Jonnie Peacock
It didn’t really hit me to much until I was 13. I would get really angry and upset and always ask why me?
I was bullied by the older kids at school and I used to think that girls would never find me attractive. It wasn’t until I reached the end of year until things started to change for me. It wasn’t until I had my first real relationship at 15 that things started to change for me and I came to terms with my leg. Being around other amputees, talking to them and seeing them as I see any other person made, me realise I am not that different after all.
At school I had always been good at sport at school and played in football teams and rugby teams but i wanted to know how good i would be compared to other people with disabilities.
After some support, I was accepted to attend a talent identification day in London. I tried a few sports including wheelchair tennis, shooting, and a 60m sprint. I did the sprint 3 times because I was determined to improve my score.
I was asked to join a five month programme of trials. A few days later i received an email about doing trials for the 5 month power programme, i then went to Loughborough several times for the selections and met dozens of other athletes. We all met up once a month and did coaching, talks and tests. At the last weekend we all got handed over to UK athletics and they were great in getting me set up with a sprint coach in Cambridge, and I have since been training with my coach Hayley Ginn.
Do you think that the Olympics and Paralympics should be run separately or as one event?
I think it would be great if they were run together, it would really help the publicity and be the only event of its kind. It would be amazing to be around all the Olympic athletes and it could give alot of people a big boost.
But at the same time things are working out well as they are at the moment and the way the Paralympics is headed at the moment, it’s only going to get bigger and better. Yes the Olympics does get alot of publicity especially compared to the Paralympics but if everything carry’s on the way it’s headed then one day they may be the same.
Do you believe the Olympics get more publicity? How was it filming ‘Inside Icredible Athletes?
Channel 4 is doing a great job with it and all of the shows they are running and I think that its helping it hugely. Filming ‘Inside Incredible Athletes’ was great fun and I am so happy and proud to be involved in it. It showed it all as sports and athletes not disabled people.
If you did not have a physical disability, would you still be an Athlete?
I would like to think so, i have always been sporty and even before I lost my leg I used to win the running race. But there’s no way in knowing how my life would end up if I wasn’t an amputee. It has made me into the person I am today.
How do you think Politics affects sport?
All I will say is that it’s a big shame that there was a cut in the funding and the Paralympics has a lot less money then it did a few years ago.
What message would you give to young people who have lost sight of their dream?
Never give up! People have the ability to do anything if they put there mind to it and keep trying. If you give up at something then you will never be able to achieve your dream, if you try and keep trying then there will always be the possibility.
If you want something bad enough it will always be worth it. Life’s an experience you have to live it to the full. You only have one shot so make the most of it and all in all never give up. Always keep trying.
