INTERVIEW // KAMLISH AIMS FOR NEW RECORDS THIS YEAR

By Sam Tonks

She became the T44 100m world champion and broke the world record at London Stadium last year, but Sophie Kamlish is determined to set records again this year.

The 21-year-old shocked Para-Athletics with her blistering times on her way to her first global title, but Kamlish is eager to continue that success in 2018.

“This year I hope to get another world record, though I’m having a down year and won’t be competing at the Europeans but I still want to get faster,” she said.

Achieving her first global honour, in front of a home crowd, life came at the sprinter fast.

“Life hasn’t changed too much in terms of my routine, it’s been really good,” said Kamlish.

“But I’ve received some awards for my achievements, I was lucky to be named both ‘Disabled Sports Performer’ and ‘Sports Personality’ of the year at the Bath Chronicle Sports Awards.”

Born and raised in London, the self-acclaimed ‘fastest woman on one foot’ is also a university student at Kingston School of Art, studying Illustration and Animation.

Multi-talented and thriving in both aspects, but how does she balance being a world champion and practicing illustrator?

“I’m well into my second year at uni now and balancing it is probably going to get harder as I go,” she said.

“The workload will increase but my organisational skills are improving all the time.”

As well as this, her accomplishments at London Stadium last summer magnified her sport and Kamlish hopes kids can be inspired by the sport, as she was.

“I’m always happy for there to be hype around para-athletics because I love it so much, it would be great if it could continue,” said Kamlish.

“I really hope it gives disabled children some role models and inspires them to give sport a go.”

The young sprinter has her own personal blog where she explains that school-days weren’t the easiest for her but hopes things are getting better for kids growing up with impairments.

“It can be hard to be seen as ‘other’ as a child, but sport definitely gave me confidence and made me see being disabled isn’t a bad thing.”

In terms of competitions this year, Kamlish is at the end of the indoor season with upcoming Grand Prix’s, and she believes she’s well prepared.

“It’s pretty easy to adapt from outdoors, preparations are going well and I’ve competed in three 60m competitions and equalled my PB,” she said.

“Hopefully the added adrenaline of a Grand Prix can push me to a new personal best.”

Kamlish made true of her words, setting a new British record of 8.47,  on her way to second in the T43-44 60m sprint, at the Glasgow Grand Prix last weekend.