The 53-year-old reigning Paralympic champion has monopolised the Para-cycling T2 classification, remaining unbeaten throughout last year after she defended her titles in the women's individual time trial and the women's road race at the World Championships in Greenville, United States.

But the Australian is wary of the challenges that lay ahead this year, acknowledging that she is going to have to remain at her best if she is to continue her domination of the sport.

"I learnt that there will always be new people coming on the scene," she told the International Paralympic Committee website.

"You can't rest on your laurels you have to be constantly striving to be the best you can be."

Cooke also unsurprisingly won double gold at the International Cycling Union World Cup meeting in Cantimpalos, Spain in July last year, and all of her recent successes followed on from her time trial triumph at London 2012.

In order to remain at the pinnacle of Para-cycling, the Canadian-born star has altered her training regime as she bids for an historic triple double at the Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland, which take place from July 28 to August 2.

"I have changed my gym programme slightly and put in weight circuit sessions which test me and are fantastic cardio workouts as well," she added.

"To me it is all about remaining healthy to make sure that I can train properly."

Cycling has not always been Cooke's main sport, however, as she began her career as a swimmer.

She would have competed at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow but Canada decided to boycott the event, before she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998 while living in Australia.

She then switched her attentions to rowing, and narrowly missed out on selection for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, and Cooke then opted to pursue cycling, which has brought her great success in the past three years.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
May 2014: Australia names squad for 2014 Para-cycling Road World Championships in United States
May 2014: London 2012 champions Cooke and Nicholas take honours at Australian Para-cycling Championships