Double Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock wants his sport’s decision-makers to trust para athletes to fill their stadiums.

Peacock joined forces with Libby Clegg, Ali Smith and Nathan Maguire as Great Britain won silver in the new 4x100m universal relay.

The event was making its debut at the Games, featuring athletes with multiple sclerosis and visual impairment alongside an amputee and wheelchair racer. As a visual metaphor for what the Paralympics mean it was certainly powerful.

Diamond League events regularly feature para competitions but too often they are dismissed as token.

Suggestions to combine the World Championships have been met with short shrift from World Athletics, whose last showpiece event in Doha two years ago attracted tiny crowds.

However, a successful template does exist, with para events ever more integrated into the athletics programme at the Commonwealth Games, and next year's event in Birmingham will feature more than ever before.

"Put a decibel meter in a stand when you have got a full stadium of an able-bodied athletics meet and a para-sport meet – listen to the noise," he said.

"The public like it but meet organisers don’t seem to agree. Hopefully one day they will.”

Meanwhile, Peacock paid tribute to Clegg as she brought the curtain down on her Paralympic athletics career with a podium performance.

"To be a part of Libby's last race and get a medal with her is just incredible," said Peacock, a bronze medallist in the men's T64 100m.

"She's not talked about it but she's run through so much pain at these Games and those were not easy legs for her. She gritted her teeth and got us a medal, I'm so proud.

"It's a very different event and it showcases the best of everyone. It's good fun to watch, not something you'd see at your average athletics meet and hopefully something you'll see more of."

Clegg thanked her long-time guide runner Chris Clarke and even claimed this medal trumped her double gold in Rio. She has hinted that she may return to the Games in cycling but right now she just wants to return home to son Edward.

"I'm so privileged and proud to be a part of this team and share this moment with these guys," said Clegg, who is able to train full-time and benefit from world class facilities, technology, coaching and support teams thanks to National Lottery funding.

"I won two Paralympic golds in Rio and it didn't make me happy, right now this is my proudest moment - being part of this team.

"I'm going to take some time out but this is my last running competition, unless I dabble in a sports day when my son is at primary school. To end my athletics career with this medal is a dream come true."

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