Cockroft announced herself on the scene with a bang in 2011 at the age of 18 when she won both the T34 100 metres and 200m world titles at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, before going on to produce stunning gold medal-winning performances in the same events at last summer's Paralympic Games in London.

And the chance to get back onto home track is one that she is looking forward to at an event where 1,300 competitors from 90 nations will be competing, the biggest Paralympic athletics competition since London 2012.

"I'm excited, it's going to be fantastic," said Cockroft.

"It's the biggest Paralympic event since the Paralympics and it's going to be awesome to have that home crowd, have that support and kind of just see who is going to come out for us and see if that Paralympic legacy has held on."

Cockroft was awarded an MBE by the Queen for her performances at London 2012

The Halifax-born star has been in top form recently, improving her 100m world record just last month in Switzerland, where she finished over two seconds ahead of second-place finisher Amy Siemens of the Netherlands, who also came in behind her for silver at London 2012.

Cockroft is wary of the threat posed by Siemens and her compatriot, London 2012 bronze medallist Desiree Vranken, who will both line up against her tomorrow, but hopes that external distractions could work in her favour.

"I've only raced against Amy and Desiree once this year, I know that Amy has gone back to university so she's been concentrating on that, and Desiree has just moved to college so they've both had other things to concentrate on," she said.

"But you never know, sometimes a distraction can be good for training, so you can never be too confident.

"I don't really know where I am at the moment, they could come really close, but hopefully I'll drop them again and leave them behind."

But the 20-year-old is not feeling any pressure on where she finishes in Birmingham, and with the chance to defend her world titles coming up next month at the 2013 IPC World Championships in Lyon, the Grand Prix Final provides an ideal opportunity for her to gauge her opponents and ensure her preparation is complete before the Worlds, which are due to take place from July 19 until 28.

"I don't think my results will be that important but it's a good way for me to find out where the other girls are at, how much they've come on since the Paralympics, obviously this is a big event for the Paralympians and it's fantastic to have two big events so close together," said Cockroft.

"I think all the other girls will be pushing at their best, and I hope to push at my best, but it'll be good to judge where they're at, where I'm at, and what I need to do in the next three weeks to make sure I retain my double world title."

Cockroft is wary of her Dutch challengers Amy Siemens and Desiree Vranken, but hopes to use this weekend to gauge her opponents before Lyon

Also competing in Birmingham tomorrow are a string of Britain's Paralympic champions, including T44 100m gold medallist Jonnie Peacock, who will line up against the likes of up-and-coming youngster Felix Streng of Germany, who impressed at the Grand Prix in Berlin earlier this month.

Richard Whitehead, the 200m T42 Paralympic champion, will face the man who he confined to winning silver in London, Heinrich Popow,  the current world and Paralympic 100m champion, while David Weir, who stole the show at London 2012 with four gold medals, will compete in the T54 1500m, with competition from the likes of Canada's marathon world record holder Josh Cassidy.

London 2012 Paralympics broadcasters Channel Four will be showing live action from Alexander Stadium tomorrow, and tickets are still available by clicking here.

To read a full interview with Hannah Cockroft click here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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