Paralympian Hannah Cockroft gets honorary degree

British Paralympian Hannah Cockroft joked she was on a mission to make her name "as long as possible" after receiving an honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University.

The nine-time Paralympic champion said the university's facilities had played a part in her success, which has seen the 100m and 800m athlete pick up an additional 17 world titles.

Halifax-born Cockroft said: "Everything that they've offered me has just been second to none and to have that team behind me, their amazing brains and facilities - everything has been a massive help to me."

Ten weeks after giving birth to a baby daughter, Cockroft said she was now looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

Cockroft was one of several names from Yorkshire who received honorary degrees, including former Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield.

Cockroft is in her 14th year of competition and said it was an annual battle to keep finding the margins to win.

"So much has changed, the chairs are getting more advanced every year and it's tough to keep up with," she explained.

The athlete said engineers and sports scientists at Leeds Beckett had helped her develop.

"It's all the things that I don't know [and] don't understand. You need those amazing brains to kind of put that in and just knowing that all those people were cheering me on when I won another World Championships is extra special," she said.

Cockroft said the start of her sporting season this year had been quieter than most, with the birth of her daughter.

Rosie was born 10 weeks ago and Cockroft said she found out she was pregnant while at the World Championships in New Delhi last year.

"That was a shocker for everybody. We didn't actually tell anybody, just the team doctor, so that was a tough secret, when you're throwing up every morning, to keep under your hat.

"I'm slowly trying to add little bits of exercise back in and trying to see where Rosie fits in with with my career. It's been really nice to step back [from racing]," she said.

Cockroft said she looked up to fellow British Olympian Jessica Ennis-Hill, who won gold at the 2015 World Championships after giving birth to her first child.

"It kind of gives me a little fire in my belly. It's a new challenge, it's almost like wiping the slate clean. I've got a different life and a little girl to prove that she can come back from anything.

"I really want to set her a good example and show [her] what I can do," she added.

The Paralympian was speaking at Leeds Beckett's Carnegie School of Education ceremony where more than 10,000 students graduated.

Cockroft told students to say yes to any opportunity, conceding that when she first saw wheelchair racing, she wasn't entirely keen.

"I was like 'absolutely not, that looks so uncomfortable' and, yet, look look where I am now 18 years down the line. An opportunity can really change your life," she added.

Along with Cockroft, former Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield also received an honorory degree from the university.

Longfield served in post for six years, where she sought to promote the views and interests of children in England.

The life peer, who grew up near Otley, West Yorkshire, had been decorated by the university for her services to children.

A spokesperson for Leeds Beckett said Longfield had "consistently" championed the view that every child can "thrive regardless of their background".

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