Sammi Kinghorn says mental shift behind 2024 Paralympic successes
Paralympic gold medalist Sammi Kinghorn says improving her mental health will be crucial to her success in 2024.
Kinghorn, 28, won five medals at the Paris Paralympics, including gold in the 100m T53, and four silvers in a range of track and field events.
With this result, she won a bronze medal in the 100m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, bringing the Borders athlete’s total to six.
Kinghorn explained the previous incident in an interview with BBC Scotland: “I was fit physically but not mentally. “I’ve worked really, really hard on that this year.
“You can have all the natural abilities, you can work as hard as you can, but if you don’t believe you can, then you never will.
“There were times when I would panic and think, ‘Maybe I can’t.’ That’s when I relied on this incredible support group to deal with myself and my doubts.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I have to ring the bell and it’s going to be a very special thing going into Notre Dame. It’s so unique to Paris and a cool thing to do .When it actually goes back to Notre Dame, Notre Dame, I can say, “I rang that doorbell.”
Kinghorn’s latest honor was being named Female Para-Sportsperson of the Year at the Scottish Sports Awards on Wednesday.
Stephen McGuire won the equivalent men’s award after winning the Paris bocce gold medal.
“I’m sad that I won my first Paralympic medal without my friends and family here because they mean so much to me,” Kinghorn added.
“Being able to share that with them and my coaches … it’s as much for them as it is for me.”
