GBParalympics sprinter Warner, photographed at Broadbridge Heath, Horsham
Finally it feels like I have achieved what I set out to achieve nearly 12 years ago – selection for the Paralympic Games. I will be representing ParalympicsGB in both of my events the 200m and the 100m T35, and I am reserve for the 4x100m too. Strangely, it had never occurred to me on my journey that I may not get selected until a few days ago when the able bodied team was announced and I leant that there were only 20 female places available on the track and field team. With so many great athletes competing for so few places, I was naturally somewhat anxious.
The day the phone call came was not at all like I had imagined it would be. After hearing the good news, I just carried on with my training like nothing had happened. Although this was the first step - knowing I could get on the start line - there is still a lot of work to do.
Standards will be higher than ever
I returned from the European Championships with a bronze medal in the 200m and a silver in the 100m which I am really pleased with due to the massive improvements I have made in the last 18 months. This competition, ahead of the Paralympics, demonstrated how high the standards are going to be at the games. Only 18 months ago, at the Paralympic World championships I won a silver medal in the 200m running a second slower than I ran at the Europeans. It was the same time differential for the 100m. The athletes that beat me in both races are new to my events – and this is only in Europe.
Warner training at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, Horsham. She was one of the first T35 athletes to use a block start, thanks to a unique perspex support for her left hand
Mental strength
The result at the Europeans was surprising and did leave me a little disappointed but my goal to run the times I have targeted remains the same. It takes a lot of mental strength to do this – and to accept that there really is nothing else that I can do.
Off the track, there have been great changes in my life, with a new job as commercial director of UK Athletics, which I will start as soon as the Games are over. Meanwhile, I have been having a lot of fun, getting out and meeting lots of people and telling my story of what I have achieved – and how I got to be on the start line in eight weeks time!
Follow Sophia Warner at the Paralympics
Women's 200m T35: 31 August, Qualifiers 2:20pm; Final 9:45pm
Women's 100m T35: Friday 7 September. Qualifiers 11:00am; Final 8:55pm
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