Double Paralympic champion Libby Clegg may be refusing to put a colour on her ambitions for this summer’s World Para-Athletics Championships in London, but she’s only too aware she has a target on her back following Rio success.

T11 sprinter Clegg clinched the 100m and 200m titles in Brazil last year to add to the silver medals won in London and Beijing, but six years have passed since she last climbed on top of the World podium.

But that is all set to change should she, and guide Chris Clarke, demonstrate their gold medal-winning form once more when the world’s gaze lands on the capital in July.

With Clarke currently side-lined with an Achilles injury, the duo face an anxious wait to see if he will be fit enough to race at the London Stadium.

But it’s full steam ahead for 26-year-old Clegg as she prepares to show once more she is the best in the business.

“I’d love to repeat what I did in Rio, but I’m prepared to just see how things go,” she said.

“Last year was a big year for me, I had a lot of ups and downs but obviously it ended on a high.

“So for me, I just want to make sure I’m in the best shape possible. I know that the girls I compete against are going to be coming back after me pretty hard, so who knows what to expect.

“I’d like to be on top of the podium in London, but I know my competition is really tough. I don’t like to jinx myself.”

Regardless of her finishing position come the end of the Championships, Clegg insists home advantage will have a huge part to play for all British competitors.

And with a return to the scene of her second Paralympic silver back in 2012 on the agenda, she can’t wait to be back on the track she knows so well.

“Back at London 2012, it was absolutely incredible to compete in front of a home crowd,” Clegg added.

“It was my first experience of such a huge home crowd, and for me, it really felt like they were carrying me around the track. It felt like they were giving me a huge hug.

“It didn’t matter to them if you came first or last, they supported you just the same.

“I can’t wait to get back into the Olympic Stadium, it’s a great track to race on, and if we have a good crowd there, that will top it off for me.”

Last week, Clegg was at The Cedars Academy in Leicester to launch a nationwide schools ticket offer, which will see 250,000 schoolchildren watch the world's finest para-athletes in action at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

After more than 1,000 schools from every London borough applied for over 90,000 tickets during the initial window of the offer, it is now being rolled out to schools up and down the country.
Tickets for the initiative will cost £3 – as well as free admission for teachers – with at least seven gold medals guaranteed to be won in each session.
“With the World Para-Athletics Championships being in term time, it’s a fantastic opportunity for schools to come along,” Clegg said.

“The tickets are £3 per child, and teachers and adults come along for free, so it’s a really good opportunity to have a great day out and support us.

“Also, it’s a great chance for the kids to see disability in a really positive light, and hopefully see some really good performances.

“I think we’re going to see some massive crowds this summer. The profile of para-sport has massively increased since London 2012.

“Not only are the public more interested, but we’ve also had a lot of young athletes coming through off the back of that.

“It’s great for us if there is a large home crowd, you definitely raise your game and it’s great to know the people there are supporting you.”

Discounted tickets for school pupils to the London 2017 World Para Athletics Championships (14-23 July 2017) are open for applications. Child tickets £3, with accompanying teachers free. Apply before 20.17pm on 24 March at: http://www.paraathleticschampionships.com/TicketsForSchools