The Tokyo Olympics kicked into life for Team GB on Monday when they captured three gold medals and hopes will be high that this can be just the start of the team’s path to glory.
There were few surprises when Adam Peaty retained his 100m breaststroke in the pool and then Tom Daley and Matty Lee came out on top in the 10m platform synchronised diving.
There were further celebrations when Tom Pidock won the men’s mountain bike cross-country.
It’s going to be a busy week and there are plenty of highlights to look out for.
Walkden Goes for Taekwondo Glory
The highlights on Tuesday come in the taekwondo where Bianca Walkden will be looking for gold in the women’s over 67kg category after winning two world championships following her bronze medal in Rio five years ago.
Great Britain also have three live chances in the women’s triathlon with Vicky Holland, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Jess Leahmonth going for gold and the women’s football team are 21/20 to finish their group campaign with a win over Canada following victories over Chile and hosts Japan.
Those successes are enough to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals for the British girls and Manchester City’s Ellen White has been the star of the show, scoring all three of the team’s goals in the tournament so far.
Football Takes Centre Stage
The group stage of the men’s football concludes on Wednesday and Saudi Arabia are the only team among the 16 competitors who have no chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Germany, who took silver behind Brazil five years ago, are 1/1 to beat Ivory Coast in a winner-takes-all clash while Spain will be looking to close with a victory over Argentina.
The end of a truly magical Monday. #TeamGB pic.twitter.com/zIxVxuAa5I
— Team GB (@TeamGB) July 26, 2021
Meanwhile, Geraint Thomas will be hoping to make up for the disappointment of crashing out of the road race by bouncing back in the time trial.
Then, at the rowing centre, we have one of the strongest events in the history of the British Olympic team as they go for their fifth gold in the last six men’s coxless fours.
Sholto Carnegie, Oliver Cook, Rory Gibbs and Matthew Rossiter will be the team attempting to follow that rich tradition and they have been third in the last two World Championships.
Athletics Is Just on the Horizon
On Thursday, many eyes will be on American gymnastics superstar Simone Biles as she attempts to be the first woman to retain the all-round title for more than half a century.
And then the Games will start in earnest for many when the athletics bowls into action on Friday.
Laura Muir, who has elected not to enter the 1500 metres despite winning the 2018 European Championship, will start her quest for glory and Dina Asher-Smith will be involved in the 100m heats.
*All odds correct at time of writing