Destination Tokyo

Libby Clegg is a blind sprinter in the Paralympics GB team in Tokyo. Libby won double gold in Rio but since then has become a mum to Edward. Libby reveals here here struggles over the last year after the Games got postponed last summer. She was at the peak of fitness last spring after appearing on Dancing on Ice. But has really found the last year hard - not being able to be with her training partners because of social distances and a lack of opportunity to compete. Libby admits she is not where she'd like to be following an injury and her mental struggle. She wasn't selected for the Games, but got called up as a reserve. And she tells me how she really doubted her place in July and thought about pulling out. She turned to a doctor, sports psychologist and her partner Dan for help before deciding that she should take up the place. She's now happy and in a good place mentally. That's it for the series. Many thanks for listening over the last 8 months and thanks to all you athletes for taking part. Support this podcast

Charlotte Moore ie a wheelchair basketball player for Paralympics GB. Tokyo will be her second Games after making her debut as a 17 year old in Rio. She's been playing since she was 8 when she had a chance meeting whilst shopping with her mum at Sainsbury's when she was approached by the coach of a local wheelchair basketball team. She's never looked back from that chance meeting. She's played lots of sport and even got to carry the Olympic Torch on the Torch Relay ahead of London 2012. Charlotte talks about the extraordinary issues they've had as a squad during Covid which has limited severely the time they've been able to spend training together. GB just missed out on a medal in Rio as they finished 4th. Charlotte's hoping it'll be at least one better this time! Support this podcast

Richard Whitehead is competing in the T61 200m at the Paralympics in Tokyo. Richard won gold in London in 2012 and Rio 2016 but a hat-trick is going to be a challenge at the age of 45. Richard talks to me from Japan and tells me about the atmosphere and conditions in the training camp. Things have changed as Richard's been reclassified from T42 to T61 ,which is for double leg amputees. Richard feels this is to the detriment of para-athletics. It also means he can't now compete in a 100m as that event, which he won silver in rio, has been removed. Richard has started a foundation to coincide with the Paralympics to help others with disabilities. He also has his own podcast with Team GB footballer Ellen White called Track and Ball with a stellar guest list. Check it out! https://www.trackandball.co.uk/ Support this podcast

Stef Reid will compete in the Long Jump for Paralympics GB and she starts this double header. Stef talks about life at the GB preparation camp and dealing with the Covid protocols. She's been to 3 previous games and draws on her experiences to think about the weeks ahead. She also reveals, because of Covid bubbles, she's unlikely to be able to meet her partner Brent who competes for Canada. Stef revealed when she was last on the podcast that she was about to study Executive Coaching at Henley Business School - and she talks about what's she's drawing from that. I also chat to Stef's Loughborough based colleague Thomas Young who's a sprinter. This is the first Games for Thomas and it's great to hear the excitement from a rising star of the sport. Support this podcast

Today's guest is Hannah Cockroft, wheelchair racer for Paralympics GB. Hannah has won 11 world titles and 5 Paralympic gold medals and she talks about the weight of expectation as she heads to her third Games. She talks brilliantly about the moment she discovered sport and what it's taken to get to be top of the world. And she now embraces the fact she is a role model and loves the thought of others being inspired to take up some sport. Hannah says she is still loving sport and feels lucky to have the opportunities to compete. She says lockdown has shown that we need to make the most of every single second. Thanks Hannah! Great chat. Support this podcast

Lauren Rowles is part of the rowing squad for Paralympics GB for the Tokyo Paralympics. This is a really revealing chat with Lauren who found para-sport after becoming paralysed as a 13 year old. She was inspired by London 2012 and went on to win a gold medal at Rio just four years later. But the last five years have been tough with a number of physial injuries and a really rough time with her mental health that sent her into a deep depression. But she's worked hard on both physical and mental health and is in a great position to challenge for a medal again in Tokyo. Support this podcast

Big thanks to the Her Spirit Podcast for letting me use this interview. Check out Her Spirit on herspirit.co.uk - your friendly coach in your pocket. But also, I know you'll want to listen to the whole hour of Mel Marshall - she's quite brilliant. So please go to the Her Spirit Podcast too. I work with Lousie Minchin and Annie Emmerson on the Her Spirit podcast and we were thrilled to have Mel Marshall as a guest during her post Olympic holiday. Mel has turned into one of the world's most respected coaches. She's helped Adam Peaty to his domination and medal haul but also had other successes in Tokyo which was phenomenal for British Swimming. She talked brilliantly about coaching in general, her approach to sport and Adam Peaty. Support this podcast

I'm back with a quick reflection on the Olympics before we head to a final preview of the Paralympics Games Shona has been one of our regular contributors and she's brilliantly articulated all the doubts and concerns of the last six months or so. She gives an inside track on what conditions were like in Tokyo and what winning a bronze medal means to the squad. You may be surprised after the Gold medal performance in Rio five years ago. Shona talks about the emotions of the Games and gives a peek into her Tokyo diary. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Here's a bonus edition Beth Tweddle won a terrific bronze medal at the London Olympics. She's on the podcast to talk about a big participation event called I am Team GB which finishes with a weekend of special activities on 14/15th August. Beth talks about her Olympic experiences and about the events. You can find all the details at Iamteamgb.com That's it for our Olympic interviews - back in a couple of weeks with some Paralympic chats. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Maddie Hinch is the GB Hockey goalkeeper who was one of the heroes of the Rio Olympics in 2016. But she's had a difficult time since with mental health issues. Maddie talks about the roller coaster she has had since winning gold in that historic match in Rio in 2016. She gave up hockey for a time and, as she says herself, she got herself in a bit of mess. Maddie talks about how she found her love of the sport again and how she got over the demons in her head and learning to accept her vulnerabilities. So can the team win gold again? Maddie talks about the hopes for these Games with a very different squad. Good luck to Maddie and team! And that's it for the series of Olympic preview chats. I'll be back ahead of the Paralympics. Thanks for listening over the last six months! See you soon. If you'd like to make a donation to Maggie's Cancer Centres - here's the link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Natalie Powell is in the Judo team for the Tokyo Olympics. This will be her second Games. Natalie talks about what she learnt from competing at Rio five years ago. And one things she will definitely be doing for the Olympics is come off social media - and she tells me why. Natalie has also increased her step count this year to prepare for all the walking that's needed at the Athletes Village. Chelsie Giles says she has found her voice through judo. She's competing at her first Olympics in Tokyo She started judo at 8 years old and has loved it ever since. She tells me why. And she talks about achieving her best ever results which have given her belief in herself. Support this podcast

Today I have 3 swimmers as guests. Adam Peaty won gold in Rio and is completely dominant at his event. He's favourite to retain his Olympic gold medal. Adam talks about what he hopes to achieve in Tokyo and how he keeps delivering the times. Adam also talks about coming to these games as a dad. My other guests are Max and Joe Litchfield, the brothers from South Yorkshire. It's their first major games together. Thanks for listening. Support this podcast

Moe Sbihi has won medals at the London and Rio Olympics. Gold in the coxless four in 2016 and bronze in the eight in London. I spoke with Moe just before he left for Tokyo and he reflected on the last few months and the benefits for an inexperienced team of an extra year. This is Moe's third games and he reflects on the differences between Tokyo and his experiences in London and Rio. Moe had his honeymoon in Japan and is slightly sad that it's so different as he felt this was going to be the most amazing and different games. Moe talks about not having his wife and his young son out to watch him. At 6'8 he also talks about long distance flying in Covid times. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Darren Pearcy is the Team Manager at Skateboard GB as the sport makes its Olympic debut. And this is a great insight into the culture of a very non-traditional sport. Darren talks about what he does to help his team of two teenage girls in Tokyo making sure they are well looked after. Darren talks about this major new platform for skateboarding and his hopes that kids who don't like traditional sports will be engaged and take up the sport. He talks about its unique culture - which is about a lifestyle as much as a sport. Friends, fashion, art, music. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

George Peasegood is going for a unique treble at the Paralympics in Tokyo this summer. George has qualified for the para-triathlon and for the road race and time trial in cycling. He's going to have a mad week in the intense heat and humidity of Tokyo. George talks about competing in all three events and how he's preparing including time in the heat chamber. He comes across as very laid back about it all in a matter of fact way that makes it sound easy. It's not, of course! George has been charting his training since January and we wish him all the best with his final preparations. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Patrick Huston is part of the Team GB Archery squad for the Tokyo Olympics. Patrick has been giving us a unique insight in this podcast into his Olympic preparation and his love of a very different exercise routine. Definitely check him out on social media! Today Patrick takes us behind the scenes at the Team GB Holding Camp where athletes make their final preparations ahead of moving into the Athletes Village and on to competition. He's loving his stay overlooking Yokohama Bay and is impressed with the effort that's been put in to make it a Team GB Home! Support this podcast

Nick Hope will be reporting on the Olympics for BBC Sport. He's one of the most knowledgable Olympic reporters around and definitely worth a follow at the Games on @NickHopeTV Nick talks about arrival in Japan and the warm welcome at the airport. He discusses the various Covid measures in place. And then there's the climate with the end of the rainy season being marked by some heavy downpours. It's a great insight from one of the first reporters on the ground in Japan. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Beth Dobbin will run the 200m at the Tokyo Olympics for Team GB and she has quite a story to tell. As you'll hear Beth is absolutely thrilled to be going to the Olympics. Since she was a young girl, it's something she dreamed of. She well remembers Dame Kelly Holmes winning in Athens with her dad screaming at the TV. And then in 2012 she was obsessed, buying lots of memorabilia to fill her room. But Beth's path has been far from easy. She feels she has made it against the odds and she doesn't know how it has happened. She has a history of epilepsy and had a serious seizure in her teens. She didn't really improve her times until she came off the medication she was on through her teenage years so consequently she won little as a junior. Beth wasn't funded and she had multiple jobs to try to bring the money in whilst allow her to train as much as possible. If you'd like to make a donation to Maggies Cancer Centres here's the link - they do amazing work! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Hollie Pearne-Webb is the Team GB women's hockey captain. She was part of the gold medal winning team in Rio. And she had a key role in that victory. Hollie took the penalty shuffle that gave Team GB an historic gold against the Netherlands. Hollie talks about the penalty moment and what it meant. She discussed captaincy during Covid and how she likes having a job alongside playing hockey. The team have just arrived in Tokyo ready to defend their title and we chat about going in to the Games as holders. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Alison Peasegood has been named in the GB Paralympics team to compete at Para triathlon. Alison Peasegood will compete in PTVI which is for athletes with visual impairment, less than ten per cent vision. Alison won silver in Rio and she's back for more with her new guide Nikki Bartlett. Alison talks about the challenges of social distancing when needing a guide to train in swimming, cycling and running. It's helped massively that she chose to marry a triathlete! Her husband is planning a marathon bike ride from their home in Scotland to his parent's house in Cambridgeshire to watch the Paralympics. Alison recently one bronze in her first race in nearly two years in the world series event in Leeds. Support this podcast

Ali Jawad has been named in the Paralympics GB team heading to Tokyo for powerlifting. Ali's been a great guest on this podcast, telling his story over the last six months to today's announcement. It's been an uncertain journey and not just because of the pandemic. Ali has been revealing his thoughts and talking about the obstacles over the last six months. He was born with no legs in the Lebanon before moving to the UK. He excelled in powerlifting and made the Paralympic team for Beijing in 2008 but was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease just before hand. Over the years he just missed out on a medal in London and got silver in Rio. But his condition has worsened and he has really struggled to match his former performances. For much of this year it looked unlikely that he'd make the team - but an incredible lift a few weeks ago has changed that. Well done Ali and congratulations. Support this podcast

Claire Taggart has been named for the Paralympics GB squad in Boccia. Claire talks brilliantly about the sport of Boccia and what's needed to be good at it. Claire also gives a great account of the difficulties the sport has had during lockdown and how they've done their best to overcome them. Boccia is generally played by players who need high levels of support in their lives. Claire is from Larne in Northern Ireland. She has her own business as well as quite a few pets including six tortoises with some very unsual names and a dog called Rio! Thanks for listening and downloading. Support this podcast

Sarah Adlington is set to make her Olympic debut in Judo for Team GB. And that's a relief for her. Sarah narrowly missed out on London in 2012 and Rio in 2016 and she articulates what that was like and how at times she felt she was never going to be an Olympian. Sarah is in the heavyweight class and she feels time in the gym over lockdown has left her fitter and stronger than she has ever been so is positive about the weeks ahead. She also talks about being a YouTube presenter and the fun she has had learning to make videos and deliver news to connect with her club. Thanks for listening and downloading and good luck to Sarah and the rest of the Team in Tokyo. Support this podcast

Ben Fox is part of the Wheelchair Basketball Squad heading to the Paralympics. Ben has an extraordinary story about how he got into the sport. It was a chance moment which changed his life. I met Ben at the team announcement at Loughborough University where the squad are on camp as they prepare for Tokyo. The pandemic has really limited the amount of time they've had as a squad over the last year or so - more so than many sports. Ben now plays in Spain where club wheelchair basketball is played at a high level. He's found it incredibly difficult over the Covid time and it's limited the amount of time he's been able to spend with his family. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Bombette Martin is a history maker. She's part of the first ever Team GB Skateboarding squad heading to the Olympics. Bombette is 15, was born and lives in New York, but qualifies for GB because her dad is from Birmingham, UK. She talks with great enthusiasm about becoming an Olympian, which she says is very overwhelming. Bombette took up skateboarding around 5 years ago and made rapid progression into the top 20. It's sure to be a big hit this summer and best of luck to the Team and thanks for chatting Bombette. Support this podcast

Shona McCallin has been named in the hockey squad for Team GB to defend their Olympic title in Tokyo. Shona has kept us up to date with the ups and downs of the last six months with regular contributions to this podcast. I met Shona at the Kitting Out day in Birmingham which she says is one of the most exciting days of the Olympic journey. Shona was part of that amazing squad which won an historic gold in Rio in 2016 and she talks about how they're dealing with the pressures of being the Olympic champions. And on a personal level, she talks about her shyness and how she's overcome it. Support this podcast

Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith have been named for Team GB in the mixed badminton, with Lauren also in the women's doubles for Tokyo. However Lauren is upset at the way she feels the players have been treated during a controversial selection process and feels they have not been given the support they need. Marcus won bronze at the Rio Games and was disappointed not to be selected with his partner Chris Langridge this time.I address this with Lauren's instagram statement. Our interview was recorded at Kitting Out a few days before selection - so we touch on the more general points about the last few months and selection for the mixed doubles. Marcus and Lauren have been contributing to this podcast since January, when they reported from a lockdown hotel in Bangkok. They talk about their final preparations for the Olympics and what it's like to play at the Games...along with Lauren's love of the selfie in the Olympic Village. Support this podcast

Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe will be part of Team GB in Tokyo as Britain's qualifiers in Artistic Swimming. Kate and Izzy describe it as a dream come true - an incredible moment after more than ten years of hard work. And their excitement shines through. They talk about the hard work that goes into training from the breathing work that's necessary to the demanding time spent in the gym. Both have families who have competed at high levels in aquatic sport - one relative competed in the Olympics in London. And Kate and Izzy's mums competed together. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Alice Dearing is a marathon swimmer and is part of Team GB for Tokyo. I'm thrilled to see Alice on the team as she's been kind enough to share her journey across the last six months on Destination Tokyo. You can hear her on Episodes 3, 25, 51 and 82. But last weekend she finally qualified for Tokyo - making history as Team GB's first black swimmer heading to the Olympics. It's great to hear Alice so thrilled to become an Olympian and to carry the 'responsibility' of being the first black woman to represent Team GB at swimming with such grace and composure. Alice talks about those who've helped her over the last 16 years, the moment she qualified and which gaming consoles will be in her suitcases. Thanks for listening! And all the best to Alice! Support this podcast

Hollie Arnold is a heading to her 4th Paralympic Games as part of the Paralympic GB Track and Field squad. She competes in F46 Javelin. She was only 14 and the youngest on the team at her first games. It's not always been an easy journey but Hollie's determination saw her win gold at the Rio Games in 2016. Away from the sport, she made history by being a contestant on I'm a Celebrity... in 2020. She talks about what she's learnt from that and what she hopes for this summer. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Sam Ward is part of the Team GB Men's Hockey Squad for Tokyo. I chatted to Sam at the Kitting Out Day where he collect bags of kit for the Olympics. Sam's one of the characters of the squad and he talks about his way of putting smiles on people's faces. But his Olympic hopes, even his hockey career, seemed to be over in November 2019 when he was hit in the eye by the ball during an international against Malaysia. It shattered his face with 8 fractures and a crushed eyeball. It tore the back of his retina and has left him with the loss of central vision for life in one eye. Sam's worked with eye specialists to help his recovery and re-train the brain to compensate for the loss. Sam talks about the emotion of being selected and his call to his dad and mum. You can find his Olympic videos at @Samuel_Ward13 And his clothing company is www.blndspotsports.com And you can donate to Maggie's here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Charlotte Worthington has been selected for Team GB for BMX Freestyle Park. It's the first time this event has been held at the Olympics and Charlotte is one of the stars of the sport with bronze medals at the World Championships in 2019 and 2021. Charlotte spent her teenage years on a scooter at skate parks and eventually moved to BMX about 5 years ago. She never dreamt of becoming an Olympian - but when the sport was included in 2017 a whole new life began. Charlotte's great about explaining the love of the sport and the connection with local communities. It's a great listen and I think the event will be one of the summer's highlights. Thanks for listening - if you'd like to donate to my chosen charity - Maggie's Cancer Centres - then here's a link. It would be much appreciated and if you can afford to donate the price of a cup of coffee that would be great - all proceeds from this podcast go to Maggie's. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Adam Dixon is the GB men's hockey captain heading to his second Olympic Games. He's had the difficult job of guiding the team through lockdown and keeping the squad together through this unprecedented 16 months. He's also got married and become a dad. We met up at the Team GB Kitting Out to talk about the final preparation and the hopes for the Tokyo Games. And he reveals how the Gold medal winning hockey captain from 1988 paid a visit to the squad. Thanks for listening. If you'd like to get in touch you can e mail me at markshardlow@icloud.com Support this podcast

Jess Piasecki is part of Team GB in the marathon and will make her Olympic debut in the heat of Tokyo. I met Jess at the Team GB Kitting Out day and she was thrilled with the experience. Jess's story is a remarkable one. She's been competing at international level since she was 16. But from the age of 18 she's had to learn about and overcome a number of problems especially poor bone health and issues with the menstrual cycle which has left her with a lot of serious injuries including 7 compression fractures in her spine. She missed both the Rio Olympics and the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with problems with her hips, rib and spine. Jess has become an expert about what caused these issues and she's now a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. There's lots to learn from Jess's website at www.runscience.co.uk And have a listen to Jess's own podcast - Female Athlete Podcast https://femaleathletepodcast.buzzsprout.com/ I'm making these podcast to help raise awareness for Maggie's Cancer Centres, if you fancy giving a few pounds as a tip - here's the link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Dylan Fletcher is heading to Tokyo for his second Olympics as part of Team GB. His mum and dad were ballet dancers who got him into child acting. They saved the money he got paid for appearing in programmes like The Bill. And with that money he got his first boat aged 11. Dylan finished 6th in Rio but goes in as one of the favourites with partner Stuart Bithell in the 49er class. I've got an interview with Stuart later in the series. It's great to hear Dylan's passion for both his sport and the sailing lifestyle. Thanks for listening! See you on the next one. Markshardlow@icloud.com Support this podcast

Lauren Williams will make her Olympic debut in Taekwondo in Tokyo and her story is one to inspire any young athlete. She's twice European Champion and hoping to add to her overall medal haul this summer. In 2012 she was on holiday with her family in their caravan when they watched Jade Jones win her gold medal at the London Olympics. Inspired by that, she switched from kick boxing to Taekwondo and went to a talent ID day, even so she was under ago. She impressed so much that she was offered a place on the programme. So she moved with her mum to Manchester and lived in the very same caravan they watched the Games in. She spent two years in the van with her mum, who left work to look after her - whilst her dad stayed back with her sister. Support this podcast

Ali Jawad is a Paralympic powerlifter who won silver in Rio in 2016. As we've heard over this series, Ali has really struggled with Crohn's Disease which has left him way behind his previous level at the sport. But he's working hard and doing his best to make the Games. Ali had one last chance to qualify and he says he produced his best performance in 5 years to give himself an opportunity to make it. He says he had to take himself to a very dark place mentally and emotionally to get into the right state of mind to pull it off. Ali describes what that feels like. And how his mind was stronger than his body. He now has a nervous wait to discover if he'll be in Tokyo. We also talk about the BBC Panorama programme "The Unfair Games" an investigation into the Paralympic classification system. Ali was not impressed with the programme Support this podcast

Patrick Huston is heading to Tokyo with the Archery team. This will be his second Olympic Games. Patrick has just won the British Field Archery Championships and he tells me about that side of the sport. Patrick has just competed overseas in a World Cup event - his first major event since the European Games in Minsk in 2019. He was disappointed with the end result and articulated it in a poem. And he reads it for us and tells us how it helps overcome the setbacks. He's had Covid, Limes Disease and of course, lockdown to contend with. in the last couple of years but is excited to return to the Olympics. He also talks about how he's trying to overcome hay fever If you'd like to make a donation to Maggie's Cancer Centres then here's my link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Shona McCallin is a gold medal winner with GB Hockey from the Rio Olympics in 2016. Shona is a regular on the podcast and it's great that she's here on Episode 100. The Games are now just six weeks ago and Shona talks about the final preparations and how she's approaching the final push. She's also had an injury and has been on crutches. So it's especially important for her to do the important things. And Shona describes what steps they're taking to make sure there are no last minute issues with Covid-19 Thanks for all your support over the 100 episodes. It's much appreciated. If you'd like to donate to Maggie's Cancer Centres - here's the link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Laura Gallagher is a GB Trampoline Gymnast, an 8 times World and European medal winner and now a member of Team GB. Laura gave a great interview in Episode 40 talking about giving up the sport five years ago, a crisis of confidence and never giving up. She promised to come back to tell us if she made the team. And I'm delighted to see we can celebrate! Laura talks about what it means to her. The conversation's she's had with her mum over the last few days. And what's happening between now and July. She also talks about the effects of Coeliac's Disease and the adaptations she's made. Congratulations Laura! And thanks to everyone for listening. Support this podcast

Vicky Thornley is heading to her third Olympic Games. The Team GB rower won silver in Rio with Katherine Grainger and also competed in the 8 in London. But this will be her first Games going solo. Vicky's had a few bumps along the way and talks openly and honestly about the issues she has had with over training and her nasty accident on her bike during lockdown. But she's fit and ready to head out to a training camp ahead of going to the Far East. And says team selection is a special moment for her. Thanks for listening! Support this podcast

Jeanette Chippington is one of the world's most successful paddlers. She's won multiple world championships and is the current Paralympic champion in KL1, when the sport made it's debut at Rio. Jeanette made her debut in the 1988 Games and competed at 5 successive Paralympics in Swimming, winning 12 medals including 2 golds. She talks about three decades in elite sport, the issues of the last year and the sadness at losing her father to Covid in 2020. Thanks to Jeanette and the team and thank you for listening. If you'd like to make a donation to Maggie's Cancer Centres then the link is here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Becky Downie has been left out of the Olympic team for Tokyo. The experienced Team GB athlete has had a torrid few weeks after the sudden death of her brother and having a special trial two weeks later to try to secure her place. An appeal failed. "Ever since I was a little girl winning an Olympic gold medal has always been my dream. I don't have the words to describe how it feels now not being able to even try." Support this podcast

Joe McDonnell is an athletics sprint coach and part of the British Athletics coaching team. Joe speaks to me from European Para-athletics European Championships in Bydgosczc in Poland. He talks openly and candidly about the coaching issues over the last 12 months and his hopes for Tokyo. Joe believes individual welfare and development as a person comes way before athletic development. If you'd like to contact me, I'm at markshardlow@icloud.com And if you'd like to donate to Maggie's it's https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

It's 50 days to go until the start of the Olympics which marks the beginning of an extraordinary summer of sport in Tokyo with the Olympics and Paralympics. So how has it been for those involved in the organisational side! One guess!! Penny Briscoe is the team leader of Paralympics GB. She's called the Chef de Mission, which is the head of the team. Penny has been involved in many games, but of course this one has been more challenging by far than any other. Penny talks to me about those challenges; gives an honest appraisal of where the Games are at. And talks about some of the unique challenges for those involved in para sport. Thank you for dowloading and listening! Support this podcast

Kylie Grimes has committed herself fully to being a Paralympian and these will be her 3rd Games. Kylie is the only woman named in the GB Wheelchair Rugby squad in this mixed event. She says competing at the top level has been a dream since she was a young girl. A swimming accident changed her life but she used sport as part of her rehab and absolutely loves it. Kylie says sport is her life and her dream has always to be a top sportswoman. Support this podcast

Mahama Cho has been named as part of the GB Taekwondo squad for the Tokyo Olympics. This will be his second Olympic Games after a 5th place in Rio. I caught up with him whilst he was trying out the Team GB formal suit supplied by Simon Jersey. He talks about looking the part for the Games. He was massively inspired by his dad who encouraged him to work hard and never give up. He looks up to what his dad did in the sport and remains Mahama Cho's inspiration throughout his 14 years on the squad. I'm making these podcasts to tell the stories of Olympians and Paralympians but also to raise some money for Maggie's Cancer Centres. If you're enjoying them maybe you'd drop me the price of a coffee to help the cause? https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

Matt Bush talks to me about being on the team for the debut of Para Taekwondo at the Paralympics. Matt talks about his journey into the sport; what he loves about it and how he balances training with working for the family firm. He also talks about how he had to convince his local gym owner that He came close to making Rio in 2016 in the javelin. Thanks for listening and for all the feedback! Support this podcast

Beth Munro has been named in Paralympics GB's taekwondo team for the Tokyo Games. Beth is 27 and from Liverpool and has had a remarkable few months. In her first international competition she qualified a place for the Games and this week has been selected. Beth played netball and threw javelin until 2019 when she was spotted and invited to try out for taekwondo. She'd never done a martial art before. She took to it and now will be mixing it with the best in the world. I loved Beth's passion and infectious enthusiasm for the sport. I hope you do to. If you want to contact me, I'm at markshardlow@icloud.com Support this podcast

Mark England is Team GB's Chef de Mission for the Tokyo Olympics. The Chef de Mission is the person in charge of the team. And there's been a lot of complexity to get to this point ready for Tokyo. Mark says the preparations are in good shape because of the work done before last March when travel restrictions came in. In fact, because of the restrictions on time allowed in the Athletes Village, the preparation camp and facilities will be even more important. If you'd like to support my chosen charity, Maggie's Cancer Centres, then I'm raising awareness by doing these podcasts. You can make a donation, however small, here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/destinationtokyo Support this podcast

More gymnastics today with chats to the other two athletes selected for the men's gymnastics team for Tokyo. Joe Fraser is the 2019 world champion on the parallel bars. He was a typical 5 year old who was always tumbling around the house and when he was taken to gymnastics class as a kid he loved it. When he first saw the Olympics on TV he decided he wanted to be there. Joe talks about his experiences at the Youth Olympics and going out to the Rio Games in 2016 to learn about the Olympic experience. James Hall is also ready to make his Olympic debut. He's been on the squad for 7 years and waited patiently for his chance. During lockdown he set up a pommel horse in his dining room! Thanks for listening and for all the kind comments over the series. Feel free to drop me a line at markshardlow@icloud.com Support this podcast