“ If you polled the sports out there, they’d say the same thing. But when I think about the results of this year and I compare them with where we were in Rio at the same point … and when I put it all together with the quality of the very clever people we have and our track record, I’m quietly confident. “The international context has changed, no doubt,” she said. However, Warr admitted she expected a stronger challenge from China, Japan and Australia this time, along with Russia if it successfully appeals against its ban imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Warr said she expected the “experienced sports” of cycling, rowing and sailing to lead the way again but predicted that new events, such as freestyle BMX, could also spring a few welcome surprises.Īmong the names Warr flagged up was Charlotte Worthington, a chef before taking up freestyle BMX full-time two years ago, who has improved so rapidly she won a world bronze medal last month. One of the things we need to work on is to optimise that group to move into the medal zone. “In 2015 we had 188 leading into Rio and we have 218 leading into Tokyo. “We’ve also had more fourth-to-eighth places this year,” she added. “What is pleasing is that ahead of Rio we had 15 sports getting medals at world championships, now we’ve 22,” said Warr, who also pointed out that 123 British athletes have won world championship medals over the Tokyo Olympic cycle compared with 115 before Rio. However, Chelsea Warr, UK Sport’s performance director, says data from the organisation’s Sports Intelligence team shows “bases are loaded” when it comes to British medal potential – with more sports and athletes making podiums at world championships compared with four years ago.

Great britain olympic games tokyo 2020