Athletics
Star name: Keely Hodgkinson (women’s 800m)
Despite the financial difficulties faced by UK Athletics, which reported a loss of £3.7m last year, the presence of its star athletes and competitive relay teams offers a promising outlook to achieve their goal of securing six to eight medals in Paris.
Three athletes stand out as strong contenders. First is Keely Hodgkinson, who dominated her top competitors at the Eugene meet in May and is a favorite for gold in the women’s 800m, especially with Tokyo champion Athing Mu absent.
Another up-and-comer is 24-year-old pole vaulter Molly Caudery, who took the title at the world indoor championships in March and has achieved the highest jumps this year. Her vibrant personality has garnered her nearly 300,000 Instagram followers, but a gold medal could raise her profile even further.
Also noteworthy is Josh Kerr in the men’s 1500m, facing off against Norwegian Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in what promises to be one of the most thrilling races of the event.
Matt Hudson-Smith may repeat or exceed his silver medal performance from the 2023 world championships in the 400m, while Charlie Dobson is also a potential medalist in that event.
Historically, Britain’s relay teams have typically secured at least two or three medals, with the women’s 4x100m team being a strong candidate for gold. Lastly, keep an eye on the remarkable 17-year-old Phoebe Gill, who might reach the finals in the women’s 800m and possibly clinch a medal. Sean Ingle
Swimming
Star name: Adam Peaty (men’s 100m breaststroke)
British Swimming has experienced a significant transformation since the London 2012 Olympics, where they only won one silver and two bronze medals. At the Tokyo Games, they achieved their most successful performance in over a century with eight medals, including four gold. Adam Peaty has played a pivotal role in this turnaround and will once again be in the spotlight in Paris. However, after a challenging three years, he will need to recapture his peak form to defend his 100m breaststroke title against China’s Qin Haiyang.
Olympic champion Tom Dean missed out on qualifying for the 200m freestyle as he was surpassed by Wales’s world champion, Matt Richards, and Duncan Scott, who will also participate in the 200m individual medley. Their depth in the team makes them the favorites for the 4x200m relay, and they have promising prospects in shorter relays as well. Head coach Bill Furniss acknowledges that while the women’s team isn’t as strong as the men’s, world champion Freya Colbert will be a contender in the 400m individual medley. Andy Bull
Cycling
Star name: Emma Finucane (women’s track sprint events)
While British cyclists may have seen their dominance wane at the Tour de France, their Olympic success continues unabated. Team GB has topped the cycling medal table at the last four Olympics, and it would be surprising if this trend changed in Paris 2024.
Six gold medals across track, BMX, and mountain biking at the Tokyo Games showcased the depth of talent in the squad, which is likely to persist in Paris. British Cycling is also focusing on social change through diversity and inclusion, leading Stephen Park, Team GB’s performance director, to remark that “winning itself is not enough; it’s about the impact of winning.”
Several notable athletes from previous Olympics, like Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald, will not compete this time. Nevertheless, advancements in technology—such as faster skinsuits, new bicycles, and 3D printed gear—along with the emergence of rising young stars like Emma Finucane and Josh Tarling from Wales, offer cause for optimism.
However, Tom Pidcock may emerge as the standout athlete, having won gold in his Olympic debut, reigns as the world mountain biking champion, and is a stage winner at the Tour de France. Despite withdrawing from the Tour after testing positive for Covid-19, he remains a strong contender for gold in both the men’s Olympic road race and mountain biking events. Jeremy Whittle
Boxing
Star name: Delicious Orie (men’s super-heavyweight)
Boxing was among Great Britain’s greatest successes at the Tokyo Olympics, where the team achieved a record haul of six medals. However, the current squad faces a steep challenge in matching that success. Rob McCracken, the performance director for GB Boxing, noted that “Paris has posed a significant challenge due to a shorter Olympic cycle, coupled with disruptions from Covid and political issues impacting event participation. Therefore, qualifying six boxers is a noteworthy accomplishment.”
Aiming for one or two medals is a realistic target during this rebuilding phase, with three being the dream outcome. Charley Davison, a 30-year-old mother of three, is the only team member with prior Olympic experience; she was eliminated in the second round at Tokyo, competing in a highly competitive bantamweight division but remains a potential medalist. Pat Brown in heavyweight and welterweight Rosie Eccles could also excel with favorable matchups.
The standout star is undoubtedly Orie, a captivating super-heavyweight. He is the only British fighter to be seeded, but in potential semi-finals, he could face Bakhodir Jalolov, the formidable Uzbek who clinched gold in Tokyo and remains unbeaten as a professional. Orie hopes to follow in the footsteps of his idol, Anthony Joshua, who won Olympic gold in 2012 before becoming a lucrative professional. Nevertheless, Orie and his teammate are preparing for one of the toughest challenges of their boxing careers. Donald McRae
Rowing
Star name: Helen Glover, (women’s four)
The aftermath of Team GB’s underwhelming performance in rowing at the Tokyo Olympics, where they managed only a silver and a bronze after a hefty investment of £24.6m, demanded a thorough examination. However, insiders remained confident that with some adjustments and the benefits of experience, they could convert near misses into podium finishes.
This optimism is reflected in the buoyancy within the camp, highlighted by impressive results in last year’s world championships and a strong showing at the European equivalent in April. There’s a real momentum building, and a belief that the setbacks of three years ago will be addressed.
Louise Kingsley’s appointment as British Rowing’s director of performance has been crucial to this turnaround; she has effectively balanced a winning mentality with a supportive and relaxed environment.
Several of her athletes seem poised to excel in Paris, including the seasoned Glover leading the challenge in the women’s four, while a powerful men’s eight team will be noteworthy competitors. Returning from Tokyo, siblings Tom and Emily Ford provide continuity and experience, while newcomer Lola Anderson in the quadruple sculls has injected fresh energy into the squad. Nick Ames
Artistic gymnastics
Star name: Max Whitlock (men’s pommel horse)
In recent years, Great Britain’s women’s artistic gymnastics team has made remarkable strides, securing a silver medal at the world championships. After their Olympic bronze, they have positioned themselves as serious medal contenders for Paris, although injuries to key athletes—Jessica Gadirova, Jennifer Gadirova, and Ondine Achampong—have complicated their ambitions.
Despite the challenges, the British team still has potential for a team medal, although they will be considered underdogs. Individually, Alice Kinsella stands a chance for an all-around medal, while Becky Downie aims to compete at the top level again with her intricate bar routine.
However, GB’s strongest medal prospects lie within the men’s events. Whitlock seeks to achieve an unprecedented third consecutive pommel horse title in what will be his final Olympics. Jake Jarman, the reigning world champion on vault, is among the elite in both vault and floor events, while Joe Fraser aims to shine in the all-around after overcoming recent injuries. Tumaini Carayol
Triathlon
Star name: Alex Yee (men’s race and mixed relay)
Triathlon has consistently been a strong medal event for Team GB at the last three Olympics and is expected to deliver once more in Paris, even without the Brownlee brothers for the first time since Athens 2004. This reflects a robust talent pipeline and a culture fostered by performance director Mike Cavendish.
On the men’s side, Yee is in a prime position to upgrade the silver medal he earned in Tokyo. The 26-year-old was a talented runner, competing at the 2018 European Athletics Championships while still in his teens, and has steadily enhanced his swimming and cycling skills since narrowly missing Olympic glory in 2021. He will team up with Sam Dickinson, who was part of the England team that clinched gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The women’s team appears even more formidable, including Beth Potter, who triumphed in last year’s test event in Paris, two-time Olympic medalist Georgia Taylor-Brown, and world championship silver medalist Kate Waugh.
With Team GB eyeing gold in the mixed relay, there’s an optimistic expectation that they could surpass their medal tally from Tokyo, where Taylor-Brown and Yee both earned silvers before the team secured a gold. Sean Ingle
Other sports
Star name: Tom Daley (men’s 10m synchro diving)
A significant portion of Britain’s success since London 2012 has been attributed to medal wins across 15 to 20 sports, a trend Team GB officials expect to see continue in Paris. Daley will undoubtedly attract considerable media attention as he comes out of retirement to compete in his fifth Olympic Games, defending his 10m synchro title. Additionally, sports like diving, canoeing, equestrian, taekwondo, sailing, and shooting are anticipated to make substantial contributions to the medal target of 50-70 established by UK Sport.
Gracenote’s statistical projections suggest Team GB may achieve five medals in diving—projecting Daley and his partner, Noah Williams, to win bronze, and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix to claim two additional medals. The forecast also includes four medals in canoeing, with golds predicted for Joe Clarke and Kimberley Woods.
Equestrian events are typically a strength for Team GB, and experts expect similar outcomes in Paris, with Oliver Townend favored for gold, along with three additional predicted medals. A medal from Charlotte Dujardin in either team or individual dressage would make her the most decorated female Olympian from GB, surpassing Laura Kenny, though Kenny is likely to retain more golds.
Sailing is also expected to yield more success, with a forecast of four medals, alongside other events like modern pentathlon, where Joe Choong aims to defend his Tokyo 2020 title. In shooting and taekwondo, GB hopes for medals numbering three and four respectively. Sean Ingle
