Britain's potential medalists for 2012
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nicole Cooke, 21, has four gold medals from World Championships already and is certain to be a contender at London 2012, when she will be at her peak. The winner of the toughest women's event last year - the Giro d'Italia - Cooke is famous in the peloton for her no-nonsense riding and her ambitions, which include being "the best woman cyclist ever", something she is well en route to becoming. London 2012 is definitely part of her priority list.
Alasdair Fotheringham
David Davies: Swimming
The Welshman made his Games debut in Athens last year, aged 19. He broke the British record to reach the final of the 1,500m freestyle and then smashed it in the race of his life to take a gutsy bronze behind Australia's Grant Hackett, the defending champion and world No 1. Davies, who swims for Britain in this month's world championships in Montreal, is on course to do better than this in 2008, and by 2012, at the age of 27, should be close to his prime.
Nick Harris
Alex Gregory: Rowing
The 21-year-old sprang into the national team this year from GB rowing's World-Class Start programme, designed to spot 2012's Redgraves and Pinsents. He double sculls with Oxford's Colin Smith in the final round of the World Cup in Lucerne which starts tomorrow.
Gregory began rowing as a sixth-former at Evesham, and was taught to scull by his history teacher Mark Earnshaw. Last year he was in the GB under-23 quadruple scull team coached by Earnshaw.
Christopher Dodd
Ryan Pickard: Boxing
Three months ago Ryan Pickard was selected as a 2012 hopeful by the Amateur Boxing Association and awarded an annual allowance of £10,000 as part of Sport England's funding for elite athletes. Pickard, 19, fights for Repton Club in Bethnal Green, east London, which is less than two miles from the proposed site of the 2012 boxing venue, and has won several junior titles. More British Olympic boxers have come from Repton than any other club.
Steve Bunce
Nick Thompson: Sailing
Nick Thompson has been sailing since he was five years old. His hero is the triple Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie and his aim is to follow in Ainslie's footsteps by winning Olympic gold in the single-handed Laser dinghy class. Thompson, 19, from Lymington, Hampshire, won gold at the world youth championships in Poland last year. "Nick has stood out as a special talent for some years," Stephen Park, the UK's Olympic sailing manager, said.
Stuart Alexander
Ellen Whitaker: Equestrianism
Ellen Whitaker will be 26 in 2012 and could already be a superstar of showjumping. The niece of John and Michael Whitaker, who have ridden in four Olympic Games, she has joined her uncles in the British squad for the European Show Jumping Championships in Italy. Ellen made a big impression in last year's British Jumping Derby and at the Super League Nations Cup inFrance in May. She looks set to be a regular member of the senior team.
Genevieve Murphy
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments