Halifax wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft ready to bake a golden treat in Tokyo

GOING FOR GOLD: Great Britain's gold medal hope Hannah Cockroft. Picture: PA

FIve-time champion Hannah Cockroft admits competing at the Paralympics is less nerve-wracking than baking in front of celebrity chef Paul Hollywood.

The wheelchair racing star travels to Tokyo for her third Games appearance having established herself as a household name by sweeping two golds at London 2012 and a further three in Rio four years later.

Her successes and rising status have opened doors away from the track, including the chance to present BBC nature programme Countryfile.

She also featured on a celebrity version of The Great British Bake Off alongside judge Hollywood, an experience she found far more daunting than the demands of being an elite athlete.

GOING FOR GOLD: Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain in action in the Women's 800m T34 during Day Eight of the IPC World Para Athletics Championships 2019 Dubai on November 14, 2019 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Picture: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images.

“It was never the plan to be a Paralympian, I’ve kind of just rolled with it and every opportunity that’s come up, I’ve said ‘yes’,” said the Halifax-born racer.

“The TV cameras didn’t bother me; cooking in front of Paul Hollywood definitely did that, every day, so scary.

“Racing, I practice every day, I could do it in my sleep, it’s my job.

“Whereas when you’re standing in front of a professional baker and he’s going, ‘Hannah, why are you doing that?’ and I’m like, ‘I’ve no idea – because you’ve written it on my bit of paper is why I’m doing it’, it’s scary.”

Cockroft will defend her T34 100 metres and 800m titles in Japan as she chases down the remarkable 11 golds won by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson between 1992 and 2004.