Team GB’s Dame Sarah Storey is relishing the challenge of becoming Britain's greatest-ever Paralympian.
At the age of 43, the cyclist aims to add to her incredible haul of 14 gold medals when she competes at the 2020 Games.
She is already the most successful female British Paralympian, but Storey could surpass swimmer Mike Kenny’s tally of 16.
She would achieve the remarkable feat if she retains her title in the 3000m individual pursuit, in addition to successfully defending her C5 time trial and C4-5 road race crowns.
Ahead of competing at yet another Paralympics, Storey is keen to get out there and try and make more history.
“To reach that target – it’s almost a target I didn’t realise I needed – but it’s so close now and it’s really, really exciting to think this opportunity gives me this chance to take it,” she told the PA news agency.
“My biggest motivating factor is really to be the best version of me, to be able to produce my very best performances.
“But to be able to come out of it with some additional success is obviously hugely motivating."
She added: “I know I will have done absolutely everything to the nth degree and rehearsed and rehearsed to make sure I produce the very best performance that I can, so hopefully the outcome can take care of itself.”
The Paralympic legend is set to compete at her eighth Games, with her first coming in Barcelona back in 1992.
Between 1992-2004, Storey competed as a swimmer before swapping the water for the road in 2005 following a persistent ear infection.
Storey has not cycled competitively since January 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but after winning the time trial and C5 road race events in Portugal back in June, she is optimistic about her chances in Tokyo.
“I think the world champs gave me a huge amount of confidence,” she said.
“To come out on top and for everything to be probably ahead of where I expected it to be, if I’m honest, was really exciting."
She continued: “There’s an element of, ‘well, I haven’t raced on the track, how’s that going to feel?’, but I’ve always been a huge training animal, right back to my days in the pool.
“That 12 laps is the same in training as it is in competition, it doesn’t change, you have rehearsed it, so taking confidence in that you know what’s coming is obviously a really big thing for someone who’s been there before.”
Storey, who was born without a functioning left hand after her arm became entangled in the umbilical cord in the womb, will get her campaign underway with the women’s pursuit C5 tomorrow.
