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13 Questions: Paralympic sprinter Libby Clegg

Guest Guest | 15:53 UK time, Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Sprinter Libby Clegg

Born in Stockport, 22 year old athlete Libby Clegg attended the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh before moving to Loughborough, where she currently lives and trains.

Formerly a keen dancer, Libby began running aged 10, first competing in middle distance and cross country before taking up sprinting. She now competes in the 100m and 200m races in the T12 class.

She isn't the only sporty one in the Clegg household. Her brother James, also visually impaired, represents ParalympicsGB in swimming.

Athletes with Libby's level of visual impairment race with a guide runner. Libby's current guide, Mikail Huggins, described the importance of his role on the athlete's website.
"We use a guide rope which is attached to her left hand and my right hand. Once attached we run in sequence (opposite arm/opposite leg)." He goes on to explain that if they fall out of sequence they inevitably slow down.

Libby and her guide's strides were perfectly in tune, however, when, aged just 18, she won a silver medal at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Months later, She came third at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Young Sports Personality of the Year awards.

the aspiring sports therapist took time out from a training camp in Portugal to sprint through the answers to our 13 "medalling" questions.

My earliest memory is ...
when my brother James was born. My parents brought him back from the hospital and I kept thinking he had a flat nose!

The three words I'd use to describe myself are ...
Chocoholic, shopaholic and a book worm.

A little known fact about me is ...
I did tap, ballet and modern dance classes from the age of 2.

Given half a chance I'd relish the opportunity to bore you stupid about ...
A Game of Thrones by George. R. R. Martin. It is my favourite audio book.

I can't resist ...
buying shoes and handbags.

I want to ban ...
horns on cars so they stop beeping at me when I cross the road (without looking).

The thing I've done but would never do again is ...
have a go at driving. It was a scary experience (for the passengers).

During my time off I ...
Visit the family and friends that I've not seen in a while and chill out.

Before I die I want to ...
See the wonders of the world.

If I suddenly became able bodied I would ...
Carry on with my driving lessons.

Someone should invent ...
a teleporting machine, as I don't like travelling.

My ideal dinner guest would be ...
Father Christmas, so that he could bring me lots of presents.

My first job was ...
As a professional athlete. I've never had a "real" job!

• Follow Libby and all Paralympic action online at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Disability Sport website and on the radio with 5 live.

• Libby Clegg was speaking to Tony Garrett.

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