London Olympics: Top British talent on target for 2012

08 01 2009 The Guardian | Olympic Games 2008 -

Tom Daley, 14, diving 2005 Became youngest ever under-18 platform champion and youngest ever national 3m champion 2006 Second in 10m platform at British senior championships, aged 12 2007 Became youngest national 10m platform champion Four years before the Olympics in London, Daley grew in stature this summer in spectacular style. By reaching Beijing, he became Britain's second youngest male Olympian ever. In March he became the youngest diver to win the 10m platform event at the European swimming championships when still aged 13. In Beijing, he was eighth in the 10m platform synchronised with his partner Blake Aldridge before finishing seventh in the individual final. "I just need to go back, learn some harder dives and perfect them," he said.Nathan Stephens, 20, Paralympics 2005 Ranked world No2 in discus, javelin and shot 2006 GB Junior Athlete of the Year 2007 Won shot, discus and javelin at DSE (Disability Sport Events) championships The Welshman remains a great hope for 2012 after narrowly missing out on a medal in Beijing. Competing in three events at the Paralympics, Stephens, who lost his legs aged nine after he was hit by a train, was fourth in the javelin in the F57/58 category, losing bronze in the final round. The athlete, who was eighth in the shot and 11th in the discus, said: "My main aim has always been London so to come fourth is fantastic. It was daunting for a 20-year-old against the big guys. I am still a baby compared to them."Francesca Halsall, 18, swimming 2005 European junior gold and silver medallist; 50m freestyle British champion 2006 Double relay silver medallist at Commonwealth Games, Melbourne; won team bronze in 4x50m relay at the short-course European championships 2007 Twice set British 100m freestyle record; set 50m butterfly record A superb year for Halsall, who gained valuable experience from her first Olympics in Beijing, where she swam 10 times, finishing eighth in the 100m freestyle. She remains very much a contender for 2012 after 12 months that saw her win four medals at the World Short Course Championships in Manchester, securing bronze in the 4 x 100m freestyle on her 18th birthday.Olly Freeman, 22, triathlon 2005 European junior champion; London Triathlon champion 2006 Won silver at European under-23 championships 2007 Finished 14th at senior European championships after breaking foot in running Having missed six months of 2007 with a broken foot, Freeman bounced back in style and ended last year sixth in the international rankings after a series of fine performances that included third in the World Cup in Hamburg. It was his first podium finish and one of four top placings for the Eastbourne athlete. He travelled to Beijing as reserve, gaining priceless experience for 2012. Freeman, who was 15th at the triathlon world championships in Vancouver, said: "What I realised most was how the pressures of a major Games can affect people preparing to race."Gavin Evans, 15, table tennis 2005 Became European under-12 champion; European under-18 team champion 2006 Coached by Carl Prean, former British No1 2007 Won gold at European Youth Olympics At the European Youth Championships in Italy he won gold in the under-15 category, silver in the doubles and team and bronze in the mixed doubles. In October he secured gold in the doubles and team events at the World Cadet Challenge, the unofficial world championships for under-15s. Steen Hansen, the national performance director, said: "Gavin has improved so much we have every reason to be optimistic. However, if we don't get the funding we need, then perhaps Gavin should start concentrating on his education instead of his Olympic dream."Rajiv Ouseph, 22, badminton 2005 Became first English player for 20 years to win the European junior title 2006 Rose to No2 in national rankings, world No62 and made England debut 2007 Reached semi-finals at English championships Ouseph has made good progress, even if he has not made the impact expected since he won the European Junior title in 2005. The latest international rankings will strengthen his place in the top 40 and he recently won the Yonex Irish International and Bank of Scotland International Championships to bolster a 12 months when he triumphed at the English National Badminton Championships in February.Alex Nelson, 20, athletics 2005 Equalled UK under-18 100m record of 10.31sec; won silver at world youth championships 2006 Won 200m bronze in Beijing junior world championships; injury problems 2007 Won 200m European junior gold; in 4x100m team at Osaka world championships The Young Male Athlete Of 2007 reached the Olympics in Beijing having set a British League Premiership 200m record of 20.49 in July, a time that broke his personal best by more than three-10ths of a second. But the sprinter then suffered the despair of not being able to compete at the Bird's Nest stadium after injury struck six days before his heats. But, as he said: "Experiencing the holding camps and Olympic Games has been invaluable."Ellen Whitaker, 22, equestrianism 2005 Finished sixth at Olympia's Links of London GP 2006 Secured second and third-placed finishes at Olympia 2007 Involved in team that finished third at European championships The niece of British Olympians John and Michael Whitaker is maintaining the family tradition and last month won the Accenture Stakes at the London International Horse Show at Olympia. Last year she was awarded the FEI Silver Badge of Honour for more than 20 appearances on British Nations Cup Teams and won the Puissance at Belfast International Horse Show. Derek Ricketts, British show jumping's team manager, said: "Ellen has added some new horses to her string this year and is starting to cement a good relationship with them. She is an exciting prospect."Dylan Fletcher, 20, sailing 2005 Finished as leading under-18 sailor in San Francisco world championships in 29er class and third at European championships in Copenhagen 2006 Became youth world champion in 29er class 2007 Moved into 49er class Fletcher sails in the 49er class and confirmed his potential in the event last year with silver at the National Championships in August. He will look to build on that at the 49er World Championships in July and the European championships in September.Graeme Dyce, 19, tennis 2005 Planned move to Nick Bollettieri's Florida academy with LTA funding 2006 Continued at Bollettieri's 2007 Won Australian Open boys doubles title; reached third round of Wimbledon boys singles Dyce combines studying at the University of Kentucky with playing on the university's tennis team. It has not been a year for major achievement on the circuit, though that would have hardly been expected since it was his first year on the senior rankings. The 2007 winner of the boys doubles at the Australian Open with Finland's Harri Heliovaara, it has been a slow 12 months for the Edinburgh-born Dyce who has competed only once on the ITF circuit. He played in the Louisville Challenger in October, losing in the first round, 4-6, 0-6, to the USA's Brett Ross in the first round. … ones who got awayThomas Aindow, 19, rowing 2005 Turns down career in Navy to pursue rowing 2006 Wins junior title at National Indoor Rowing Championships 2007 Finishes ninth in an under-23 time trial aged 18 A year that has seen the end of the 2012 dream for the Plymouth teenager. He has left the World Class Start programme by mutual consent and is understood to have left the sport completely, having entered 2008 with the ambition of making the world under-23 championships.Sandeep Rai, 21, wrestling Rai was unable to build on the potential he showed in winning the British junior title in 2005 and was forced to end his Olympic ambition last year when he failed to recover from injury.

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