Team GB’s Rio 2016 gold hopefuls: Mo Farah, Chris Froome, Tom Daley and all the other gold medal hopefuls revealed in SunSport’s ultimate Olympics guide
MO FARAH is ready to get Rio 2016 rocking with his Mobot celebration.
The Brit’s special pose lit up London four years ago when he wowed his fans at London 2012 by winning the 5,000 and 10,000 metres in stunning style.
He defends both titles in Brazil — but is just at the tip of the veritable iceberg of Team GB talent.
Here, SunSport guides you through the Olympic sports in which Team GB will be competing at Rio.
Medal targets are set by UK Sport and influence funding for athletes on the road to Tokyo 2020. Tennis, golf and rugby sevens have targets but are not funded by UK Sport.
ATHLETICS
MAKE sure you rush back from the pub on Saturday, August 13.
Be certain to have some strong coffee ready to help you remain awake and alert.
Trust us, it will really be worth staying up late for — because in the early hours Britain’s London 2012 Super Saturday heroes will all come together in Rio for one last Olympic hurrah.
Jessica Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah will all compete on the same night in Brazil — just like they did on that magical evening in London four years ago.
Ennis-Hill, 30, is bidding to become the first British woman to retain an athletics title at the Olympics.
Farah, 33, is trying to become only the second man in history to retain the 5,000 metres and 10,000m titles.
While Rutherford, 29, holds all the major long-jump crowns and he does not intend to give any of them up without a fight!
Elsewhere, Britain’s 80-strong athletics squad have medal prospects in the men’s and women’s relays (both 4x100m and 4x400m).
Scots Laura Muir (1500m) and Eilidh Doyle (400m hurdles) also have outside chances.
If any of our Brits succeed on the track or in the field, it will bring some much-needed joy to a sport badly overshadowed by drug claims.
And because of the storm over state- sponsored doping, the Russian squad is banned by the IAAF from taking any part in Rio.
MEDAL TARGET: 7-9
ARCHERY
ONLY one archery medal has been won for Britain in the past 20 years.
Alison Williamson was that lucky recipient, with individual bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Naomi Folkard, who competed with Williamson eight years ago in Greece, is the only woman to have qualified for Rio this time. The 32-year-old will be firing her bow at a fourth Games.
Patrick Huston, 20, will compete in the men’s event at his first Olympics. He is a three-time world champion at junior level.
MEDAL TARGET: 0
BADMINTON
CHRIS and Gabby Adcock are hoping they will enjoy a honeymoon experience in Rio — three years after getting married. The husband-and-wife team will compete in the mixed doubles at the Riocentro.
They are off to Brazil on a high, having won the BWF World Super Series Masters in December in Dubai.
There is precedent of success in badminton in the combined event at the Olympics.
Simon Archer and Jo Goode were bronze medallists at Sydney 2000, while Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson picked up the silver four years later in Athens.
MEDAL TARGET: 0-1
BOXING
QUEEN of the ring Nicola Adams leads a 12-strong GB boxing squad who will all be fighting for glory over the next three weeks.
Nobody has laid a glove on Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion Adams over the past four years.
The 33-year-old from Leeds is a strong favourite to retain the flyweight crown in Rio.
Keep an eye out also for Anthony Fowler (middleweight), who is the cousin of former Liverpool striker Robbie, and Londoner Lawrence Okolie (heavyweight), who only took up boxing to lose weight.
Joseph Joyce (super-heavyweight) spars with IBF heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua and he will try to win gold like his friend did four years ago in London.
MEDAL TARGET: 3-5
CANOEING
(Slalom & sprint)
DAVID FLORENCE once applied to become an astronaut.
He failed with that application — but that has not stopped him reaching for the stars.
The Scottish canoe slalomist, 33, is audaciously doubling up in Rio, trying to better his two silver medals from the past two Games. First he will race in the C1 class, then he will partner Richard Hounslow in the C2.
On the flatwater, sprinters Liam Heath and Jon Schofield are the ones to watch, having secured the Olympic K2 200m bronze medal at London.
MEDAL TARGET: 3-5
CYCLING
(Track, road, BMX, mountain bike)
ON the track, Sir Bradley Wiggins intends to bring the curtain down on his amazing career with an eighth Olympic medal.
If he does, he will become Britain’s most decorated Olympian, with one more than fellow cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and two ahead of rower Sir Steve Redgrave.
The “knight rider” will compete in the men’s team pursuit alongside Steve Burke, Ed Clancy and Owain Doull.
World champions Australia will be running scared after the British quartet set an unofficial world record in training last week.
Wiggo’s old Tour de France sparring partner Mark Cavendish is determined to win a first Olympic medal in the omnium.
A date in the diary for romantics is August 16 — double Olympic champion Laura Trott (omnium) and her fiance Jason Kenny (keirin), chasing a fourth title, could win gold medals on the same day.
On the road, Tour de France winner Chris Froome remarkably goes for gold in the men’s road race AND time trial.
Froome, 31, could win the first of hopefully many medals for Team GB when he begins his road race assault next Saturday.
You would have thought, after the summer he has had, he would have wanted to put his feet up!
Lizzie Armitstead will be among the favourites to win the women’s road race on Sunday, August 7.
The current world champion will hope to improve on her silver from London 2012.
MEDAL TARGET: 8-10
DIVING
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TOM DALEY has only packed a few pairs of budgie smugglers for his dives off the 10m platform.
But he wants to bring some gold back in his luggage on the way home to Heathrow.
The 22-year-old is soon to be a veteran of three Olympics and will look to improve on the bronze medal he picked up in London.
Daley will also combine with Daniel Goodfellow in the synchronised competition.
MEDAL TARGET: 1-2
EQUESTRIAN
(Dressage, eventing, showjumping)
IT is incredible that William Fox-Pitt has even made the startline.
Ten months ago, the British eventing star was placed into an induced coma after suffering head trauma following a horseriding fall.
Yet Fox-Pitt, 47, is taking part in a fifth Olympics — and has an excellent chance in the team competition with horse Chilli Morning.
In showjumping, Nick Skelton, 58, takes part in his seventh Olympics, while in the dressage a cert for gold is the double Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin.
MEDAL TARGET: 2-4
FENCING
TEAM GB did not get among the medals four years ago but is sending four competitors to South America. Led by veteran Richard Kruse, they will fly there in confident mood.
The fab fencing team beat Italy to gold at the inaugural European Games in 2015 and then claimed team foil bronze at world level only last month.
MEDAL TARGET: 0-1
GOLF
GOLF’S return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 has been dogged with controversy.
The top-four ranked players in the world — Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy — have all withdrawn over concerns about the Zika virus.
There are no such worries for Masters king Danny Willett and former US Open winner Justin Rose — and in the absence of the high-fliers the Brits will fancy their prospects of becoming Olympic champions.
In the women’s event, Charley Hull and Catriona Matthew will be in action.
MEDAL TARGET: 1-2
SWIMMING
IF ADAM PEATY was any more laid-back he would be horizontal.
But his easy-going, relaxed nature belies a competitive instinct which is propelling him into uncharted waters.
Peaty, 21, is the 100 metres breaststroke world champion and is simply the best in the world.
And even though he faces stiff competition from fellow Brit Ross Murdoch, he should storm to gold. The cheeky-chappy from Derby has the potential to be one of Britain’s biggest stars of these Games.
All this despite being scared of water as a toddler — and screaming if his mother forced him to have a bath!
James Guy, 20, from Bury, is the 200m freestyle world champion and will be hoping to follow in the wake of his good mate Peaty. Guy has a strong family sporting background.
Dad Andy came third in a military version of Superstars, mum Cath was a competitive runner while uncle Paul and grandad George were both boxers.
Jazz Carlin, Hannah Miley and Siobhan-Marie O’Connor are the girls to watch out for in Rio. They will be hoping to transfer their Commonwealth form of 2014 to the Olympic stage in Brazil.
Carlin, 25, became the first Welsh female to win a Commonwealth title since 1974 when she won the 800m in Glasgow.
Miley, 26, is out to build on the gold medals she won at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealths in the 400m medley, while O’Connor, 20, won gold in the 200m medley.
Scot Robbie Renwick will provide experience of two previous Olympics, just like Miley, while Fran Halsall is another Brit competing in a third Olympic Games.
Rising star Georgia Coates, who won five medals at the 2015 European Games, is the youngest member of the squad at just 17.
Tim Shuttleworth, 19, in the 1500m freestyle, Chloe Tutton, 20, in the 200m breaststroke and Max Litchfield, 21, in the 400m individual medley lead an exciting list of British youngsters.
Welshwoman Tutton set the 200m British breaststroke record of 2min 22.34sec in April.
Team GB missed their target of five medals in 2012, with just one silver and two bronze.
But after a successful 2015 World Championships — led by Peaty — the Brits are coming.
MEDAL TARGET: 3-5
GYMNASTICS
(Artistic, trampoline)
GREAT BRITAIN are no longer the poor relations in gymnastics.
In years gone by we have been happy making it into a final — now we target the podium.
Essex boy Max Whitlock is the reigning pommel horse world champion and Louis Smith — the 2012 Strictly Come Dancing winner — has put away the sequins for one last crack at the Olympics.
Our women, led by Rio-bound Claudia Fragapane, took World Championship bronze last year.
In trampolining, three Brits, Nathan Bailey, Kat Driscoll and Bryony Page, will be jumping for glory.
MEDAL TARGET: 3-5
HOCKEY
KATE RICHARDSON-WALSH played through the pain barrier at London 2012 after having her jaw broken by a flying hockey stick.
The GB captain put on a protective mask and led the women’s team to bronze.
They have slipped to seventh in the world rankings and have a tasty opener against Australia on Saturday.
Our men are ranked fourth in the world and live in the shadow of Britain’s famous win over Germany in the gold match in Seoul 28 years ago.
MEDAL TARGET: 1-2
JUDO
ASHLEY McKENZIE spent 24 days locked in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2012.
So surviving the athletes’ village will be absolutely no problem in Brazil! The judo fighter, 27, only made it into that TV show’s famous house days after losing in the first round of the 60kg class at London 2012.
Medals are not necessarily expected from Britain’s seven-strong squad but we have a decent history with 18 Olympic judo medals (eight silver and ten bronze) since 1972.
MEDAL TARGET: 0-1
MODERN PENTATHLON
IT’S an interesting quirk of the Olympics that at least one British woman has won a modern pentathlon medal in each of the past four Games.
Dr Steph Cook was the inaugural female champion in 2000 and fellow Brit Kate Allenby took bronze.
We had Georgina Harland with bronze in 2004 and silvers for Heather Fell (2008) and Sam Murray (2012).
Murray has a second bite at glory in Rio, with Kate French also competing in the women’s event. But our men have catching up to do — and the responsibility to change that lies with Joe Choong and Jamie Cooke.
MEDAL TARGET: 1-2
ROWING
TRUST us — you could put your weekly wage on Helen Glover and Heather Stanning winning coxless pairs gold on August 12.
This dominant pair have not been defeated in five years of competition and it would be an enormous shock if they end up anywhere but first.
The men’s four remains the signature boat and since Sydney 2000 we have been Olympic champions.
Sir Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell are among the stars to have rowed in this blue-riband event and Alex Gregory, Constantine Louloudis, George Nash and Mohamed Sbihi are the chosen four this time around.
Scot Katherine Grainger, 40, is after a big swansong to her illustrious career in her fifth Olympics. She will row in the double sculls with Victoria Thornley.
MEDAL TARGET: 6-8
RUGBY SEVENS
THIS is a brand new Olympic sport — and Britain will fancy their chances of creating history.
In the men’s competition, the New Zealanders will be strong but it is the Fijians who are the No 1 side in the world — and the most frightening proposition.
For the women, the GB squad will contain several of England’s World Cup-winning side from 2014, including Katy McLean and Emily Scarratt.
MEDAL TARGET: 0-1
SAILING
WATER pollution is a massive problem in the bays off Rio so staying upright and safely in their boats is the priority for the sailors.
Britain won five medals at Weymouth in 2012 but are keen to convert four into gold this time.
The windsurfers Nick Dempsey and Bryony Shaw both have the pedigree to win once again.
Giles Scott was a spectator as he watched Sir Ben Ainslie win Finn class gold four years ago. Now Scott is favourite in this solo event.
Saskia Clark and Hannah Mills claimed silver in the 470 and have hopes of upgrading that colour.
MEDAL TARGET: 3-6
SHOOTING
AMBER HILL could be the face of the Games if she brings her deadly eye to Rio.
The Berkshire shooter turns 19 on August 21 but has nine years of international experience to call on.
Jen McIntosh will double up in the 10m air rifle and 50m rifle three-positions and in the men’s double-trap, British hopes rest on world silver medallist Tim Kneale and Commonwealth champion Steven Scott.
MEDAL TARGET: 1-2
SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING
OLIVIA FEDERICI and debutant Katie Clark go in the duets event and will bid to improve on Federici’s ninth-place finish with Jenna Randall in 2012.
The pair showed determination to overcome funding cuts and even came out of retirement to be in Rio.
MEDAL TARGET: N/A
TABLE TENNIS
OF the 28 gold table tennis medals on offer since 1988 — China have won 24.
So Brits Paul Drinkhall and Liam Pitchford will just be looking to give a good account of themselves.
MEDAL TARGET: N/A
TAEKWONDO
JADE JONES — nicknamed the Headhunter — was crowned Olympic champion aged just 19 in 2012 and the feisty Flint fighter wants -57kg gold in Brazil.
Bianca Walkden is a British +73kg world champion and Lutalo Muhammad received hate mail in 2012 when selected ahead of Aaron Cook. Muhammad justified his selection by winning 80kg bronze.
MEDAL TARGET: 1-3
TENNIS
FRESH from winning Wimbledon, Andy Murray will want to defend his London 2012 Olympic gold medal.
The Scot is also targeting the men’s doubles crown with older brother Jamie.
And watch out for Brits Jo Konta and Heather Watson in the women’s doubles.
MEDAL TARGET: 1-2
TRIATHLON
THIS is likely to be a private duel for Olympic gold between the Brownlee brothers.
The older, Alistair, is the reigning champion but he has struggled with injuries since 2012 and Jonny is coming into his prime.
In the women’s race, Helen Jenkins, Non Stanford and Vicky Holland will tussle for gold with American Gwen Jorgensen, a two-time world champion.
MEDAL TARGET: 2-3
WEIGHTLIFTING
TEAM GB has won just five post-War Olympic medals with just one (a bronze) coming in the past 50 years.
So there is quite the weight of history then on the shoulders of Rebekah Tiler in the women’s -69kg and Sonny Webster in the men’s -94kg. Both are lifting the bar at their first Olympics.
Notably, Yorkshire’s Tiler is only 17-years-old but has already represented England when she was 15 at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
MEDAL TARGET: 0