2018 Emma Wiggs - Great Britain

Emma Wiggs (Great Britain) - Nominee for the 2018 Sportswoman of the Year award

Twitter: www.twitter.com/emwiggsy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Emma-Wiggs
Website: www.emmawiggs.co.uk

Born: 1980, Represents: Great Britain, Sport: Paracanoe

Major Results:

• 2018: Paracanoe World Championships: Gold VL2 200m, Silver KL2 200m; European Championships: Gold VL2 200m, Gold KL2 200m; World Cup: Gold KL2 200m, Gold VL2 200m
• 2017: Paracanoe World Championships: Gold KL2 200m
• 2016: Paralympic Games: Gold KL2 200m, World Championships: Gold KL2 200m
• 2015: World Championships: Gold KL2 200m. European Championships: Silver KL2
• 2014: World Championships: Gold K1 & V1 200m TA.  European Championships: Gold V1 200m TA, Silver K1 200m TA.

Emma Wiggs, MBE, is a Paralympic gold medal winner and seven-time World Champion paracanoeist in the women’s 200m KL2 class. Her sporting career has seen her switch from sitting volleyball to paracanoeing after the London 2012 Olympics.

2018 saw Emma bring home five gold and one silver paracanoe medals in her most successful season to date. Shad a terrific start to the season, breaking two world records en route to her seventh world title and fifth European gold. Breaking her wrist just two weeks before the World Championships, Emma showed immense strength of character and composure. As a testament to her hard work, rigorous preparation and drive, Emma managed to not only race but to win gold and silver in the VL3 and KL2 events respectively, before having surgery. 

After contracting a virus 18 years ago that left her irreparable nerve damage in her legs Emma was given the opportunity to try different Paralympic sports before committing to seated volleyball. She made her Paralympic debut in 2012 before deciding to look for another sport that would give her the best chance to be the best she could be. That’s when she began her Paracanoe journey.

Now a trailblazer for the sport in the UK and the paracanoe community around the world, Emma’s achievements were recognised in the 2017 Queen’s New Year Honours list, where she was awarded an MBE for her services to canoeing.

QUOTE/TESTIMONIAL:
"If you line up on the start line then you're fit enough to go. I went with what I had and I'm really chuffed to be on the podium.” — Emma Wiggs on topping the podium at the 2018 World Championships, despite a wrist injury