With exactly 500 days to Paris 2024, British Olympic bosses believe the country’s leading medal hopes have exceeded expectations.
Keely Hodgkinson, Laura Muir and all of Jazmin Sawyers won a gold medal at the European Athletics Indoor Championships this month After British Rowing hit a table top of 12 medals at last year’s World Championships.
athletes After Tokyo 2020 was postponed due to Covid, we had to adapt to a shortened three-year Olympic cycle, but United Kingdom Sports chair lady Katherine GraingerFive-time rowing medal winners at the Games insist they have mastered these challenges.
Speaking 500 days before the milestone this week, the 47-year-old said: “We’re probably seeing more success in a wider range of sports than we currently expect in the three-year cycle.
“What’s very exciting is that even in a short season in many sports it feels like the English team is already in very good shape.
“We’ve had great indoor results from the track and field teams lately and we’re seeing the rowing team rebound very quickly.
“I think Paris has a lot of unknowns ahead of it.
“Everyone in the world felt the one-year delay in Tokyo, which meant that suddenly there was a five-year backlog between Rio and Tokyo, and then a very short three-year cycle between Tokyo and Paris.
“No one knew exactly how the extra year in Tokyo would feel, but we weren’t sure what would happen during a shortened Olympics coming to Paris.” He won the Olympic gold medal on his fifth attempt in front of a large home crowd at London 2012.
And with Paris just a voyage across the English Channel and a time difference of one hour, Grainger believes British athletes can use the temperature and time zone to their advantage – but one should never underestimate the power of a home Games for France.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Speaking at a SportsAid Week event held at RBC Headquarters, Scot added: “This coming summer will be qualifying for most sports.” And you know, that’s pretty much the first hurdle to make sure you get the games in place. .
“Being in Paris will really help many English teams.
“It’s short-haul travel and a climate we’re very used to, so there are huge advantages you can play with.
“From the point of view of the athletes, you can play some of that in your favour, but don’t underestimate that this is the Games in France’s home ground.
“I think there’s something special about hosting the Games in your country because you suddenly realize the impact it has on you and you really understand the impact that sport has on people’s lives.
“10 years from now I’m going to meet people to talk about that summer.
“There was something magical about the Olympics and Paralympic weeks in 2012 that made everyone feel like they could just be a part of this incredible collective positive experience where there was hope, joy and celebration, and it was truly iconic.”
:: SportsAid Week 2023 ran from Monday, March 6 to Sunday, March 12, and was a special week of entertainment and awareness raising based on the theme of accessibility and inclusion. please visit www.sportsaid.org.uk