The cool part about Dancing on Ice is getting to prove all the doubters wrong
CLEAR VIEW OF WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN
Watching blind Paralympian Libby Clegg glide across the ice with such grace and poise, many have been shocked by her skills.
Libby says she’s used to people underestimating her – and even questioning the fact she’s visual ly impaired.
But the mum of one doesn’t let it get her down. Instead, she says she’s happy to prove a point on ITV’s Dancing on Ice and be an inspiration for others.
“I tried to get on a bus in Edinburgh once,” said Libby, 29, who attended the Royal Blind School in the capital. “I had a pass which said I was blind and the man told me off and said I wasn’t blind.
“I was like, ‘ Mate, come on! ’ My comeback to that is, ‘ You don’t look ignorant’, and I walk off. It’s taken me a while to have the confidence to say that to someone.”
Even when she’s out walking with guide dog Hatti, many people can’t believe she needs to be aided.
Libby added: “People actually think I’m training Hatti. I don’t mind that now. I turn around and tell them she’s my guide dog because I can’t see very well.
“I’ve even been patted on the back by people telling me I’m doing a fantastic job training her up.”
Team GB Paralympian Libby was diagnosed with Stargardt’s macular dystrophy at the age of nine. The degenerative disease has caused her eyesight to deteriorate as she’s got older. But she refuses to let it define her. Speaking about her frustrations, runner Libby, who’s represented Scotland and Great Britain, added: “The stereotypical blind person isn’t myself. It annoys me a bit. People’s perceptions can be frustrating at times.
“I don’t look that blind. There are so many different eye conditions so you shouldn’t judge anybody if you’re not in their shoes.
“It’s about changing people’s perceptions on blind people. It’s giving other blind people confidence. To prove people wrong. In a positive way.”
Even Dancing On Ice partner Mark Hanr e t t y, 35,
a dmi t s he underestimated Libby’s abi l ities. Speaking to the Sunday Mai l last month, the pro- skater, from Erskine, Renfrewshire, said: “Initially, I thought it was going to be the biggest challenge ever.
“I thought production were crazy to bring in a contestant who could not see but I need not have worried as Libby is an incredible and inspi rational human being, who is developing into a talented skater.”
Libby faces her toughest challenge yet in the competition tonight – skating totally unaided for a sequence of moves. But she’s approaching it exactly like she has done with other obstacles in her life.
“I’ve had a couple of crashes,” she said. “I’ve just laughed it off.
“Not being able to see very well isn’t great but it’s taught me loads of life skills like how to problem solve, how to challenge myself.”
Another obstacle she faced was a bout of gastroenteritis, which forced her off last weekend’s show.
She said: “It was hideous. I haven’t been that ill in 12 years. My partner had it as well. Trying to look after a nine-monthold baby when you’re both sick is hard.
“I did not leave my house. I disinfected everything. I was paranoid I’d pass it down and bring down the show.
“I was worried it might end my Dancing
On Ice dream. I was gutted when I watched them all on telly. But I was back on the ice on Monday.”
As she looks ahead to getting back on the ice tonight, Libby has one very important thing to remember other than her steps. “I keep forgetting to breathe,” she said.
She and Mark have devised their own language to ensure their routines go smoothly.
Libby said: “Mark has a number for a set position on the ice. Forward skating is two. And there’s sounds as well. We use silly words that don’t make sense.”
Mark added: “Libby’s sense of hearing is incredible and she likes me to explain everything in great detail so I’ve been using a lot of descriptive vocabulary.
“She relies a lot on touch. I manipulate her into positions so she can feel where she is meant to be and replicate it.”
The pair are tipped to make it to the f inal , which would be a massive achievement for Libby.
But she’s not content with making it to the end – professional sportswoman Libby wants to win.
She said: “I’ve surprised myself with my scores. I knew people would underest imate me. I ’ m secretly competitive. I’ve not exposed that side of me yet. I’m trying to keep it on the down-low.”
After intensive training on the ice each morning, Libby spends afternoons enduring gruelling track sessions for the Tokyo Paralympics in August.
She is hoping to emulate her success in Rio four years ago – where she won gold at the 2016 Paralympic Games in 100m T11, setting a world record, and T11 200m.
It means she’s been apart from son Edward and fiance Dan Powell, also a blind Paralympian, for long periods.
Libby said : “I hate spending time away from my son. He’s coming to London to see me. I’ve hardly seen Dan. It’s a bit rough.”
The Scot can always f ind a positive, though, and is happy to be an inspiration to people in the same situation as her.
She said: “Parents who’ve felt they haven’t had hope for their children have got in touch. Seeing me do this has given them hope their kid can be successful and live a normal life.”
This month, Libby will take her son for an eye test to see if he’s inherited any conditions from his parents. But even her outlook on that is sunny.
She said: “I’ve got no worries about it. He has understanding of people with additional needs and has two positive parents to guide him through life. Whether he can see or not, I wouldn’t treat him any differently.”
If people say I don’t look blind, my comeback is, ‘You don’t look ignorant’