Plymouth is proudly cheering on a host of city-born and city-trained athletes who are now competing amongst the world’s best in the Tokyo Olympics.
Plymouth icon Tom Daley stole the show on Monday when he won his first Gold medal in the synchro diving.
Tom, who already has two bronze medals from the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, will next compete again in the 10m platform event.
It’s not just diving in which Plymouth athletes excel.
Plymouth Amateur Rowing Club has nurtured the talents of not just one, but two, Tokyo 2020 Olympians.
Chloe Brew, who has been competing in the women’s eight, first started rowing with the club on British Rowing’s Start Programme.
Chloe, who has Olympic pedigree as her father Paul swam for Team GB at Seoul 1988, already has a gold medal from the 2018 FISU World University Championships in China in the women’s eight.
She made her Great Britain senior debut in April this year at the European Championships in Italy.
Jacob Dawson, who has been competing as part of the men’s eight, also started out on the River Plym, first developing a passion for the sport aged 14 through the club. He is coming home with an Olympic medal after the crew won a bronze in the final on Friday morning.
Jacob, who visits the club whenever home, started his international competitive career as a 16-year-old winning 2 golds in European competition. He went on to compete at senior level winning, to date, 10 medals. These have included silver at the 2018 European Championships and he is part of the 2021 European Championship winning men’s eight, having won gold this year.
The club, which is run by volunteers, says it prides itself on inclusivity to all and providing opportunities for individuals to reach their own full potential. There’s a seniors section, a flourishing juniors section from 12-years-old and members with particular needs and disabilities.
Harry, who chairs the club, said: “In recent years we have seen many of our athletes participating at national and international levels; a tribute to the hard work and dedication of the coaches and support that family and friends provide. Considering the size and available resource of the Club, seeing Chloe and Jacob competing at the Olympics is an inspiration to all of us and makes us all immensely proud of them and the club.”
As one of the UK’s top swimming clubs, Plymouth Leander continues to nurture a huge array of talent and a host of Olympic swimmers have been trained by the club – some competing for GB and some for other nations.
They include Laura Stephens, who is representing GB in the butterfly in her first Olympics. Laura started her Olympic journey at Colchester Swimming Club and now trains with Leander.
Plymouth College alumni Calum Jarvis, a key member of the Gold medal winning GB 4x200m freestyle team in Tokyo, has also trained with the club.
And Rio 2016 veteran, Ben Proud, who is competing in the freestyle event in Tokyo, is a Plymouth College, Plymouth Leander and Marjon alumni.
You can keep up with the progress of all the Leander swimmers through their Facebook page.
The club works in partnership with Plymouth College, which has no less than 10 pupils and alumni competing in Tokyo.
They include Layla Al Khatib, who is in Year 10, and is representing the UAE in the swimming team, Aimee Canny, who is representing South Africa in the 4x100medley and Kregor Zirk, who is representing Estonia in freestyle and butterfly events.
Back on land, Plymothian David King (pictured) can already claim to be one of Britain’s finest sprint hurdlers after becoming a three-time Outdoor British Champion in 2020.
David is competing in the 110m hurdles in Tokyo.
Another Olympic athlete who spent her formative years with a Plymouth club is Giselle Ansley MBE. Giselle was part of the gold medal winning women's hockey team at Rio 2016 and is in Tokyo for her second games.
Giselle has a pitch named after her at her old club, Plymouth Marjon Hockey Club, and has an honorary degree from the university in recognition of her outstanding contribution to sport and her role in inspiring students and members of the wider community.
Council Leader Nick Kelly said: “Plymouth has nurtured a very impressive array of sporting talent and as a city we can be very proud of them all. It is a huge achievement to represent your country in the Olympics and it requires years of dedication and hard work. We wish all our athletes the very best in Tokyo and will be cheering them on throughout the games.”