The Yorkshire-Born Hopefuls To Watch at Paris 2024
It may only feel like five minutes since we tuned into the Tokyo Games, but the Olympics are back and Paris 2024 is just around the corner
Meet First-Time Olympic Hopeful and Marathon Runner Calli Hauger-Thackery
Bursting on to the marathon scene, Calli is already breaking records
Athletes to Watch
Lois Toulson
Based in Leeds, Lois Toulson is a regular on the senior British Diving team after competing at every level of international competition, including the Olympic Games and two World Championships – one of which brought her a silver medal in the Mixed 10m Synchro event in 2023. She has also competed in the finals of the last two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Rio. Lois is a specialist in the 10m platform and competes in the individual, synchronised and mixed synchronised categories, where she has accumulated 30 senior international medals since 2015.
Jack Laugher
With 13 gold, eight silver and six bronze medals across the major championships, Jack is the most decorated British diver of all time and a multiple Olympian. He and diving partner Chris Mears became Britain's first diving Olympic champions by winning a gold medal in the men's synchronised three metre springboard event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. A week later, Jack won a silver in the men's individual three metre springboard, becoming the first British diver to win multiple Olympic diving medals at the same Games.
Born in Harrogate, Jack attended Ripon Grammar School and became interested in diving at age seven during a family visit to Harrogate Hydro Swimming Pool. A lifeguard advised him to go for diving lessons and he began to learn at the local diving club at the Hydro, and now trains at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds.
Caden Cunningham
A native of Huddersfield, Caden may only be 20 years old but he is already making waves in the world of taekwondo, with his sights set firmly on Olympic gold. He has already shown himself to be a formidable competitor, winning gold at the European Games 2023 and again at the 2023 World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Rome.
Caden took up the sport at a young age when he attended a class with his friend after school. He went on to compete as a junior athlete for a number of years on before joining the national team, now competing in the +80kg weight category.
Jonny Brownlee
One half of an iconic Olympic sibling duo, Paris will be Jonny Brownlee’s fourth Olympic Games and a chance at another gold medal for the triathlete who previously earned bronze in 2012, silver in Rio and completed the set with gold in Tokyo. Made an MBE in 2022, Jonny has a consistently excellent track record and shows no signs of slowing down.
Originally from West Yorkshire, he and his older brother Alistair, also a triathlete, have become icons of Yorkshire sporting excellence.
Leah Schlosshan
Another talented athlete from the Leeds area, swimmer Leah Schlosshan may still be in her teens but has already achieved three medals at the European Junior Championships (two gold and a bronze) and set a championship record in the 200m individual medley last summer.
After taking some time to complete her A Levels, Leah is ready to take on Paris and go for gold.
Tom Pidcock
The mountain biking star from Leeds has made an excellent comeback after breaking his collarbone, hopping back in the saddle after only six days. Over the years, Tom has earned World, European and National junior titles, as well as achieving the Under-23 World Cup title and gold at the Tokyo Games.
Tom followed Tokyo up with a win at the World Cyclo-Cross Championships in 2022 and has his sights set firmly on another Olympic gold as well as success in the Tour de France.
