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All eyes might be on Birmingham because the Commonwealth Video games get underway right this moment, and these are simply a few of the UK sporting stars you could know.
The athletes compete underneath the separate nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire for the Video games, giving them a uncommon likelihood to fly their nationwide flags within the sporting area.
There are medal hopes in biking, swimming and athletics, in addition to wheelchair basketball, which is among the many sports activities making its Commonwealth Video games debut.
Scottish 1500m runners Laura Muir and Jake Wightman each gained medals on the World Athletics Championships in Oregon final week and might be hoping to recreate – or higher – their successes on British soil.
In the meantime English swimmer Adam Peaty, now well-known as a contestant on final yr’s Strictly Come Dancing, has overcome harm in time for the Video games and might be hoping to copy the success he loved within the pool at Tokyo 2020.
Northern Eire’s Rhys McClenaghan might be defending his nation’s solely gold medal within the pommel horse, whereas celebrity Wales bike owner Geraint Thomas might be competing within the street race contemporary from a 3rd place end in The Tour de France.
Among the many notable absentees is Staff England sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, who right this moment introduced she has pulled out of the Commonwealth Video games.
Right here, FEMAIL reveals a few of the athletes to look out for because the Video games get underway…
ADAM PEATY
England, Swimming
Again within the pool: Staff GB Olympian Adam Peaty broke his foot in Might and his Commonwealth Video games desires appeared in tatters. However he has recovered and is able to compete in Birmingham
No.1 fan! Adam Peaty might be cheered on by glamorous girlfriend Eirianedd Munro. Pictured, the couple at Wimbledon (left) and on the BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr Awards 2021
Dancing ft! Peaty is now identified to viewers due to final yr’s Strictly Come Dancing. He might be hoping to have extra luck within the pool in Birmingham
Daddy obligation! Peaty now juggles his coaching schedule with elevating his 20-month-old son, George, pictured. He stated he has no plans to retire from the game
The Staff England swimmer’s hopes of competing at his house Commonwealth Video games appeared in tatters in Might when he broke his foot within the gymnasium.
However whereas the harm saved three-time Olympic gold medallist Peaty out of the pool for six weeks, he discovered one other approach to prepare on water — in a ship.
The concept got here from Peaty’s coach Mel Marshall, who organized for him to work out with British Canoeing and be taught to paddle a kayak.
It saved the triple Olympic champion in form whereas he was sporting his protecting boot however, extra importantly, it helped alleviate boredom as he recovered from the primary vital harm of his glittering profession.
Peaty, who lives simply 50 minutes away from host metropolis Birmingham, might come away with 4 gold medals — within the 50metres and 100m breaststroke, in addition to the 4x100m males’s and blended medley relays.
In contrast to when he final broke the world report in 2019, Peaty now has to juggle his pool pursuits with parenthood.
The Strictly Come Dancing star shares a toddler son, George, with artist companion Eirianedd Munro.
AMY CONROY
England, Wheelchair Basketball
Strike a pose: Wheelchair basketball participant Amy Conroy (left) is forging a profession as a mannequin with adverts for manufacturers like Adidas and ASOS (proper) underneath her belt
Pioneer: One of many stars of the 3×3 wheelchair basketball format is three-time Paralympian Amy Conroy, 29, from Norwich, who misplaced her left leg by most cancers as a teen
Medal winner: Conroy, who studied social psychology at Loughborough College, was a part of the crew that made it to the semi-finals on the Rio 2016 Paralympics and took silver on the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Hamburg. Pictured, the semi remaining at Hamburg
Wheelchair Basketball will make its Commonwealth Video games debut in Birmingham.
One of many stars of the 3×3 format is three-time Paralympian Amy Conroy, 29, from Norwich, who misplaced her left leg by most cancers as a teen.
The sporty schoolgirl had already seen 4 members die from the illness, together with her mom, Ann, by the point she was recognized at 13.
‘I obtained a ache in my knee which ended up being most cancers, fought by that, however I did not reply to the chemotherapy in addition to I’d’ve preferred and had a leg amputated,’ she beforehand defined.
‘It was my dad who had prompt I strive wheelchair basketball. I used to be fairly reluctant at first — the misconceptions I had had been it will be lame, I have been spending all this time studying to stroll so I do not wish to affiliate with being again in a wheelchair.
‘However then I simply fell in love with it fairly shortly. I realised that is what I wish to do and I wish to get good at this.’
Conroy, who studied social psychology at Loughborough College, was a part of the crew that made it to the semi-finals on the Rio 2016 Paralympics and took silver on the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Hamburg.
The athlete, who has modelled for ASOS and Adidas, additionally champions making sport extra accessible for all.
MATTHEW HUDSON-SMITH
England, Athletics
Shiny mild: Sprinter Matthew Hudson-Smith, pictured, gained a gold medal on the World Athletics Championships – and admitted it marked the sunshine on the finish of a darkish tunnel
Eyes on the prize: Matthew Hudson-Smith celebrates after profitable the bronze medal within the 400m remaining. He might be hoping to deliver house one other gold medal on the Commonwealth Video games
Wolverhampton-born sprinter Matthew Hudson-Smith, 27, gained a gold medal within the 400m remaining on the World Athletics Championships in Oregon final week – and admitted it marked the sunshine on the finish of a darkish tunnel.
‘I had large psychological well being points in 2021,’ he stated. ‘Not lots of people know this, however I actually tried suicide.’
Hudson-Smith didn’t wish to reveal how or when, saying it was ‘prior to now now’, however he did develop on the explanations his life took such a harmful flip. He had racked up large medical money owed within the US as a result of a nightmare run of accidents and struggled with isolation throughout the pandemic whereas removed from house.
‘In 2018 I gained the Europeans, though every little thing did not go to plan,’ he stated. ‘In 2019 I tore my Achilles [tendon], tore my hamstring, tousled my hip. I had large money owed as a result of I did not have American medical health insurance.
‘Throughout Covid in 2020 I used to be caught in America on my own. And in 2021 I had large psychological well being points.’
He additionally defined how the deaths of former coach Lloyd Cowan and UK Athletics (UKA) head coach Neil Black had hit him exhausting, together with the departure of Stephen Maguire from UKA.
Now Hudson-Smith is seeking to the long run and might be hoping to deliver house a medal on the Commonwealth Video games.
KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON
England, Athletics
Athletics golden woman: British athletics poster woman Katarina Johnson-Thompson, pictured left and proper, might be out to defend her heptathlon title in Birmingham
Proficient: Health allowing, the athlete might be favorite to retain her title as she makes an attempt to gear up for Paris 2024. She failed to put on the World Athletics Championships, pictured
British athletics poster woman Katarina Johnson-Thompson might be out to defend her heptathlon title in Birmingham.
The 29-year-old, who burst into public consciousness at London 2012, has suffered irritating setbacks in recent times.
Celeb buddies: Katarina with actress and fellow Liverpudlian Jodie Comer in 2019
The pandemic delay of the 2020 Olympics robbed her of a Video games in peak kind and health. She recovered from an Achilles’ rupture in time for Tokyo solely to be pressured out of the competitors with a calf harm.
Although she completed in eighth on the latest World Athletic Championships in Oregon, shedding her title to Nafissatou Thiam, the Liverpudlian is optimistic about her possibilities of recapturing her crown in Birmingham.
Health allowing, the gifted athlete might be favorite to retain her title as she makes an attempt to gear up for Paris 2024, and what realistically might be her remaining shot at an elusive Olympic medal.
‘With the world championships and the Commonwealths it’s fairly daunting however thrilling on the identical time,’ she stated. ‘On paper it’s a lot to do two heptathlons a couple of weeks aside. It’s a lot on the physique and a reasonably large problem to be trustworthy.
‘However I’ve chosen to problem myself this manner — I’m the defending champion and I’m at that time in my profession the place I simply wish to assault each championships as whether it is my final.
‘I wish to have time once I compete as a result of there have been too many upsets. I wish to make sure that there may be pleasure in what I’m doing and I wish to make the folks round me completely satisfied, too.’
RHYS McCLENAGHAN
Northern Eire, Gymnastics
Defending champion: Rhys McClenaghan, 23, pictured, shot to prominence when he beat Olympic champion Max Whitlock to win gold within the pommel horse on the Gold Coast Commonwealth Video games in 2018
Anxious wait: Whitlock is absent this time, and McClenaghan additionally appeared set to overlook out having been banned as a result of he had represented Eire, however that has now been overturned. Pictured, the gymnast at coaching (left) and along with his companion in an Instagram snap (proper)
Rhys McClenaghan, 23, shot to prominence when he beat Olympic champion Max Whitlock to win gold within the pommel horse on the Gold Coast Commonwealth Video games in 2018. It was Northern Eire’s sole gold on the Video games.
The next yr he gained a world bronze medal in Stuttgart on the identical equipment.
Whitlock is absent this time, and McClenaghan additionally appeared set to overlook out having been banned as a result of he had represented Eire, however that has now been overturned.
He stated on listening to the information final month: ‘The entire thing was so exhausting to wrap my head round, that I wasn’t going to have the ability to defend my title on the Commonwealth Video games.
‘To be advised I wasn’t going to have the ability to do one thing I would dreamed of because the age of eight was such a wierd feeling, and I simply needed to go coaching day by day and hold telling myself that issues would change.
‘I used to be so relieved to listen to the information right this moment. I’m so significantly better than I used to be 4 years in the past each as an athlete and within the execution of my routine, and I’m trying ahead to attaining a good higher lead to Birmingham.’
LAURA MUIR
Scotland, Athletics
Overcoming obstacles: Laura Muir, pictured on the Scottish Athlete of the Yr Awards 2018, had a setback with harm however labored by the frustration
Onwards! Recent from the World Championships in Oregon, pictured, Scotland’s Laura Muir might be hoping to higher her bronze medal end result when she takes to the observe in Birmingham
Recent from the World Championships in Oregon, Scotland’s Laura Muir might be hoping to higher her bronze medal end result when she takes to the observe in Birmingham.
It marked a dramatic turnaround for the Olympic silver medallist, 29, from Inverness.
The athlete was on crutches in February after a stress response to her femur in her proper leg and admitted it was contact and go she would even make it to the World Championships.
‘It was probably the most vital harm I’ve ever had in my working profession. For 2 months I could not run,’ she stated, after including to her Olympic silver medal from final yr.
‘That was very, very irritating, particularly as I used to be going so nicely in January.
‘With the champs being nearly a month sooner than regular as nicely it meant I had about three months much less time to arrange than regular. So not excellent. I simply knew I needed to have quite a lot of confidence in myself and my crew that we’d have the ability to get again that. We did it and we obtained that medal.’
She is now aiming to finish her medal assortment.
She stated: ‘Yet one more, I’ve obtained the Commonwealths to get. I began in my working profession wished to run all six champs, I’ve accomplished that, then make the ultimate of all six, I’ve accomplished that. Now I wish to win a medal in any respect six. It is 5 down one to go.’
GERAINT THOMAS
Wales, Biking
Veteran: Geraint Thomas and spouse Sara throughout the pink carpet arrivals for the BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr 2018. The biking professional is returning to the Commonwealth Video games this yr
Again in motion: Thomas, pictured with spouse Sara, missed the final Commonwealth Video games to concentrate on his crew biking however might be hoping to make the rostrum in Birmingham
Able to race: The embellished bike owner, who shares a son Macsen (pictured) along with his spouse Sara, got here third within the Tour de France final week
Welshman Geraint Thomas, 36, delighted biking followers when he introduced he would compete within the Commonwealth Video games this yr.
Thomas, who completed third in The Tour de France final week, final wore the Welsh jersey throughout the 2014 Commonwealth Video games in Glasgow, securing the bronze medal within the particular person time trial and gold within the street race.
The embellished bike owner, who shares a son Macsen along with his spouse Sara, gained the Tour de France in 2018, having achieved Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012 for the crew pursuit. He additionally gained BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr in 2018.
Thomas missed the final Commonwealth Video games to concentrate on his crew biking.
Now he could have his sights firmly set on impressing on the Birmingham metropolis centre circuit.
Reflecting on his most up-to-date Tour de France victory, Thomas stated: ‘Again in November [my wife] Sa stated to me that I’d end on the rostrum on the Tour this yr.
‘On the time, I discovered it fairly exhausting to imagine her. However hey, she’s often proper.
‘This one’s for her and Macs, for all the time believing, and for everybody’s overwhelming help during the last month. There’s life in these legs but. Vive Le Tour.’
BETHANY FIRTH
Northern Eire, Para-Swimming
Newlyweds: Northern Eire swimmer Bethany Firth, 26, married husband Andrew Fuller (pictured collectively) in Might however delayed her honeymoon as she focuses on getting ready for the Commonwealth Video games. Proper, Bethany Firth at her hen do
Accolades: Firth, who gained 5 golds on the World Para-swimming Championships in Madeira, competes in numerous occasions however her primary occasion is the S14 200m freestyle. Pictured, after being awarded her MBE by the Duke of Cambridge in April 2017
Staff spirit: Paralympic athletes Bethany Firth, Jordan Birtles, Maisie Summers-Newton, Hannah Cockroft, Nathan Maguire and Charlotte Henshaw on the No Time To Die premiere
Medal hope: Firth gained three golds at 2016 Rio de Janeiro within the S14 100m backstroke, S14 200m freestyle and the SM14 200m medley. Pictured, following her S14 100m backstroke win
Northern Eire swimmer Bethany Firth, 26, married husband Andrew Fuller in Might however delayed her honeymoon as she focuses on getting ready for the Commonwealth Video games.
Firth, who gained 5 golds on the World Para-swimming Championships in Madeira, competes in numerous occasions however her primary occasion is the S14 200m freestyle.
S14 swimmers have an mental impairment, which usually results in the athletes having difficulties with reference to sample recognition, sequencing, and reminiscence, or having a slower response time, which affect on sport efficiency normally.
Birmingham would be the first time S14 200m freestyle has featured in a Commonwealth Video games.
Firth had been swimming for simply three years when she competed for Eire in her first Paralympics at London 2012. She gained gold within the S14 100m backstroke.
The swimmer later introduced she would change nationwide crew and compete for Staff GB as an alternative.
She gained three golds at 2016 Rio de Janeiro within the S14 100m backstroke, S14 200m freestyle and the SM14 200m medley.
Whereas she might be hoping for extra gold medals, Firth stated nothing will prime getting married.
She advised BBC Information: ‘I do not assume even profitable gold might prime off getting married. It was truthfully superb and it’s good to know you’ve that individual – regardless of if I am profitable gold or not – it’s good to know that you’ve nonetheless obtained that individual.
‘I’d do it [get married] once more if I might – day by day I’d get married. I do not get to honeymoon till after the Commonwealths. I’ll positively, positively be prepared for a visit away however you must await the nice issues.’
JAKE WHIGHTMAN
Scotland, Athletics
In a single day sensation: Jake Wightman, 28, pictured, gained the 1500m remaining on the World Athletics Championships in Oregon final week, changing into the primary Brit to take house the title in nearly 40 years
Victory! A euphoric Jake Wightman crosses the road to say gold within the 1500m remaining in Oregon
Household enterprise: It turned a household affair as his father and coach Geoff (left) was the stadium announcer commentating on his shock victory whereas his mum Susan (proper) watched from the group
Get together time! Jake, left, with brother Sam and sister Martha (far proper) at their mother and father’ belated sixtieth birthday celebrations final yr
Lengthy-distance runner Jake Wightman, 28, turned an in a single day sensation final week when he gained gold within the 1500m on the World Championships in Oregon.
The son of an Olympian and a Commonwealth Video games marathoner, working is a household affair for the Wightman clan and Jake’s father Geoff was even commentating his son’s gold medal race.
Jake, who runs 800m in addition to 1500m, gained bronze within the 1500m at each the European Championships and the Commonwealth Video games in 2018. The next yr he got here fifth on the World Championships in Doha.
He suffered disappointment when he got here tenth at Tokyo 2020.
Now Wightman, who grew up in Nottingham however lived in Edinburgh from the age of 10, might be hoping to recreate his World Championships success in Birmingham.
He stated after his World Championships win: ‘I am 28 now, I do not know what number of extra alternatives I’ll get to do that and I hope there may be much more to return. I must benefit from it. It is necessary to hit the milestone like this, seven, eight-year-old me would by no means have believed.’
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