At 24, Halifax native Hannah Cockroft is much like most women her age. She enjoys shopping, going to the theatre, gigs – and she's got a particular fondness for McFly.
But that's perhaps where the similarities end. In amongst these common pastimes, Hannah's travelling the world competing against the world's best wheelchair racers – and scooping up multiple gold medals along the way.
One of Britain's brightest parasporting stars, Hannah is the proud owner of five Paralympic golds, seven gold medals from the Para Athletics World Championships, two from the Europeans and two golds and two silvers from the IWS Junior Championships from the start of her career in 2011. Not bad going for someone who didn't even know parasport existed until the age of 12.
It was the beginning of something special for Hannah. As well as her collection of gold medals, she currently holds the Paralympic and world records for the T34 100m, 200m and 400m – and she's hoping to push herself even further this summer at the World Para Athletics Championships in London.
Hannah is one of the best-known names in British parasport – and worldwide. Incredible given her parents were told she was unlikely to live beyond her teens. Born with cerebral palsy, Hannah sustained two cardiac arrests at birth, damaging two different parts of her brain. Her balance and mobility were affected, as well as her fine motor skills, and she has weakness in her hips, as well as deformed feet and legs.
To look at her now and what she's achieved is almost unbelievable for her parents – but not entirely unsurprising when Hannah speaks of her passion for the sport.
So how does a world-renowned athlete prepare for a race? Hannah's methods are slightly more unconventional than most – but she's terrified to deviate away from her routine.
As well as hoping that her lucky pants will help her add to her medal collection this summer, Hannah is keen to see whether or not the Championships reignite the nation's passion for parasport. Having witnessed first-hand the real enthusiasm for disability sport at the London 2012 Paralympics, and the years leading up to Rio, she says that things are, sadly, starting to change.
The real perk of a home event is that Hannah's family and friends will be able to come and see her compete. In Rio, just her mum, dad and best friend from university made the trip – but this time around, there's going to be some serious support for Hurricaine Hannah in the stands of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
At 24, Hannah is really at the peak of her career – but being a sportsperson, unfortunately, isn't a lifelong job. So what has she got planned once she hangs up her racing helmet for the last time?
With her passion, drive, determination and bubbly personality, we've got no doubt in our minds that it won't be long before Hannah Cockroft is the golden girl of TV too.
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