part!

In Rio, I was just 20 years old and I have learned a lot over the last 8 years!

How have you changed as a person, not just as an athlete, from a 20 year old about to compete at her first Paralympics to a seasoned veteran at the grand old age of 28?

I remember in Rio, worrying about absolutely everything, constantly panicking about things every 20 year old worries about. I’d think, ‘am I good enough?, ‘do people like me?’, ‘am I trying hard enough?’. I always remember my mum saying to me, as you get older you won’t worry about that kind of stuff and it’s definitely true. I learned to be comfortable in my own skin.

I accept that not everybody is going to like me, and you can only do what you can do! I am enjoying being more able to say to myself, ‘stop worrying and thinking about everyone else and do what I want to do. I love this sport and I’m enjoying it!

That’s probably the biggest difference between me now compared to my younger self.

I remember first meeting you 10 years ago, 2 years before your first Paralympics and you’ve come such a long way and achieved amazing success in that time. You must be really proud of yourself?

I remember getting that first call prior to Rio and thinking, ‘am I actually going to make the team’, whereas now I feel more confident in my results to help me make the team. I’ve gone from thinking’ have I done enough to make the team’ to knowing I’ve done enough!

What does your training regime look like?

I went out to Dubai for 3 ½ weeks for warm weather training and started racing out there. Came home for a couple of weeks and then I’m out to Tenerife for 2 weeks for more training soon.

I’m then racing in Switzerland in June but up until then, I’m training twice a day, 6 days a week, several gym sessions and it’s pretty full on. It’s great though, I’m enjoying it.

I now live in Cheshire and train twice a week in Liverpool with a group of people including some who are faster than me. It’s good for me to be chasing the leader to help get quicker.

I’m also close to Loughborough and British Athletics!

As well as being a Paralympic superstar, you have also started a new career as a TV presenter on Countryfile! How did that all come about and how have you adapted to this new phase of your career?

Oh that was so strange. It was last year, I was in Dubai, warm weather training and I got a phone call from my agent saying that Countryfile had been in contact and they wondered if I wanted to be a guest presenter. I was over the moon and it was a show that I watched growing up and obviously being brought up on a farm, I watched it with my dad every Sunday. I thought that would be awesome so I agreed. I did one show thinking it would be a one off, and then they phoned me and offered me a full-time contract. It was awesome!

Growing up, I never wanted to be a sports person and struggled a bit with it early on and I used to find it a scary environment sometimes. It’s really good to have something outside of it to allow me to remove myself and gain perspective. I love my sport but it’s good to do something different.

Being an athlete is a long and a short career, so compact and you’re constantly aiming for success, and it can either come to you or be ruined in an instant. I found it quite stressful sometimes and I always wanted to make sure I enjoy it. The best way for me to enjoy it is to have something else as well.

So, last question, how does it feel when you cross that finish line and you’re in first place?

It’s such a strange feeling! You’re stuttering and thinking, is this me? I am still always surprised with myself. Every time I’ve crossed the line, I’ve not known that I’ve won as it’s always been quite close. I have this disbelief that I’ve actually won that race or I realise I’m the best in the world.

It’s an incredible feeling!

You want to look up into the stadium and find your friends and family and it’s a full body happiness.

All that pain, all those early mornings in the pouring rain has led me here. And it’s all been worth it!