DORCHESTER’S Paul Blake may have rewritten the record books earlier this year but he insists the hard work starts now as he bids to capture Paralympic gold at the first time of asking in London.
The 21-year-old has been in superb form ever since he won 400m gold as well as 800m and 1500m silver at the IPC World Championships in New Zealand and in Crystal Palace last month he broke further new ground.
Blake arrived in south London aware he was in good form but he’s the first to admit he was not expecting a new world record – but that’s exactly what he got in the 800m, clocking 2:08.02 minutes.
And Blake, who competes for Dorch-ester AC, believes his extra work in the gym is the reason behind his slice of history.
“I thought I was going well and I felt that there was a quite a quick time in me but I really wasn’t expecting to go that fast,” said Blake, who is at a London 2012 Simulation Camp in Monte Gordo, Portugal, funded by Aviva who have been supporting British athletes since 1999.
“I’m delighted with how things have gone for me ever since the World Championships at the start of the year, I’ve gone better than I could have expected.
“And I think it’s down to doing more work and spending more time in the gym. Not so much in terms of bulking up but I think spending longer in the gym has helped.”
Due to the timing of the World Championships at the start of the year, Blake and his British team-mates will have few chances between now and London 2012 to test themselves against their major rivals.
But Blake, who will compete in able-bodied competitions over the winter to find the extra edge, remains convinced that he can still mount a two-pronged assault on the London 2012 podium.
“It’s fair to say that the 400m is my strongest event,” added Blake. “But I do also want to do the 800m and I want to perform well in both.
“London is going to be my first Paralympics and it’s so difficult to imagine what to expect with the home crowd and everything. I think the time will fly by but hopefully the home crowd will spur me on.”
* You can apply for tickets until 6pm on Monday, September 26 for the London 2012 Paralympic Games – for more information, go to <&bh"http://tickets.london2012.com/">tickets.london2012.com<&eh>. Three quarters of tickets are priced at £20 or less
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