Jonnie Peacock to return re-energised after athletics break

After consecutive double gold medal hauls at the Paralympic Games, IPC World Championships and IPC European Championships – Jonnie Peacock has earned a rest.

The 100m T44 star, who won gold at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, won’t be at the European Championships this year as he completes a 12-month break from the sport.

Sitting out of this month’s European Para Athletics Championship in Berlin is a small price to pay for the 25-year-old, who plans to return re-energised for the new season in October.

“I took the decision to have 2018 off years ago after seven years of back-to-back seasons when sport was my be-all and end-all,” said Peacock.

“It’s a shame to miss out on the Europeans but I think the body and mind both needed a rest.

“This has been a bit of a down year for me and I’m slowly getting back into it. I’ve just been chilling out this year whereas when you’re in athletics, there’s always something to build towards.

Despite his break, Peacock, who contracted meningitis at five and had his leg amputated below the knee, remains a passionate champion of the Paralympic movement.

And the sprinter expects disability sport to continue to go from strength to strength with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games just over two years away.

“I think massive strides have been taken in disability sport and the whole movement has just shot up since 2012,” he added.

“In Rio, more people entered the Olympic Park across one day of the Paralympics than any day of the Olympic Games.

“That just showing you how much it’s changing. Tokyo is going to change the game and going to be something incredibly special.

“Sometimes, getting disabled people involved in sport is just about them knowing what’s out there.

“In the UK I think we are actually really great at doing things like that – there’s something out there for everyone.”