Athletics
How are they shaping up? Mo Farah. Greg Rutherford. Jessica Ennis-Hill. Four years on from London 2012, those familiar names from Super Saturday remain British Athletics’ best hopes of gold in Rio. Farah insists he is in exceptional shape but will be wary of the challenge of the young Kenyan Geoffrey Kamworor, who beat him at the world half-marathon championships. Rutherford showed he had wintered well with a recent jump of 8.30m. Ennis-Hill, meanwhile, says she is on track to compete in a warm-up heptathlon in Götzis next month, where she will face fellow Briton Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who has a major chance of glory in Rio too. Outside those four, the best chance of a British gold is likely to be in the women’s long jump through either Shara Proctor – a silver medallist in Beijing – or Lorraine Ugen, a bronze medallist at the recent world indoor championships. Further medals are likely in the relays, with the men’s 4x400m particularly confident they can improve on their third place at the 2015 world championships.
Other hopefuls include Robbie Grabarz, who took high jump silver in the world indoor championships in March, Zharnel Hughes and Adam Gemili in the men’s 200m, and Lynsey Sharp and Laura Muir in the women’s 800m and 1500m. Christine Ohurougu also believes she can bid for a third 400m Olympic medal after an injury-riddled 2015.
Verdict They should do better than six – the target of eight to 10 medals, set by UK Sport, sounds about right. Sean Ingle
Cycling
How are they shaping up? The world champion Lizzie Armitstead’s supremely dominant spring and Team GB’s strong showing at the world track championships in London have brought ample momentum going into the summer. The resurgence of sprinters Jason Kenny and Becky James in March was more than timely, it was direly needed, and the men’s and women’s team pursuiters are on track, led by Laura Trott – favourite for omnium gold – and Ed Clancy, newly recovered from back surgery. One issue is the selection for the men’s omnium which will have an impact on the team pursuit: Mark Cavendish or Jon Dibben – asssuming the latter has got over a recent broken elbow. Armitstead will start favourite for road gold in Rio, but the men’s events will hang on how Chris Froome and others emerge from the Tour de France. Liam Phillips will have a medal chance in BMX, but the mountain bikers are unlikely to qualify a place.
Verdict Strong potential for a decent medal haul but the spectacular showing in London should be treated as a one-off. William Fotheringham
Swimming
How are they shaping up? The mood in the camp is positive following some strong performances at the British Championships, while the European championships in London next month will provide another opportunity to check the status of GB’s medal hopes. Adam Peaty, the 100m breaststroke world record holder, is set to lead the charge and continue his intriguing personal duel with South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh, while the 200m freestyle world champion James Guy is also a serious hope. It will be Guy’s and Peaty’s Olympic debut but there are some experienced names in GB’s 26-swimmer squad, including the world championship medallists Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, Fran Halsall and Chris Walker-Hebborn, all returning to the Games after appearing four years ago. London was a disappointment for British swimming, having their funding cut in the aftermath of a poor show, but efforts have been stepped up to avoid a repeat performance.
Verdict Expect much better than at London 2012 which brought only three medals and no gold. James Riach
Rowing
How are they shaping up? Expectation is high after Britain dominated on the water at Eton Dorney in 2012. GB’s rowers won four gold, two silver and three bronze and therefore received the biggest proportion of UK Sport funding – £32.6m – between 2013 and 2017. The European championships in Germany next month will be a good barometer of the team’s level but the squad for that competition certainly looks strong, and there are good medal hopes for Rio. The women’s pair of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, champions at London, are gold hopes and at the last world championships Britain had silver medals in both the lightweight men’s and lightweight women’s double scull events. Charles Cousins (men’s quadruple scull) is set to miss Brazil with a back problem but there are strong teams in the men’s four, eight and quad. For the European championships Pete Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge have been selected into the men’s eight with Scott Durant and Matt Langridge.
Verdict A challenge to live up to their high standards, but things progressing well. James Riach
Sailing
How are they shaping up?
In decent shape, with world championship medallists in five of the 10 Olympic events, three of those gold medallists being Giles Scott (Finn), Nick Thompson (Laser), and Alison Young (Dinghy). Scott is the favourite in the Finn class, while the RS:X windsurfer Bryony Shaw and London 2012 silver medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark are also in good form. The GB team boasts a solid combination of youth and experience, with the five-times Olympian Nick Dempsey still involved alongside first-timers in new events. Britain won five sailing medals at London, with Sir Ben Ainslie securing the only gold, and despite Ainslie moving into the America’s Cup arena there is still a target of five medals overall.
Verdict No Ainslie, but hopes are still high. James Riach
Gymnastics
How are they shaping up? In January the UK Sport director of performance, Simon Timson, praised British gymnastics for their “unprecedented success” in winning five medals at the world championships last year and there could be more to cheer in Rio. Claudia Fragapane won four gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and will be one to watch, as will sisters Becky and Ellie Downie. Meanwhile at the world championships in October last year Max Whitlock ended Britain’s 112-year wait for a men’s gold medallist by narrowly beating team-mate Louis Smith on the pommel horse and the men’s team won silver. Both are expected to be in contention this summer as Britain hope to improve on the silver and three bronze from London.
Verdict Expect an improvement and a giant leap for gold. James Riach
Boxing
How are they shaping up? A record nine boxers are confirmed to represent Great Britain in Rio, and four more could qualify. It is, as performance director Rob McCracken says, “a superb achievement”. Nicola Adams, Galal Yafai, Muhammad Ali, Joshua Buatsi, Lawrence Okolie and Joe Joyce won gold at the recent qualifier in Turkey, joined by Qais Ashfaq, Joe Cordina and Antony Fowler, who also won medals. There are two more vacancies for the men at light-welter and welter, in tournaments in June and July; the women have lightweight and middleweight opportunities at the world championships in Kazakhstan in May.
Verdict From nowhere, GB are in an even better place than at Beijing or London. Kevin Mitchell
Tennis
How are they shaping up? Few sports have more fluid Olympic qualification than tennis, but it’s as nailed on as it can be that Andy Murray will again lead the British charge, in singles and in doubles with his brother, Jamie. He might also play mixed doubles – although it is unsure with whom. Johanna Konta is Britain’s No1, with Heather Watson just inside the top 56 upper limit; both will have ambitions in singles and would hope to be considered for a place alongside Murray in the mixed – where Andy and Laura Robson (who is still on the comeback trail) won silver in London. Places are decided on the world rankings on 6 June.
Verdict It would be some family double if Andy could retain gold and pick up another with his brother, who is No1 in the world. Kevin Mitchell
