One of Britain’s most renowned athletes and adventurers has confirmed she plans to compete for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year – at the age of 46.
Karen Darke, who won gold medal in the cycling time trial at the Rio Paralympics, revealed her plans, both in and out of the sporting arena, during an exclusive interview with the Press and Journal.
Ms Darke, who is paralysed from the waist down after suffering an accident while sea cliff climbing in 1991, has a doctorate in geology from Aberdeen University and now lives in Inverness.
She talked about her exhilaration at the prospect of flying the Saltire in the paratriathlon in Australia’s Gold Coast.
Ms Darke said: “I feel very excited about the possibility of representing Scotland at the paratriathlon in Australia.
“I feel part-Scottish, part-Yorkshire, which makes sense, since I grew up in Halifax, but I have spent all my adult life in Scotland.
“It will be a real privilege if I manage to qualify to represent Scotland. It’s a country which I love and one I am proud to be part of.
“Perhaps I will feel like it will be official citizenship.
“It won’t be easy, because I know very well that I am a better cyclist than I am a swimmer.
“But I’ve never been afraid of testing myself and pursuing new challenges.”
She admitted it had been “a rollercoaster of a year” that saw her defy a serious shoulder injury to win gold.
“I think I had a kind of burn-out experience. I disappeared off to Patagonia with some friends and cycled 1,200km of gravel road in the wilderness. It seemed to fix me, as nature usually does.
“I cancelled shoulder surgery as everything settled, but it has been a challenging year with some health issues.
“I suppose I am paying the price for years of pushing so hard, but at the same time, I love it – most of the time.”
Ms Darke has recently launched a ambitious new project – Quest 79 – which will see her travelling to seven continents for nine challenging handcycle rides, raising £79,000 for the Spinal Injuries Association. She will be highlighting the venture at a film night at Eden Court in Inverness on September 7.