Sammi Kinghorn: I want gold in Paris, but it won't define me

But when it comes to Sammi Kinghorn, she seems so at one with herself, it’s not hard to believe that while she’s striving for a gold medal at the Paris Paralympic Games, whether or not she achieves it won’t be the deciding factor in her overall happiness.

This hasn’t always been the case for Kinghorn.

She’s admitted that, when she was younger, much of her self-worth was based on her athletics results and her entire life revolved around training and racing.

Age and maturity has mellowed Kinghorn somewhat, however, and while the 28-year-old retains the same will to win as she’s always had, she now has a far more balanced mindset as she heads into major championships.

“I’ve got a more level-headed approach these days, it’s not nearly as emotional an approach as I've had before and that’s a big difference,” the wheelchair racer, who won silver and bronze at Tokyo 2020, says. 

“Now, I don’t think it’s the medals that make this all worthwhile – it’s more about the experiences, travelling the world and improving myself and looking at it like that takes the pressure off me.

“Getting a balance of everything in my life is so important and being happy in each aspect of my life helps every other aspect. I race my best when I’m at my happiest, I’ve seen proof of that and so it relaxes me and helps my nerves knowing that I’ve done everything I can to be at my best.”

Despite this healthy level of perspective, Kinghorn is still overcome by a wave of nerves in the lead-up to every race – she’s physically sick ahead of nearly every outing – but she heads into Paris 2024, which begins with the Opening Ceremony today and will be her third Paralympic Games, brimming with confidence.

2023 was the most successful season of her decade-long international career, with the Borders native winning four medals at the 2023 World Para-Athletics championships, including T53 100m gold, but remarkably, she’s stepped-up her performances in 2024 yet again.

This season already, Kinghorn has set new personal bests in the T53 100m, 400m, 800m and 1500m, with the latter also being a new world record, thus confirming what she believed that she’s in the best shape of her life.

Her improved physical fitness, plus a new wheelchair, has fuelled a level of confidence that bodes well going into these Paralympics.

“I’m feeling really good and I couldn’t have asked for a better first half of the year, so I’m very excited to get started in Paris,” she says.

“I’ve changed my racing chair which has made a massive difference and I’m much more aerodynamic now.

“I’ve also got new wheels - at £7000 they nearly broke the bank but hopefully it’ll be worth it. 

“Having new kit is also a mental thing – I tell myself on the start line that I have the best equipment for me, I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been and that helps a lot.”

A significant obstacle to Kinghorn winning Paralympic gold is one of the phenomenons of contemporary Paralympic sport, Catherine Debrunner, the Swiss athlete who has moved Kinghorn’s events on significantly in recent seasons. But rather than be disheartened by the strength of competition, Kinghorn is relishing the challenge and with the Scot having recorded several victories over Debrunner in recent seasons, she’s well aware that the Swiss racer is beatable.

Kinghorn will race the T53 100m, 400m, 800m and 1500m in Paris and while a Paralympic gold medal is the one significant gap in her illustrious medal collection – she has three world and three European titles to her name – she won’t judge the success or otherwise of her Paralympic campaign purely on what silverware she departs the French capital with.

“Of course I really want a gold medal and I’m in Paris to win,” she says. 

“But I’m also really aware that a gold medal in Paris won’t make me any happier than I already am. All I can do is my best and as long as I give it everything and put in a good performance, I’ll be happy.”

Paris will be particularly special for Kinghorn given that she was deprived of the full Paralympic experience in Tokyo due to the pandemic. And so, even more than the prospect of medal success, Kinghorn is relishing having her friends and family in the stands in Paris rather than at home watching on television as they were for the Games three years ago.

“Tokyo was just awful with the way it had to take place,” she says. 

“So I can’t wait to go out there in front of my mum and dad because I obviously didn’t have that chance at the last Paralympics.

“I’ve got about 25 people coming over and that’s the best part of it all. 

“I feel like if I do well in Paris, I’ll really be able to enjoy the moment whereas in Tokyo, it was very weird because you basically got your medal then were straight on a plane back home. 

“I feel like I didn’t get the chance to really enjoy doing well in Tokyo because of the circumstances so in Paris, if I do well it’ll be so nice to all celebrate the moment together.”