"It took me a very long time to accept that that had happened," Arnold told the PA news agency. "It’s made me stronger just being able to feel that pain and feel that hurt and turn it into something good. I’m not disputing a bronze is not good – it’s incredible – but that was not on my radar."

Arnold said she initially struggled to shake off the frustration but now feels stronger for the experience, while a sixth successive world title – clinched at the World Para Athletics Championships Kobe24 in May – helped her cope with the memories of competing in Japan.

"Coming back from Kobe, winning my sixth world title in a row, that has given me a little bit more of a spark and a happiness back, being like, 'you still can do this'. A happy Hollie is a dangerous Hollie – that’s when magical things can happen," the world champion said. 

Arnold admitted her mental health declined when the Tokyo Games were postponed and left her with little direction.

"There are always ups and downs, that’s life, that’s sport," said the Welsh native. "When we got told the Paralympics was being cancelled, it really hurt. I felt like I lost my personality, I lost a chunk of myself, and I didn’t really know what to do or how to act. I was just stuck in that repetitive thought process of: ‘what next?’ Obviously Covid didn’t help anybody. I just really struggled mentally but you always come back, there’s always a positive light and it just takes a little while."

Arnold is now preparing to throw at Stade de France on 6 September and said that she’s looking to have fun at the Games. 

"It doesn’t matter what titles you’ve won or where you are in the rankings, it’s who’s the best on the day, it’s such a clean slate. I want to have some fun and go for it," she said.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games kick off on 28 August at 20:00 CEST.