Rik Waddon Paralympic Diary

Source: Rik Waddon

REACHING FOR THE ULTIMATE?

Well with just over a month to go until the Paralympics kicks off in Beijing, things in the training department seem to be slotting into place nicely. With eight months of my own training program and planning behind me I have opted to seek the advice of the world-class coaches that we have access to through the British Cycling program. This will hopefully take away the stress of planning my last couple of weeks preparation by handing it to someone else, allowing me to focus my mind on the finer ingredients of the winning formula...

Above: Rik in action at the Disability Worlds 2007

It was a delight to be selected for the games this time around, it's time for me to get my payback for the disappointment of not getting to go to Athens four years ago. My events are the kilo, which is going to be electric; especially as my opponent will be my team mate Mr Kenny, the defending champion and world record holder (respect). But as people will have seen at the Paralympic world cup back in may, the race was so close. We had a laugh on the phone the day after that race and we both have predicted a time for the Beijing face off, cometh the man, cometh the hour!!!

My other event will hopefully be the team sprint man one slot, I have got to do a trial later on next month to see if I am in the team, guess who is my opposition for that? Yes you guessed it, its Mr Kenny again. We do have a good laugh about it though; well the last he said to me was I couldn't sit on his table for breakfast because we are going to be at war. I was thinking that he was starting to sound like George Bush, so that would make me who? (I would like to think Bin Ladin, the one Bush cant catch) love you dk x

Anyway am sure it will be excitement all the way?

HOME FROM HOME?

Natalie my fiancee will also be competing in the games, in the swimming competitions. She is hoping to defend her 200IM title, and medal in some other events that she has been working on over the last 4 years. Being at a major competition for me will be strange when Natalie will also be there, but we both understand that we both have deferent offices and work different hours so it's agreed that we will only see each other when we first arrive and then not until after our events, I will see my head coach Mr Furber about putting me in some kind of quarantine or apartment arrest (no cuffs though or bandana)?

Well that's it for now, am off to bed.

Rik