Libby Clegg

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Libby Clegg
MBE

| image = Libby Clegg Rio2016.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Clegg at the 2016 Paralympics

| headercolor = yellow

| birth_name =

| full_name = Elizabeth Gemma Clegg

| nickname =

| nationality = British

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|24 March 1990}}

| birth_place = Stockport, Greater Manchester England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| residence =

| height =

| weight =

| website =

| country = {{GBR2}}

| sport = Paralympic athletics

| disability_class = T11

| event = T11 100m
T11 200m

| collegeteam =

| club =

| team =

| turnedpro =

| coach = Joseph McDonell

| retired =

| coaching =

| worlds =

| regionals =

| nationals =

| olympics =

| paralympics =

| highestranking =

| pb =

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}

{{MedalCount|total=yes

|Paralympic Games |2|3|0

|World Championships |1|3|1

|IPC European Championships |3|0|0

|Commonwealth Games |1|0|0

}}

{{MedalCountry | {{SCO}} }}

{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}

}}

Elizabeth Gemma Clegg (born 24 March 1990){{Cite web |title=ParalympicsGB {{!}} Libby clegg |url=https://paralympics.org.uk/athletes/libby-clegg |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=ParalympicsGB |language=en}} is a British Paralympic sprinter and tandem track cyclist who has represented both Scotland and Great Britain at international events. She represented Great Britain in the T12 100m and 200m at the 2008 Summer Paralympics,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7292859.stm BBC Sport – GB Paralympic team for Beijing], 24 July 2008 winning a silver medal in the T12 100m race.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/7605548.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |title=Pistorius wins dramatic 100m gold |date=9 September 2008}} She won Gold in Rio at the 2016 Paralympic Games in 100m T11{{Cite news |date=2020-08-25 |title=Tokyo Paralympics: Libby Clegg ends season early because of restrictions |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/53901651 |access-date=2024-08-11 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} where she broke the world record and T11 200m, beating the previous Paralympic record in the process, thus making her a double Paralympic champion.

Early life

Clegg was born in Stockport in Greater Manchester, before moving to Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders.{{cite web |last1=Stephens |first1=Georgia |title=Libby Clegg interview: 'Being partially sighted is like having a sixth sense' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/libby-clegg-interview-being-partially-sighted-is-like-having-a-sixth-sense-nc5lm7rck |website=The Times |access-date=7 September 2024 |date=3 October 2021}} She attended the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.{{cite web |title=Former Royal Blind pupil Libby Clegg's Paralympic golds |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/former-royal-blind-pupil-libby-cleggs-paralympic-golds-648055 |website=Edinburgh Evening News |access-date=7 September 2024 |date=15 September 2016}}

Athletics career

Clegg has a deteriorating eye condition known as Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy disease giving her only slight peripheral vision in her left eye – she is registered blind. Clegg runs with the aid of guide runner Chris Clarke.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-22 |title=What's it like to be a Paralympic guide runner? |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/culture/feature/article/17613452/be-paralympic-guide-runner-chris-clarke-tells-all |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-26 |title=Learn to Match Your Stride |url=https://www.mosaicsite.org/main/2022/5/26/learn-to-match-your-stride |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Mosaic |language=en-US}}

She took up athletics aged 9, joining Macclesfield Harriers AC. She originally tried middle-distance running and cross country before starting sprinting.{{Cite web |url=http://www.paralympics.org.uk/gb/athletes/libby-clegg |title=Libby Clegg | London 2012 |website=British Paralympic Association |access-date=1 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010102552/http://www.paralympics.org.uk/gb/athletes/libby-clegg |archivedate=10 October 2013}}

In 2006, she competed at the IPC World Championships, winning a silver medal in the T12 200 metres.{{Cite web |url=http://www.elizabethclegg.co.uk/biography/ |title=Biography {{!}} Libby Clegg {{!}} Eyes Wide Shut, Running Blind|last=Athletics|first=Cardiff Met|website=www.elizabethclegg.co.uk|access-date=1 June 2016}} This was followed by an appearance at the 2008 Summer Olympics, where she won a silver medal in the 100 metres. From 2006 until 2010 her guide runner was Lincoln Asquith.{{cite web |url=https://www.athleticsweekly.com/featured/libby-clegg-guide-runner-mikail-huggins-36323/ |title=Libby Clegg ends partnership with guide runner Mikail Huggins |website=Athletics Weekly Federation}}

In January 2011, she competed in the IPC World Championships. Whilst there she took a bronze in the 200m. Clegg is a Paralympic silver medallist and current World Champion in the T12 100m and 200m sprints. She was one of the major success stories from the 2011 IPC World Championships in New Zealand and IBSA World Championships in Turkey.{{Cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Gemma-Louise |date=26 September 2018 |title=Libby Clegg tells My Icon about her journey to double Paralympic gold and mental health issues |url=https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/athletics/news/29175/11509321/libby-clegg-tells-my-icon-about-her-journey-to-double-paralympic-gold-and-mental-health-issues |access-date=11 August 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite web |date=2016-07-19 |title=SDS Hall of Fame - |url=https://scottishdisabilitysport.com/category/athletes-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2011-01-25 |title=Libby Clegg wins 100m gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/8281355/Libby-Clegg-wins-100m-gold-at-the-IPC-Athletics-World-Championships-in-Christchurch-New-Zealand.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Telegraph |language=en}}

In June 2012, Clegg won the 100m and 200m at the IPC Athletics European Championships.{{cite web |url=http://paralympics.channel4.com/the-athletes/athleteid=138/index.html |publisher=Channel 4 |title=About Libby Clegg |accessdate=14 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016030148/http://paralympics.channel4.com/the-athletes/athleteid%3D138/index.html |archivedate=16 October 2012}}

Clegg won silver at the London Paralympics on 2 September 2012 in the T12 100m.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9516467/Paralympics-2012-Libby-Clegg-makes-it-a-family-double-as-parents-and-boyfriend-sprint-between-stadiums-to-see-it.html |title=Paralympics 2012: Libby Clegg makes it a family double as parents and boyfriend sprint between stadiums to see it |date=2 September 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Simon |last=Hart}} Clegg and guide Mikail Huggins broke the European record in the final.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-29 |title=Libby Clegg & Mikail Huggins |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/training/motivation/a772061/libby-clegg-mikail-huggins/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Runner's World |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Muller |first=Antoinette |date=2014-07-30 |title=Guide runners and the spirit of the Games |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2014-07-31-guide-runners-and-the-spirit-of-the-games/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2012-09-03 |title=London 2012 Paralympics: Sibling rivalry drives sprinter Libby Clegg |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/sport-olympics/london-2012-paralympics-sibling-rivalry-drives-sprinter-libby-clegg-on-to-beat-little-brother-8102351.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}

In October 2012, Clegg won "Para Athlete of the Year" at the Scottish Athletics awards and was presented with her award by fellow GB Paralympian David Weir.{{cite news |title=Libby joy at landing Haven Para Athlete of Year |url=http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=17&itemType=news&itemId=6750 |publisher=scottishathletics.org.uk |date=30 October 2012 |accessdate=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115102719/http://www.scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=17 |archive-date=15 January 2013 |url-status=dead}} She won the award again in October 2013.{{Cite web |date=27 October 2013 |title=Child Crowned Athlete of the Year |url=http://scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625131025/http://scottishathletics.org.uk/index.php?p=17 |archive-date=25 June 2014 |access-date=30 June 2014 |website=Scottishathletics}}

In 2013, Clegg won double silver at the IPC World Championships in Lyon clocking 12.23 and 25.31 over 100m and 200m respectively. Clegg is sponsored by the property marketing business ESPC where she participated in work experience in 2008 during her time at The Royal Blind School.{{Cite web |url=http://www.elizabethclegg.co.uk/sponsors/ |title=Sponsors {{!}} Libby Clegg {{!}} Eyes Wide Shut, Running Blind|last=Athletics|first=Cardiff Met|website=www.elizabethclegg.co.uk|access-date=1 June 2016}}

Clegg has two brothers who have also competed at the Paralympics: James, who competed in the pool in the S12 category at London 2012,[http://www.paralympics.org.uk/gb/athletes/james-clegg James Clegg]. British Paralympic Association and Stephen, who also swam in the same class at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/other-sport/paralympics-2021-relieved-stephen-clegg-wont-settle-until-medal-is-gold-maria-lyle-lands-bronze-3362678 |title=Paralympics 2021: Relieved Stephen Clegg won't settle until medal is gold; Maria Lyle lands bronze |last=Toney |first=James |date=27 August 2021 |website=scotsman.com |access-date=9 September 2021}}

Clegg won the 2014 Commonwealth Games T11/T12 100m with a run of 12.20 seconds, a world-leading time for the year.{{cite news |title=Glasgow 2014: Libby Clegg strikes gold in T12 100m |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/commonwealth-games/28536793 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 July 2014}} Due to illness, she was unable to defend her European titles in Swansea shortly after the Commonwealth games.

She split with guide runner Mikhail Huggins in 2015.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/34919627 |title=Libby Clegg splits with guide runner Mikail Huggins |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=1 June 2016}} Her new guide runner is Chris Clarke.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/35602789 |title=Libby Clegg: Paralympic sprinter targets Rio medal with new guide |last=Hudson |first=Elizabeth |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=1 June 2016}}

She was also made to withdraw from the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships after just one race due to an ankle injury and this also meant that she lost funding from British Athletics.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/34766516 |title=Libby Clegg: Sprinter loses UK Athletics funding for 2015–16 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=1 June 2016}}

In 2016, she was reclassified as a T11 athlete due to her deteriorating eye condition, requiring her to wear a blindfold while racing.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/36869545 |title=Rio 2016 Paralympics: Libby Clegg to wear blindfold following reclassification |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=26 August 2016}} Alongside guide Chris Clarke she won the T11 100m title and 200m title at the 2016 Paralympics.

Clegg was late addition to the British team for the postponed 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo on 21 July 2021. The other additions were Jonnie Peacock, Kadeena Cox and David Weir.{{Cite news |title=Peacock & Clegg named in GB squad |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/57914302 |access-date=2021-07-23}}

She is trained by Joe McDonnell.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-23 |title=Ten ParalympicsGB unsung heroes who can shine at the Tokyo Games |url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/23/ten-paralympicsgb-unsung-heroes-tokyo-games-2021 |access-date=2021-08-28 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}

In June 2022 she appeared as guest presenter on an episode of The Gadget Show while Georgie Barrat was on maternity leave.{{Cite web |title=The Gadget Show - Episode 8 - TheTVDB.com |url=https://thetvdb.com/series/the-gadget-show/episodes/9160003 |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=thetvdb.com}}

Cycling career

In 2022, Clegg switched from athletics to cycling.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/61609730 |title=Libby Clegg: Para-cycling newcomer ready for Commonwealth Games after switching from athletics |work=BBC Scotland |first=Jane |last=Lewis |date=29 May 2022}} She competed in cycling at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, finishing 4th in the women's tandem 1 km time trial B and women's tandem sprint B events. In October 2022, Clegg and James Ball earned a gold medal for Great Britain in the mixed team sprint event at the 2022 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships.

Honours

Clegg was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours list for services to athletics and charity.{{London Gazette|issue=61803|supp=y|page=N16|date=31 December 2016}}

Clegg has been awarded Scottish Athletics Athlete of the Year a record seven times (in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016).{{cite web |title=Competition (Awards) |url=https://www.scotstats.net/competition/ |publisher=SCOTSTATS |accessdate=17 April 2019}} She has also been awarded the Scottish Disability Sport Athlete of the Year for athletics (the Findlay Calder Trophy) a record six times (in 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016).{{cite web |title=SDS Award Winners |url=https://www.scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds-award-winners/ |publisher=SDS |accessdate=17 April 2019}} She was also voted SDS Athletes' Athlete of the Year (the Gordon Brown Trophy) for parasports by her peers in 2012.

Personal life

In October 2018, Clegg announced she was expecting her first child with fiancé Dan Powell in March 2019.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/45985369 Libby Clegg: Scottish Paralympian announces pregnancy] BBC Sport, 25 October 2018 They were engaged in October 2017.[https://www.paralympic.org/news/best-british-libby-clegg Best of British: Libby Clegg] www.paralympic.org 24 May 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2019 She has had physical injuries and has been affected by mental health issues. Her guide dog is called Bramble.

In April 2019 Clegg gave birth to a son, Edward, via emergency C-Section {{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/48752816 |title=Libby Clegg on track for athletics return after traumatic birth |date=25 June 2019 |via=www.bbc.co.uk}}

In September 2019 it was announced she would be the first blind contestant to star in the reality TV series Dancing on Ice.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/50235472 |title=World Para-Athletics Championships: Libby Clegg on motherhood and Dancing On Ice |date=10 November 2019 |via=www.bbc.co.uk}} She appeared in the show's 12th series in 2020 with partner Mark Hanretty, coming in third place.

In January 2024, Clegg announced to her followers on Instagram that she had split from her husband and was now a ‘single mum’ stating that “2023 was one of the hardest years”.{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Sabrina |date=2024-01-24 |title=Dancing On Ice star announces split from fiancé in emotional post |url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/01/24/dancing-ice-star-announces-split-fiance-emotional-post-20163264/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Metro |language=en}}

She has two brothers, James who won bronze in the pool at London 2012 Paralympics, and Stephen who became the first para swimmer in his class to break 28 seconds in the men’s 50m backstroke in 2023 and won the gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, breaking the world record in the process.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=Paralympic star Libby Clegg ready to turn cheerleader for brother at Paris 2024 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/libby-clegg-paralympics-paris-2024-crufts-b2506716.html |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Independent |language=en}}