14 Team GB stars who can win Olympic gold for the first time at Paris 2024
Welcome to an Olympic year in which Team GB’s golden age promises to gather pace in Paris.
British athletes won medals across 18 sports in a locked-down Tokyo and are now eyeing success in more disciplines than ever before in the bright lights of the French capital.
i has a look at the contenders.
Zharnel Hughes – Athletics
With the broadest smile in British sport, Hughes is literally flying into Olympic year. In 2023, the qualified pilot sped to national records over 100 and 200 metres. Usain Bolt predicts Hughes to win the 100m – there are worse endorsements – and he is coached by Bolt’s mentor, Glen Mills, in Jamaica.
Delicious Orie – Boxing
Born in Moscow to a Nigerian father and Russian mother, Orie’s family moved to London to escape racism and seek a better life when he was seven and didn’t speak a word of English. Now Orie wants to become the seventh British man to win an Olympic medal at super-heavyweight, turn pro and conquer the world.
Josh Tarling – Cycling
This teenage time trial specialist is on schedule for the Olympic podium. The Welshman skipped the U23 age group and won world TT bronze on the streets of Stirling in August. Tarling, tipped for a “big future” by compatriot Geraint Thomas, is turning heads in training on the track too.
Kieran Reilly – BMX Freestyle
Reilly is a high roller when it comes to the risk and reward of BMX freestyle. The only man to attempt a “triple flair” trick in competition, the Geordie was handsomely rewarded with world and European gold in 2023. The same again will be required to unseat Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Logan Martin this summer.
Anthony Harding – Diving
Harding describes his career so far as “copying the smart kid’s homework,” a memorable depiction of life as the synchro partner to Jack Laugher, Britain’s most decorated diver of all time. The gap to China and gold is great but Harding is a sure shot for a medal on Team GB debut.
Ros Canter – Equestrian
As well as a perfect example of nominative determinism, Canter is the hottest property in a riotously strong British eventing scene. Canter won a stunning three five-star titles in 2023, as well as European individual and team gold, all set to rise from a Tokyo reserve to the Paris podium with brilliant horse Lordships Graffalo.
Jake Jarman – Gymnastics
Jarman is nothing short of a sensation in his sport. He even has a move named after him with “the Jarman” featuring a stunning three-and-a-half twists. As his country’s first-ever world champion on vault and an all-around contender, the 22-year-old has the world at his feet.
Lucy Renshall – Judo
A massive draw in the host nation, judo will be one of the centrepiece sports of the Games. As well as Tokyo bronze medallist Chelsie Giles, Team GB have an unheralded star of the sport in Renshall, who quietly worked her way to become world number one in the -63 kilogram category.
Imogen Grant – Rowing
A Boat Race winner and another athlete on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, Grant has just finished a gruelling six-year medical degree at Cambridge to focus on rowing full-time. The result? Victory by a cavernous margin alongside Emily Craig at the World Championships, a run of seven consecutive gold medals and World Rowing’s Crew of the Year award.
Ellie Aldridge – Sailing
The fastest discipline at the Olympics, Formula Kite sailing sees riders “fly” above the water on hydrofoils attached to boards and powered by huge kites, reaching up to 51 mph. Step forward Aldridge, who is a European champion and one of the top contenders in the exciting new class.
Toby Roberts – Sport climbing
Precocious Surrey teenager Roberts is the first British male climber to qualify for the Olympics. He is primed for a medal tilt in the new boulder and lead discipline, with speed now a separate event, where all three were combined for the sport’s debut in Tokyo.
Matt Richards – Swimming
Richards is already an Olympic gold medallist, part of the victorious 4x200m freestyle relay squad in Tokyo. But the Welshman’s Paris prospects were turbocharged when, in July, he touched out Tom Dean to be crowned world champion in the 200m freestyle. He’s aiming for as many as five medals this summer.
Rebecca McGowan – Taekwondo
Double Olympic bronze medallist Bianca Cook has dominated the heavyweight female category since London 2012. Enter McGowan, 23, who has ripped up the script with rock-solid performances in the last two years, including two World Championship medals.
Beth Potter – Triathlon
Potter didn’t even own a bike seven years ago. Now she’s a world champion in triathlon and among the favourites for Olympic gold in swim, bike, run. Potter competed in the 10,000m on the track at Rio 2016 and has switched sports with remarkable ease.
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