PARALYMPICS LONDON 2012: Wiggs already turning her attentions to Rio

Posted: Sunday 9th September 2012 | 12:07

SITTING volleyball player Emma Wiggs saw her hopes of ending the London 2012 Paralympics on a high dashed by Japan - but she's already turned her attentions to Rio 2016, claiming Great Britain have barely tested the water yet.

HER NAME IS RIO: Emma Wiggs is determined to compete at the next Paralympics in Brazil in 2016

Wiggs and co were desperate to pick up a victory on their final outing at the ExCeL, having lost all of their previous matches, but after an encouraging start against Japan, Great Britain were defeated in the first set 25-23 and went down 25-29 and 25-13.

It ensured the 32-year-old, part of the first ever British women's team to compete at the Paralympics, ended her London 2012 campaign in eighth place but she can take solace in the fact that Japan were given a far harder test compared to when the two sides met in the group stages.

And with Great Britain having only been playing together for the last two-and-a-half years, Wiggs is convinced the only way is up, claiming they will be medal contenders by the time Rio 2016 comes around.

"We were always going to be the underdogs, we were the only team here and most of us didn't start playing volleyball until 2009 so it was always going to a very tough competition and we knew that," said Wiggs.

"It's about gaining experience in this kind of arena and we've had great backing to get to this stage.

"We've been looking ahead to Rio already because there's a lot of planning that goes into it and it will be very tough to qualify but that's why it was so important to come here. We've got a lot of positives from this but we've got a lot of hard work to do as well."

Although the hosts came close early on against Japan in their final clash, Great Britain failed to win a set throughout London 2012, going down 3-0 in each of their five matches with Japan on two occasions, Ukraine, the Netherlands and Brazil.

But Wiggs is adamant that does not tell the whole story, claiming improvements as the competition has gone on have been plain for all to see.

"We started the game knowing that we could perform really well but we have to remember where we are and where we've come from which is two-and-a-half years of volleyball," she added.

"So as a start it was brilliant and we pushed them all the way but it just didn't quite go our way in the second and third sets.

"It's a massive building block for the future. We take a lot of heart from how we've played and we're incredibly proud to have even competed.

"It means the future is bright. Bring on Rio."