Strictly star unrecognisable with drastic new hairdo and ripped physique as he chases third gold at Paralympics 2024
BRITISH Paralympian Johnnie Peacock has showed off a new look ahead of the Games in Paris.
The four-time Paralympic medalist is targeting his third gold next month in the 100m T44.
He won his first gold at London 2012 as a fresh-faced 19-year-old and set the Paralympic record in the process with a time of 10.90.
Peacock, who starred in Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 with Oti Mabuse and was the eighth contestant to go, now looks remarkably different, sporting a man bun and bushy beard.
The 31-year-old also looks in top shape with a ripped physique, with the sprinter claiming he is at the peak of his powers.
Asked what his goal in Paris is, Peacock replied: “It’s a very shiny medal. When you’ve won a gold medal, silver medals aren’t that fun. They are always a disappointment.
“I feel like I can fight again. That’s something that’s really important for me.
“The last few years I’ve been off balance, right on the ragged edge of my technique where that if I have to push a little bit more, I lose it. Not any more.”
He believes he is “running better than I have run for the last four years” ahead of the 100m T64, having won bronze in the event in Tokyo last time out.
Referencing the previous Paralympics, Peacock said: “I’m still annoyed from three years ago. I get an opportunity to rectify that mistake.
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All of the events taking place at the Paris 2024 Paralympics
Each sport is broken down into subcategories giving athletes the chance to compete on equal terms with those who have a similar impairment.
Here are the events:
- Para archery
- Para athletics
- Para badminton
- Blind football
- Boccia
- Para canoe
- Para cycling
- Para equestrian
- Goalball
- Para judo
- Para powerlifting
- Para rowing
- Shooting Para sport
- Sitting volleyball
- Para swimming
- Para table tennis
- Para taekwondo
- Para triathlon
- Wheelchair basketball
- Wheelchair fencing
- Wheelchair rugby
- Wheelchair tennis
“I will be going in there, going to war, and I’ll be ready to fight and hopefully all my competitors are ready because there is going to be a battle.
“This is my fourth time and it’s also my fourth time contesting. Every other athlete in that field, it’s only going to be their second time. I also have experience with 80,000 people going mad.
“Whether they will be going quite as mad for me remains to be seen, but I am super excited for that and I am really looking forward to get into that stadium and feeling what it’s like.
“The pressure for me is part of my toolkit. The more pressure you give me, the faster I run. I know that not all of my competitors can say that.”