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The Tokyo Olympics might have begun earlier this week however there isn’t any doubt that Friday’s opening ceremony will correctly kick off the summer time pageant of sport as soon as and for all.
After a 12 months’s delay as a result of coronavirus pandemic, that is the second that Team GB stars have waited 5 lengthy and laborious years for. However the place will the summer time success, notably the medals, come from this 12 months?
Overlaying each single sport and the primary athletes you’ll want to look out for, Sportsmail has produced a definitive information to your favorite self-discipline – and has supplied a prediction as to what number of medals shall be British this summer time…
Sportsmail offers you the sport-by-sport checklist of Workforce GB’s medal hopes for the Tokyo Olympics
Dina Asher-Smith is the Workforce GB poster woman for athletics going into Tokyo this summer time
ATHLETICS: July 30 – August 8
DINA ASHER-SMITH is the headline act of a squad now shorn of all three Tremendous Saturday stars after Sir Mo Farah didn’t qualify and Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford retired.
The dash queen is the world champion over 200 metres however American Gabby Thomas will begin that race as favorite, whereas within the 100m the Brit should beat Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
World heptathlon champion KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON insists she is totally match after recovering from a ruptured achilles however her kind since returning has raised doubts about her medal credentials.
Different house hopes come by way of a gifted crop of feminine middle-distance runners, notably JEMMA REEKIE and KEELY HODGKINSON (800m) and LAURA MUIR (1500m). However CINDY SEMBER (100m hurdles) and HOLLY BRADSHAW (pole vault) also needs to not be discounted.
Of the lads, ANDREW POZZI (110m hurdles) and ELLIOT GILES (800m) are the perfect wager of particular person medals, and Britain’s 4 x 100m crew wish to strike gold for the primary time since Athens 2004.
One to observe: Dina Asher-Smith
Rio 2016 medals: 6
Predicted Tokyo medals: 6
Gold — Males’s 4 x 100m relay
Silver — Dina Asher-Smith (200m), Laura Muir (1500m), Jemma Reekie (800m), Ladies’s 4 x 100m relay
Bronze — Andrew Pozzi (110m hurdles)
BOXING July 24 – August 8
For power in depth, this Workforce GB boxing squad arguably beats even that of London 2012, when family names like Anthony Joshua and Nicola Adams emerged.
All 11 fighters picked for Tokyo can declare to be in medal rivalry and you’ll again not less than a pair for gold — LAUREN PRICE (middleweight) and PAT McCORMACK (welterweight).
Pat McCormack is one in all 11 British boxers trying to be in medal rivalry this summer time
Like Value and McCormack, GALAL YAFAI (flyweight) is the Commonwealth Video games champion.
However all seven of the lads have gained not less than one main medal since Rio 2016, together with LUKE McCORMACK (light-weight) — the dual brother of Pat — and captain FRAZER CLARKE (tremendous heavyweight).
CHEAVON CLARKE (heavyweight), BEN WHITTAKER (gentle heavyweight) and PETER McGRAIL (featherweight) are the opposite males in motion, whereas CAROLINE DUBOIS (light-weight), KARRISS ARTINGSTALL (featherweight) and mum-of-three CHARLEY DAVISON (flyweight) full a gifted ladies’s line-up.
One to observe: Lauren Value
Rio 2016 medals: 3
Predicted Tokyo medals: 6
Gold — Lauren Value (middleweight)
Bronze — Karriss Artingstall (featherweight), Frazer Clarke (tremendous heavyweight) Pat McCormack (welterweight), Peter McGrail (featherweight), Ben Whittaker (gentle heavyweight)
CYCLING July 24 – August 8
Highway: July 24-28; Mountain bike: July 26-27; BMX racing: July 29-30; BMX freestyle: July 31-Aug 1; Observe: Aug 2-8.
Don’t anticipate the type of domination we’ve turn into so accustomed to on the velodrome down the years.
At the newest World Championships in February 2020, Britain gained solely three medals in Olympic occasions and none of them gold.
That stated, Workforce GB’s observe stars at all times peak for the Video games and their new bikes and package will undoubtedly enhance their efficiency.
All eyes shall be on couple Jason and Laura Kenny within the Olympic velodrome as soon as once more
As soon as once more, all eyes shall be on golden couple JASON and LAURA KENNY, who you’ll financial institution on profitable medals within the males’s crew dash and girls’s crew pursuit on the very least.
Additionally they every have two particular person occasions, with Jason needing yet one more win to turn into the primary Briton to win seven gold medals and Laura two medals off turning into the outright most embellished British feminine.
The boys’s crew pursuit quartet, together with three-time gold medallist ED CLANCY, will discover it exhausting to win an occasion which has been theirs since 2008 as Denmark at the moment are the dominant drive.
However this biking squad have extra medal pictures than ever exterior of the observe, together with CHARLOTTE WORTHINGTON within the new BMX freestyle. GERAINT THOMAS is the star attraction on the highway.
One to observe: Laura Kenny
Rio 2016 medals: 12
Predicted Tokyo medals: 3
Silver — Males’s crew dash, Ladies’s crew pursuit
Bronze — Charlotte Worthington (BMX freestyle)
DIVING July 25 – August 7
13 years since he made his debut in Beijing as a 14-year-old, TOM DALEY could possibly be about to take pleasure in his greatest Olympics to this point.
The 2-time 10m platform world champion claimed bronzes at London and Rio.
But the shape he confirmed in profitable two golds at a latest World Cup in Tokyo — the second being within the synchro with new companion MATTY LEE — suggests he’s diving in addition to ever.
Tom Daley might take pleasure in his greatest ever Olympics marketing campaign to this point 14 years after his debut
JACK LAUGHER gained a gold and silver in Rio and should effectively repeat that success this time, now diving with DAN GOODFELLOW within the 3m springboard synchro.
Laugher’s girlfriend LOIS TOULSON and EDEN CHENG (10m synchro) have podium potential, and followers of Channel 4’s First Dates shall be all for ANDREA SPENDOLINI-SIRIEIX.
She is the daughter of Fred Sirieix, the French maitre d’, and a rising star of the game within the 10m platform.
One to observe: Jack Laugher
Rio 2016 medals: 3
Predicted Tokyo medals: 5
Gold — Jack Laugher & Dan Goodfellow (3m springboard synchro)
Silver — Tom Daley (10m platform), Laugher (3m springboard), Lois Toulson & Eden Cheng (10m platform synchro)
Bronze — Tom Daley & Matty Lee (10m platform synchro)
EQUESTRIAN July 23 – August 7
Having dominated dressage over the past decade, CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN goes for glory once more — however this time with a unique horse.
Valegro, who Dujardin gained the person title on at London 2012 and Rio 2016, has retired so she is going to as a substitute trip Gio in Tokyo. The 34-year-old is joined by six-time Olympian CARL HESTER, 54, and debutant CHARLOTTE FRY within the crew occasion.
Such is Britain’s excellence in equestrian sport proper now, their file haul of 5 medals in London could possibly be beneath risk.
Charlotte Dujardin goes for gold as soon as once more after dominating the dressage over 10 years
In eventing, the crew are so robust that they haven’t even picked reigning world champion Ros Canter and 2019 Badminton winner Piggy March. As a substitute, world No 1 OLIVER TOWNEND leads the cost, with LAURA COLLETT and TOM McEWEN each in medal rivalry.
The success the British riders have loved in leaping on the final two Video games also needs to proceed, with BEN MAHER trying to emulate Nick Skelton’s well-known win in Rio.
HOLLY SMITH is the primary lady within the leaping squad in 45 years, with London 2012 crew winner SCOTT BRASH finishing the trio.
One to observe: Charlotte Dujardin
Rio 2016 medals: 3
Predicted Tokyo medals: 6
Gold — Laura Collett (particular person eventing), Ben Maher (particular person leaping) Silver — Scott Brash (particular person leaping), Oliver Townend (particular person eventing), Workforce eventing Bronze — Tom McEwen (particular person eventing)
GYMNASTICS July 24 – August 3
Creative: July 24-Aug 3; Trampoline: July 29-31
The Olympics affords an opportunity to showcase what is nice about gymnastics following a 12 months of stunning tales of abuse.
British hopes largely relaxation as soon as once more with MAX WHITLOCK, who gained two golds in a single memorable afternoon in Rio and is that this time simply trying to defend his pommel horse title.
Max Whitlock is Workforce GB’s greatest probability of a gymnastics gold medal on the pommel horse
JOE FRASER has an opportunity within the parallel bars, which he gained on the 2019 World Championships, but the lads’s crew are more likely to be simply exterior the medal locations.
The possibilities of Britain’s feminine gymnasts standing on the rostrum are slim. Having controversially missed their two particular person world medallists, Becky and Ellie Downie, Workforce GB want gifted 16-year-old twins JESSICA and JENNIFER GADIROVA to provide one thing particular.
One to observe: Max Whitlock
Rio 2016 medals: 7
Predicted Tokyo medals: 1
Gold — Max Whitlock (pommel horse)
ROWING July 23-30
Rather a lot has modified at British Rowing since they topped the medal desk in Rio, however their 45-strong Tokyo squad — which incorporates 37 debutants — is full of potential.
Among the many eight returning Olympians is one no person anticipated to be again in a ship. HELEN GLOVER took trip from the game to begin a household after profitable her second gold medal within the pair in 2016. However regardless of having three kids beneath the age of three, the 35-year-old couldn’t resist the problem of going for gold No 3 and has already proven kind with new companion POLLY SWANN.
Helen Glover is trying to win gold after turning into a mom of three since Rio 2016
The boys’s 4 and eight additionally look like coming good for Video games time, profitable the latest European Championships and World Cup, regardless of the departure of legendary coach Jurgen Grobler.
OLLIE COOK, MATT ROSSITER, RORY GIBBS and SHOLTO CARNEGIE are the quartet tasked with sustaining a profitable run relationship again to Sydney 2000, whereas MOE SBIHI is the only real survivor from the eight who gained in Rio.
One to observe: Helen Glover
Rio 2016 medals: 5
Predicted Tokyo medals: 2
Gold — Males’s 4; Silver — Males’s eight
SAILING July 25 – August 4
Brittania normally guidelines the waves at an Olympics they usually have a number of medal contenders.
HANNAH MILLS will turn into probably the most profitable feminine Olympic sailor of all time if she claims a medal within the 470, which she gained with Saskia Clark in Rio. With new crew EILIDH McINTYRE, they gained the 2019 World Championships but solely completed fifth in the newest worlds in March.
Hannah Mills will turn into probably the most profitable feminine Olympic sailor of all time if she medals
GILES SCOTT is Workforce GB’s different returning champion in a Finn class which has been dropped for Paris 2024 however his outcomes, following his time with Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup crew, have been blended.
Video games debutant ANNA BURNET and four-time Olympian JOHN GIMSON journey to Tokyo with confidence having gained final 12 months’s Nacra 17 World Championships.
One to observe: Hannah Mills
Rio 2016 medals: 3
Predicted Tokyo medals: 2
Gold: Anna Burnet & John Gimson (Nacra 17); Silver: Eilidh McIntyre & Hannah Mills (470)
SHOOTING July 23 – August 2
Workforce GB had been dealt a giant blow with the last-minute withdrawal of skeet world No 1 Amber Hill however their medal hopes stay intact.
SEONAID McINTOSH is tipped to turn into the primary British lady to win Olympic capturing gold. The Scot is the world champion and top-ranked lady within the 50m rifle three positions, and he or she may even compete within the 10m air rifle.
Seonaid McIntosh is tipped to turn into the primary British lady to win Olympic capturing gold
MATTHEW COWARD-HOLLEY is one other world champion and Olympics rookie and can go for glory within the males’s lure, in addition to capturing with KIRSTY HEGARTY within the blended lure crew.
4-time Commonwealth Video games medallist AARON HEADING (lure) completes the line-up.
One to observe: Seonaid McIntosh
Rio 2016 medals: 2
Predicted Tokyo medals: 2
Gold: Seonaid McIntosh (50m rifle three positions); Bronze: Matthew Coward-Holley (lure)
SWIMMING July 24 – August 5
ADAM PEATY is the closest factor to a assured gold for Workforce GB, whose swimmers are tipped to deliver again their greatest medal haul from an abroad Video games.
Olympic champion and world file holder Peaty is a second quicker than the remainder of the 100m breaststroke discipline, which incorporates team-mate JAMES WILBY, who’s the world silver medallist.
Swimming legend Adam Peaty is the closest factor to a assured gold for Workforce GB
DUNCAN SCOTT (200m freestyle) and LUKE GREENBANK (200m backstroke) shall be trying to improve the bronze medals they gained on the 2019 World Championships, whereas BEN PROUD is a former world champion and will declare a medal within the 50m freestyle.
Among the many feminine expertise within the squad are European champions KATHLEEN DAWSON (100m backstroke) and MOLLY RENSHAW (100m breaststroke), in addition to freestyler FREYA ANDERSON.
Workforce GB are additionally anticipated to comb up medals within the relays, notably the lads’s and blended 4 x 100m medley relay, when Peaty will swim the breaststroke leg.
Marathon swimmer ALICE DEARING is making historical past as the primary black lady to swim for Britain at an Olympics.
One to observe: Adam Peaty
Rio 2016 medals: 6
Predicted Tokyo medals: 7
Gold: Adam Peaty (100m breaststroke), Males’s 4 x 100m medley relay Silver: Duncan Scott (200m freestyle), Males’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay, Blended 4 x 100m medley relay Bronze: Ben Proud (50m freestyle), Ladies’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay
TAEKWONDO July 24-27
With taekwondo moved to the beginning of the Video games, JADE JONES can turn into the primary British lady to win gold at three Olympics. She is the new favorite within the -57kg class however the different 4 Brits are additionally in podium rivalry.
Jones’ housemate Bianca Walkden (+67kg) is a three-time world champion and shall be determined to complete two locations higher than the bronze she claimed in Rio. LAUREN WILLIAMS, who took up the game after watching Jones at London 2012, is ranked third in her -67kg division.
Jade Jones is the new favorite within the -57kg judo class at this summer time’s Olympic Video games
BRADLY SINDEN (-68kg) turned Britain’s first male world champion in 2019 and goes for gold, whereas MAHAMA CHO (+80kg) was chosen forward of London and Rio medallist Lutalo Muhammad.
One to observe: Jade Jones
Rio 2016 medals: 3
Predicted Tokyo medals: 4
Gold: Jade Jones (-57kg); Silver: Bradly Sinden (-68kg), Bianca Walkden (+67kg); Bronze: Mahama Cho (+80kg)
TRIATHLON July 26-31
After a bronze and silver behind his brother on the final two Video games, JONNY BROWNLEE goes solo this time round as he bids to finish his Olympic set. However he could possibly be upstaged by team-mate ALEX YEE, the 22-year-old who gained the World Collection race in Leeds final month, when double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee was disqualified in his final probability to safe choice. However it’s Spain’s Mario Mola and Frenchman Vincent Luis who go to Tokyo because the top-ranked pair.
Jonny Brownlee (proper) shall be gunning for gold with out brother Alistair (left) alongside him
Within the ladies’s race, Workforce GB certified with three of the world’s high 5. JESS LEARMONTH and GEORGIA TAYLOR-BROWN, greatest identified for his or her disqualification from an occasion in 2019 once they crossed the road holding palms, will battle it out for a medal, as will returning Rio bronze medallist VICKY HOLLAND. The brand new four-person blended relay occasion offers Britain one other medal shot.
One to observe: Jonny Brownlee
Rio 2016 medals: 3
Predicted Tokyo medals: 1
Silver: Jess Learmonth (ladies’s)
OTHER SPORTS
ARCHERY: New mum Naomi Folkard competes in her fifth Olympics. The ladies’s crew gained bronze on the 2019 World Championships. Rio medals: 0; Prediction: 0.
ARTISTIC SWIMMING: Kate Shortman and Isabelle Thorpe make their Video games debut in a sport the place GB have by no means gained a medal. Rio medals: N/A; Prediction: 0.
BADMINTON: Marcus Ellis companions girlfriend Lauren Smith within the blended doubles, however he and Chris Langridge weren’t picked within the males’s regardless of Rio bronze. Rio medals: 1; Prediction: 0.
Marcus Ellis (left) companions girlfriend Lauren Smith (proper) within the badminton blended doubles
CANOEING: Liam Heath is the new favorite to defend his dash title. Mallory Franklin is GB’s greatest slalom hope. Rio medals: 4; Prediction: 1.
FENCING: Marcus Mepstead is Britain’s solely fencer and can attempt to replicate his 2019 world silver medal within the males’s foil. Rio medals: 0; Prediction: 0.
FOOTBALL: GB’s first Olympic soccer since London 2012, with Hege Riise in control of a 22-woman squad. There is no such thing as a males’s crew. Rio medals: N/A; Prediction: 0.
GOLF: Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood will look to comply with Justin Rose’s Rio gold. Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Mel Reid are Britain’s ladies. Rio medals: 1; Prediction: 0.
Workforce GB have already began their Olympic soccer bid with a 2-0 victory over Chile this week
HOCKEY: Britain’s ladies are the fifth-ranked crew in Tokyo as they try and repeat their well-known Rio gold. The boys’s crew are sixth on the earth. Rio medals: 1; Prediction: 0.
JUDO: Sarah Adlington, Chelsie Giles, Gemma Howell, Ashley McKenzie, Natalie Powell and Lucy Renshall are Workforce GB’s six judokas. Rio medals: 1; Prediction: 0.
MODERN PENTATHLON: World medallists Joe Choong and Kate French are robust contenders for the rostrum. Jamie Cooke and Jo Muir may even compete. Rio medals: 0; Prediction: 2.
RUGBY SEVENS: GB’s males need to go one higher than in Rio once they misplaced within the remaining; the ladies are after their first medal after fourth final time. Rio medals: 1; Prediction: 0.
SKATEBOARDING: Sky Brown, 13, is Britain’s youngest summer time Olympian and is joined by Bombette Martin, 15. Rio medals N/A; Prediction: 0.
Sky Brown is about to turn into the youngest ever Workforce GB participant on the Olympic Video games
SPORT CLIMBING: Shauna Coxsey is GB’s sole climber on the game’s Video games debut. Rio medals N/A; Prediction: 0.
TABLE TENNIS: Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford play within the males’s singles. Tin-Tin Ho is the primary British feminine participant to qualify for a Video games since 1996. Rio medals: 0; Prediction: 0.
TENNIS: Andy Murray will defend his singles title and companions Joe Salisbury within the doubles. His brother Jamie performs with Neal Skupski. Heather Watson is the one GB lady. Rio medals: 1; Prediction: 1.
WEIGHTLIFTING: Emily Campbell is a contender. Sarah Davies, Emily Muskett and Zoe Smith are the opposite British weightlifters. Rio medals: 0; Prediction: 1.
Predicted medal tallies supplied by Gracenote
YOUR KARAOKE SONG, HERO AND FUN FACTS: QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS FOR FOUR BRITISH STARS
ED CLANCY CYCLING
Ed Clancy is a part of the lads’s crew pursuit quartet in biking this summer time
FIRST OLYMPIC MEMORY: I bear in mind watching at house when Jason Queally gained gold within the kilo at Sydney 2000, after I was 15. I didn’t realize it on the time however that gold medal created funding for the subsequent Olympics and all of us benefited from that.
SPORTING HERO: I grew up loving motorsport and watching Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill, however my all-time hero is a textbook reply: Sir Chris Hoy.
ALTERNATIVE CAREER: Engineering. I utilized to Loughborough College to do civil engineering. I might in all probability be making homes or bridges now.
FUN FACT: I’ve received an orange cat referred to as Boris, not named after the Prime Minister.
KARAOKE SONG: I wouldn’t do it… I’d should be exceptionally drunk!
MAX WHITLOCK GYMNASTICS
Max Whitlock is likely one of the favourites for the pummel horse gold in gymnastics
FIRST OLYMPIC MEMORY: Louis Smith profitable bronze on the pommel horse in Beijing. That had a big impact on gymnastics on this nation.
SPORTING HERO: A Japanese gymnast, Kohei Uchimura. He impressed me for a few years. I even have an enormous quantity of respect for Jessica Ennis-Hill.
ALTERNATIVE CAREER: I’ve at all times been enthusiastic about design. I used to spend hours designing trainers and drawing up new concepts for garments.
FUN FACT: I adopted my coach to reside and practice in Slovenia after I was 12 years previous with no return date. I spent three months there in the long run.
KARAOKE SONG: We’ll go along with a tune from Moana as a result of my daughter Willow loves it.
TOM GEORGE – ROWING
Tom George shall be hoping for Olympic success within the rowing this summer time
FIRST OLYMPIC MEMORY: I watched Athens 2004 religiously. I bear in mind Matthew Pinsent profitable within the 4 by six inches after which Kelly Holmes profitable the double.
SPORTING HERO: Alan Shearer has received to be up there, however Jonny Wilkinson was the one all through my youth. I used to be rugby mad rising up and he was the last word skilled.
ALTERNATIVE CAREER: After I was at Princeton College, I wished to be a lawyer. If the rowing didn’t work out, that was at all times my plan.
FUN FACT: My thesis at Princeton was on Brexit and posed the query: Why did the folks of Britain vote to depart the European Union?
KARAOKE SONG: Carly Rae Jepsen — Name Me Possibly. Let’s go along with it!
BRYONY PAGE TRAMPOLINING
Bryony Web page is a part of the robust gymnastics crew heading to the Japanese capital
FIRST OLYMPIC MEMORY: Michael Johnson and his golden sneakers at Atlanta 1996.
SPORTING HERO: In trampolining it will be Irina Karavayeva from Russia. She was the legend of our sport after I was rising up.
ALTERNATIVE CAREER: I’d love to hitch the circus and be an acrobat within the Cirque du Soleil. If I hadn’t completed any sport in any respect, perhaps I’d have gone into educating or analysis.
FUN FACT: I studied a level in biology and my dissertation was about ‘acoustic signalling in non-avian dinosaurs’.
KARAOKE SONG: A Disney tune or Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. So I can showcase the vary of tones that I can’t sing!
