Marlou van Rhijn embracing 'Blade Babe' nickname ahead of World Para Athletics Championships

Waiting game: Marlou van Rhijn will bid for a third golden double at the worlds
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Marlou van Rhijn could be forgiven for cringing at the nickname ‘Blade Babe’.

But the 25-year-old Dutch sprinter has embraced the moniker, the world record holder in both the T43 100m and 200m believing the tag has had its benefits.

“I thought it was really funny when I first heard it,” said Van Rhijn. “We never got much attention in Holland and the name made me easier to remember. I’ve heard people say it’s sexist and I understand that but I’ve very much been raised a feminist and, for me, it’s not a problem.”

Van Rhijn will be competing in this month’s World Para Athletics Championships in London and the UK is home from home for the sprinter, who was born without her lower legs.

She trains in Amsterdam and Loughborough, and London hosted the seminal moment of her athletics career, in which she won 200m Paralympic gold.

“I’ve been back to the stadium twice since then and it’s like I get to live London 2012 all over again,” she said. “There’s so many good memories. It was really good fun.”

Van Rhijn says it has taken time for para athletes to get full acceptance in her homeland but the situation is improving and she sees the UK as a beacon. “In Holland, when you train you feel a bit special in the sense that people are watching you,” she added. “But in the UK, I’m just like everyone else and that’s a relief — I can just focus on training.”

Her first sporting foray was swimming but, realising she might not make it to the top level, she tried running and was hooked.

“I had no idea that athletics was for me,” she said. “I remember the first time on blades feeling that speed in the open air. That was almost addictive from the start, I just wanted to go faster and faster.”

In Pictures: Great Britain's medal run at Rio 2016 Paralympics

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The mindset has not changed as Van Rhijn targets the sprint golden double for a third World Championships in a row.

At home, the pressure is on her to succeed and she is confident of delivering at the London event, which starts on July 14.

She said: “I hope I’m better than Rio [where she won two golds]. Nothing comes close to London.”

Evening Standard readers have until 5pm on Friday to apply for free tickets to the Championships. There are 2,500 still available. To apply (max four per application) visit: paraathleticschampionships.com/eveningstandard

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