Jonnie Peacock hails Libby Clegg after ParalympicsGB take universal relay silver medal

By James Toney

Jonnie Peacock paid tribute to close friend Libby Clegg as she brought the curtain down on her Paralympic athletics career with a relay silver.

Peacock, who grew up in Shepreth and attended Cambridge Regional College, and Clegg joined forces with Ali Smith and Nathan Maguire as Great Britain finished third in the universal 4x100m relay, a performance later upgraded after China were disqualified.

The relay was making its debut at the Games, featuring athletes with multiple sclerosis and visual impairment alongside an amputee and wheelchair racer. As a visual metaphor for what these Games mean it was certainly powerful.

“To be a part of Libby's last race and get a medal with her is just incredible,” said Peacock, a bronze medallist in the men's T64 100m.

“She's not talked about it but she's run through so much pain at these Games and those were not easy legs for her. She gritted her teeth and got us a medal, I'm so proud.

“It's a very different event and it showcases the best of everyone. It's good fun to watch, not something you'd see at your average athletics meet and hopefully something you'll see more of.”

Clegg paid tribute to guide Chris Clarke and even claimed this medal even trumped her double gold in Rio. She has hinted that she may return to the Games in cycling but right now she just wants to return home to son Edward.

“I'm so privileged and proud to be a part of this team and share this moment with these guys,” she said.

“I won two Paralympic golds in Rio and it didn't make me happy, right now this is my proudest moment - being part of this team.

“I'm going to take some time out but this is my last running competition, unless I dabble in a sports day when my son is at primary school. To end my athletics career with this medal is a dream come true.”

Meanwhile, Peacock appealed to athletics bosses to take para athletics more seriously - mixing their events more regularly with able-bodied athletes.

“Put a decibel meter in a stand when you have got a full stadium of an able-bodied athletics meet and a para-sport meet – listen to the noise,” he said.

“The public like it. Meet organisers don’t seem to agree. Hopefully one day they will.”

*Sainsbury’s is a proud supporter of ParalympicsGB and a champion of inclusive sport for all. Sainsbury’s commitment to helping customers to eat better has been at the heart of what we do since 1869. For more information on Sainsbury’s visit www.sainsburys.co.uk/ and https://paralympics.org.uk/