Staffordshire to back its home-grown athletes at Paris 2024 Olympics

People from across Staffordshire are being urged to cheer on their local athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics starting on Friday 26 July.

Swimming legend Adam Peaty, slalom canoeists Adam Burgess and Joe Clarke and cyclists Dan Bigham and Sophie Capewell will all be representing Team GB in their quests to bring gold, silver or bronze back to the county.

Adam, who started his swimming career at the Dove Valley Swimming Club in Uttoxeter, is widely considered the greatest men’s breaststroke swimmer in history.  Boasting three Olympic gold medals and eight world titles, he has broken numerous world records in both 50m and 100m breaststroke events.

Joe Clarke started his career at the age of 11 and honed his skills at Stafford and Stone Canoe Club.  He made history at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by becoming the first ever British athlete to win K1 canoe slalom gold.

Adam Burgess became Great Britain’s first ever canoe slalom U23 world champion in 2015.  As of 2023, Adam has a total haul of four European Championship and five World Championship medals to his name.

Dan Bigham from Newcastle-under-Lyme is a well-known track cyclist who has previously made history breaking the Hour Record, winning silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and bagging a gold medal at the UCI Track World Championships in France.

Lichfield born Sophie Capewell is considered one of the top sprinters in the cycling world.  Sophie made her debut at the 2015 UEC Under-23 and Junior European Track Championships in Athens.  Belfast-born Conor Hall, who now lives in Burton-on-Trent, will also be competing for Team GB in archery.

All will be looking to add to their medal collections when the games start in the French capital on Friday 26 July.

Leader at Staffordshire County Council, Alan White, wants people to get behind the county’s stars and cheer them on.

Alan said: “I’m incredibly proud that Staffordshire athletes are amongst those heading off to Paris for the Olympic Games.

“We always see a surge in people joining sports clubs and trying to get fit following any big sports events and I’m sure the games will have the same affect.

“We’ve been following our athletes’ careers and supporting them for a number of years now and have witnessed many spectacular achievements along the way.  They are wonderful role models for our young sports people, who will hopefully be inspired and go on to become the next generation of sports stars.

“The games will bring over 10,000 of the world’s best athletes together in 32 sports, so they have their work cut out.  I do hope people will join me in cheering them on during the three weeks of competition.”