Libby Clegg has opened up about the challenges she faces training for ‘Dancing on Ice’.
The double Paralympic champion has Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy disease, a deteriorating eye condition which gives her only slight peripheral vision in her left eye and means she is registered blind.
Libby, who competes as a sprinter, has explained how she has been getting to grips with skating.
She said: "It’s been a learning process. On the track I run with a guide runner and we’re attached all the time, but basically it’s like learning a different vocabulary to communicate."
The 29-year-old athlete admitted picking up the skills is "harder" than she thought it would be.
Libby explained: "Myself and my partner Mark Hanretty use touch and verbal communication. I’m not as bad as I was going to be, but it’s not as easy as it looks.It’s a lot harder than I thought it’d be, it’s very technical."
Libby was reportedly partnered with Mark, 34, before all the other couples in order to work on their connection and build trust in each other but the skater has found demonstrating moves to Libby has been "difficult".
He said: "Demonstrating things is difficult. But I’m working on improving my descriptive vocabulary."
Meanwhile, Libby is hoping to inspire others with disabilities to take on new skills.
She commented: "I’d love for people with disabilities, or just in general, to come out of their comfort zone. You set yourself a little goal and just do it."
Libby has been praised by fellow contestant, ‘Steps’ star Ian ‘H’ Watkins, who described her as "inspirational".
The new series of ‘Dancing on Ice’ begins on ITV on January 5 2020.
Libby Clegg reveals Dancing on Ice challenges
