Meet the athletes representing Lancashire at the Olympics
Over 10 athletes from across the county taking part in the Tokyo games
Last updated 23rd Jul 2021
Athletes from across Lancashire will be representing the boroughs at the Tokyo Olympics this year.
They include two-time gold medalist Ed Clancy, who will being going for his hat trick in the Cycling (Men's Team Pursuit).
Wigan alone has produced five of this year's GB Olympians.
Anna Hopkin
Swimming - 50m & 100m Freestyle
It an Olympic debut for Chorley's Anna Hopkin, who'll be competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle races in Tokyo.
She competed in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2018 Commonwealth Games winning a bronze medal.
The 25-year-old made her World Championship debut in 2019, reaching the 50m Freestyle final.
Emily Borthwick
Athletics - Women's High Jump
Wigan's 23-year old Emily is taking part in the High Jump which starts on the 5th of August.
She recently finished third at the British Championship in the sport and was selected to represent the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at this year's European Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.
Holly Bradshaw
Athletics - Pole Vault
Holly - from Preston - will be hoping to pole vault her way to victory this year.
It's not her first Olympics. She jumped her way to the final in 2016 in Rio but didn't manage to make it into the top three, finishing fifth.
The 29-year-old holds both the indoor and outdoor British record for the sport.
She has consistently been ranked top ten in the world on Track and Field News and she's hoping this year she can return with a medal around her neck.
Harry Coppell
Athletics - Men's Pole Vault
Holly's not the only local pole vaulter competing this year
The 25-year-old has already found himself needing medical treatment after a vault saw the bar fall on his face and smash his front teeth but we're hopeful that he can do us proud when he takes part qualification on the 31st of July.
He's already British Champion after winning the event at the 2019 British Athletic Championship in 2019 and defending the title in 2020.
He's even jumped a British record of 5.58m!
Graeme Thomas
Rowing - Men's Double sculls
It's hard to believe that this is Graeme's first Olympics.
He was selected for the GB team in the quadruple sculls in the 2016 Olympics, but illness forced him to withdraw just before the race started.
The 32-year-old is hoping to add an Olympic medal to his collection. Most recently he won a European bronze medal as part of the double sculls in Italy.
Him and his rowing partner John Collins are already through to the semi finals in the double sculls in Tokyo after coming second to the Netherlands in their heats.
Keely Hodgkinson
Athletics - 800m
This is Keely's first ever Olympics.
At just 19 years old, she's already the 2020 British Athletics champion in the 800m and set a world under-20 indoor running record.
Most recently, this year the Wigan-born runner became the European indoor champion before qualifying to represent Team GB in Tokyo.
Sarah Davies
Weightlifting - Women's 64kg
Not just a pretty face - the former Miss Leeds is now adding Olympian to her CV.
Sarah, from Preston, started weightlifting in 2011 and was the first British person to win the European u23 Championships in 2015.
She's previously competed at five World Championships and five European Senior Championships and won a silver medal a the 2018 Commonwealth games.
It's the 28-year-old's first Olympics.
Holly Aitchinson
Women's Rugby Sevens
Holly made her World Sevens Series debut in Las Vegas back in 2017 and by the next month had scored a try in the Challenge Trophy semi-final.
Growing up in Southport, she was taught rugby by former England international Gill Burns who was one of her teachers.
Most recently, she scored three tries in five matches in England's 2019-20 World Seven Series opener but it unfortunately left her having to miss out on five games after sustaining an inury.
She's back to full health and ready to represent Team GB
Ella Toone
Women's Football
Ella is part of the GB Women's Football Team, who have already seen success at this year's Olympics after beating Chile 2-0.
The 21-year-old plays as a forward for Manchester United and has had stints at Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers.
It's not the first time the Tyldesley-born player has represented her country. She also plays for England and has represented the country at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.
Dan Bibby
Men's Rugby Sevens
Dan is from Aspull in Wigan and currently plays international for the England national rugby sevens team and Great Britain national rugby.
Despite Rugby League usually being the game of choice in Wigna, the 30-year-old started playing for Aspull RFC before moving to Fylde Rugby Club in 2008.
He was called up to represent England as a fly half for the first time in 2012.
Tommy Fleetwood
Golf - Men's Individual Stroke Play
Tommy, from Southport, is proud to be representing the North West in the Olympics in Tokyo.
His current World Golf Ranking is #17 while his FedEx Cup Ranking is #125.
The 30-year-old has won on the European Tour five times - once becoming the youngest player to win at the age of 20.
Lucy Renshall
Judo - 63kg
25-year-old Lucy is the 2021 Judo Grand Slam Antalya in the -63kg class.
Before this she won the European Championships bronze in 2018.
It's her first ever Olympics!
Ed Clancy
Cycling Track - Men's Team Pursuit
Tokyo will be the 36-year-old's fourth appearance at the games where he's hoping to add to his four Olympic medals.
He was part of the pursuit that won gold and Beijing in 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 for Team GB.
He also picked up a bronze medal at London 2012 in the omnium.
He was awarded an MBE in 2009 and an OBE in 2017 for services to cycling and has been part of setting seven world records in the team pursuit.
St Helens council even tried to get Royal Mail to let them paint a second postbox gold in honour of his 2012 gold medal but it was sadly, declined.
Want to know more about the Olympics in Tokyo? Read our ultimate guide to the games here.
Max Whitlock - Gymnastics
Max Whitlock is a five-time Olympic medallist already. He won three bronze medals at London 2012 and two golds in Rio 2016. He'll be hoping for gold on the pommel horse in Tokyo
Giles Scott - Sailing
Giles Scott will be hoping to replicate his Rio 2016 form where he won gold for Team GB in the Finn Class sailing event. He totally dominated the event in 2016, ensuring victory with a day to spare!
Jade Jones - Taekwondo
Jades Jones is looking for her third gold medal in a row in Tokyo. She already has golds in Taekwondo from London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny - Cycling
This couple has 11 Olympic medals between them already! Laura Kenny has won four in the Omnium and the Team Pursuit. Jason Kenny has won 6 golds and a silver across the last three Olympics.
Adam Peaty - Swimming
Adam Peaty holds the world record for 50 and 100 metre breaststroke, he also won gold in the 100 metre breaststroke at the 2016 Olympics and is a real favourite to take the gold again in Tokyo
Dina Asher-Smith - Athletics
Dina Asher-Smith is the fastest British woman ever recorded! She won the 200m world championship in 2019 and won a bronze medal with Team GB for the 4x100m relay in Rio.
Sky Brown - Skateboarding
Sky Brown will be competing for Team GB in one of the new sports - Skateboarding. At just 13 she will be the youngest ever British olympian, but as she won a bronze medal at the World Skateboarding championship back in 2019, she's a favourite for a medal.