Just two weeks out from the para-cycling world championships in South Africa, she's on her way to be fitted for an "interim leg", in the hope of finding a more permanent solution soon.

"There's nothing off the shelf - it has to be custom," she said. "We've got a bit of a process getting the liner made. Next you've got to get a test socket to see if it will work properly, then you get the leg and then it's more testing. I never like to do things the easy way."

Despite having to "hobble" around on crutches for the past few days, Macdougall has maintained the attitude that allowed her to rise to the top of two sports, having first achieved success in the pool.

"It's part and parcel of the Paralympic world," said Macdougall, 30, who was born without her right foot and fibula. "I've come to learn that while routine is great, I can be flexible enough that if things don't go to plan it doesn't faze me, and I can still perform really well."

On Thursday night in Melbourne, Macdougall will vie with 16-year-old sprinting sensation Isis Holt for the female sportsperson of the year award at the Victorian Disability Sports and Recreation Awards.

Macdougall won gold and silver medals at para-cycling world cups in Europe this year and became the first female amputee to compete in the able-bodied women's time trial at the national road championships. But she is effusive in her praise for world record sprinter Holt.

"She is one absolutely talented and amazing woman in terms of what she's achieved, but she's put in a lot of effort for those results," Macdougall said. "She's been a great role model for young women."

Holt, a T35 athlete, made her Paralympic debut in Rio last year, winning medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. At the recent World Para Athletics Championships, she broke the 100m world record.

As a teenager juggling schoolwork and athletics, Holt seeks guidance from Macdougall, and the cyclist is well placed to help after completing her PhD in athlete wellbeing.

"They [older athletes] offer some awesome advice, especially when I was a little bit younger and totally out of my depth," Holt said.

Macdougall wants to oversee the emerging careers of talented young athletes such as Holt.

During her own career she has witnessed the growth of Paralympic sport.

"The Paralympic movement in Australia has made some really good progress since London. We've seen a really good boost in awareness and probably shifted towards recognising athletes and their achievements, regardless of whether they're an Olympian of Paralympian," said Macdougall. "It's been a powerful shift and we still have a way to go."