After missing out on last year’s Commonwealth Games, Claire Cashmore is determined to make up for lost time and prove herself in front of a home crowd once more when the IPC Swimming World Championships starts in Glasgow next month.
The National Performance Centre swimmer thrived under the spotlight of a British crowd three years ago, securing two silver medals and one bronze at London 2012 to take her overall Paralympic tally to six.
It was an impressive return that helped Cashmore to maintain a stunning record of having medalled at every major championship she has taken part in – a record that still persists as she prepares for this summer’s showpiece.
But despite having tasted success the world over, the 27-year-old admits she is relishing competing closer to home again – and finally getting her shot in the Scottish city.
“I genuinely cannot wait for the World Championships. I was disappointed last year to miss out on the Commonwealths, so I see this a bit like a second shot at a second home games,” said Cashmore, who trains at the National Performance Centre in Manchester.
“Being able to compete in the UK again just two years after London’s amazing Paralympics would have been incredible in 2014, so when the World Champs were announced in Glasgow, I realised that chance would be coming around again in my career.
“I can’t wait for another shot, and hopefully we can get the same sort of turnout that we’ve had at those big events in the past few years – it means so much, and home advantage can be massive.
“I remember walking out in London and seeing all those people there to cheer for us, seeing the hordes of Union Jacks – that feeling was genuinely incredible.
“My biggest aim at the competition is to get a lifetime best on the big stage under all the pressure.
“I think you can get fixated on winning medals and what colour they are, but if I can go well and get an all-time best for myself that would be great, and hopefully that may allow me to get the colour of my choice.
“A World Championships a year before any Paralympics is always interesting – it’s a real test, and it certainly gets you excited for the year ahead.”
Cashmore’s hopes in Glasgow and Rio will depend on her success in training, with the Redditch star admitting her recent work has been going well.
On top of team training in Manchester and Cyprus, the three-time Paralympian has also been doing a unique spot of camping as she seeks to gain the edge over her international competitors.
“Just before I went to Cyprus with the team, I had been sleeping in a tent for four weeks at 3440m,” Cashmore added.
“It’s a weird situation – the altitude tent is literally hung over your bed, so you are still living at home but in this tent at the equivalent of 3440m.
“It does take over your life a bit – you have to be in it for 10-12 hours each night, which means going to bed very early.
“But it has worked well, because my training has been going well. I’ve had a really solid block of training, and it was also fantastic to be swimming with the team and feeding off each other’s confidence.
“The tent thing was interesting, but these are the things you do to be an elite athlete – it will all be worth it if the results go well in the pool.”
PLEASE LEAVE IN FINAL PAR – To support the British Para-Swimming Team at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow get your tickets at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/glasgow2015