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GOLDEN AGE

Who are Team GB’s defending champions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

JADE Jones, Andy Murray and Charlotte DuJardin have all failed to defend their titles at Tokyo 2020.

But Adam Peaty claimed his second consecutive gold in the pool. Here's who else is competing across a range of sports trying to defending their title in Japan.

Andy Murray shows off his gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and wants to repeat the feat in Tokyo
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Andy Murray shows off his gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and wants to repeat the feat in TokyoCredit: AP

Who are Team GB's defending champions?

Team GB won 27 gold medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016 - two less than they achieved at London 2012.

And with the biggest team ever in Tokyo, the 376 athletes will be expected to deliver medals - especially golds.

There are 122 returning Olympians of which 51 have already medalled at the Olympics.

Mo Farah, Laura Trott, Jade Jones and Andy Murray all managed to defend their titles in Brazil.

But which Rio gold medallists are back for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?

Adam Peaty - Swimming

World record holder Adam Peaty will be hoping to build on his Rio success in Tokyo
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World record holder Adam Peaty will be hoping to build on his Rio success in TokyoCredit: PA

Adam Peaty won his first Olympic gold at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, in the 100 metres breaststroke.

It was the first medal Team GB won at the Games.

Peaty clocked a world record in the heats but went quicker again in the final with a time of 57.13 seconds. He has since lowered the record to 56.88.

He added to his medals with a silver in the 4×100 metre medley relay.

Peaty is back in Tokyo as favourite to reclaim his title.

He will be hoping to upgrade his silver to a gold in the men's medley relay and is competing in the mixed - male and female - 4×100m medley relay

Peaty is also the world record holder in the 50m breaststroke with a time of 25.95, but unfortunately this distance is not an Olympic event.

Andy Murray - Tennis

Andy Murray is the defending champion in the Olympics men's singles.

The former Wimbledon champion is returning to try and gain his third Olympic title.

However the British No4 and former world No1 has slumped in the rankings to 104, and his defence ended in disappointment as he pulled out of the singles to concentrate on the doubles.

The Scot, who had major surgery on his hip in 2019, has made an incredible comeback after fighting his way back up the rankings from a position of 839th in 2018.

Jack Laugher - Diving

Jack Laugher dived to Olympic success in the men's three metre synchronized springboard  with partner Chris Mears.

The pair were the first Brits to claim gold in the event.

But Laugher didn't stop there - he went on to claim silver in the individual three-metre springboard.

Mears has since retired but Laugher has gone on to claim gold in the synchronised 3m springboard with new partner Dan Goodfellow in the 2021 Fina Diving World Cup.

Goodfellow, who previously dived with Tom Daley, will be Laugher's partner in Tokyo..

Jason Kenny - Cycling

Jason Kenny is one of Britain's most successful Olympians of all-time.

He has won a total of six golds and one silver - and Tokyo is his fourth Games.

Kenny won a hat-trick of golds in Rio

He picked up the team sprint title in Beijing, London and Rio and is back in Tokyo to hopefully grab a fourth in the event.

His team-mates in the event in Tokyo are Jack Carlin and Ryan Owens.

Kenny will also be hoping to regain his individual sprint gold after winning in 2012 and 2016, and a silver in 2008.

Kenny's sixth Olympic gold came in the keirin event in Rio.

Laura Kenny - Cycling

Laura Kenny with her now husband Jason Kenny as they hold up their 2016 Olympic gold medals
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Laura Kenny with her now husband Jason Kenny as they hold up their 2016 Olympic gold medalsCredit: AP

Laura Kenny - formerly Trott - has four gold medals to her name.

She is the only British woman to win four Olympic golds and is going for her fifth in Tokyo.

The cyclist, who is married to team-mate Jason Kenny, is aiming to defend her title in the endurance event with her Rio team-mates Katie Archibald and Elinor Barker.

Laura, who gave birth to the couple's first child in August 2017, won team pursuit and omnium gold in London 2012.

Helen Glover - Rowing

Helen Glover retired after the 2016 Games, but is back once more to try and reclaim her crown in the women's pair.

Glover is part of a 44-strong rowing team in Japan and this time round is paired with Polly Swann who won a silver medal in the women's eight in Rio five years ago.

Glover, who is married to Steve Backshall, is the first woman to represent GB in the rowing after having kids. She has had three since 2016.

Glover won the coxless pairs in 2012 and 2016 with Heather Stanning.

Max Whitlock - Gymnastics

Max Whitlock is hoping to defend his pommel and floor golds in Tokyo
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Max Whitlock is hoping to defend his pommel and floor golds in TokyoCredit: Getty

Max Whitlock is Team GB's most successful gymnast at the Olympics with five medals in total.

He won gold on the floor and pommel horse in Rio, narrowly beating fellow Brit Louis Smith in the latter event.

He is looking to make history again by defending his titles in Tokyo.

Whitlock, who is now a father, also has three bronzes to his name.

He picked up third places in the all-round in Rio as well as the team and pommel in London.

Katie Archibald - Cycling

Katie Archibald is another cyclist looking to pedal her way to victory for a second time.

The Scot won team pursuit gold in Rio with Laura Kenny, Elinor Barker and Joanna Rowsell Shand.

Archibald is defending her title in Tokyo with Barker and Kenny as well as new faces Neah Evans and Josie Knight.

Elinor Barker - Cycling

Elinor Barker is back in the saddle for Tokyo 202. - despite being hit by a car in early 2021.

Barker won gold in the team pursuit with Katie Archibald and Laura Kenny in Rio.

The fourth member of their team, Joanna Rowsell Shand, retired in 2017 and will not be returning to defend her title.

Barker is a five-time world champion.

Ed Clancy - Cycling

Ed Clancy has three Olympic golds and one bronze to his name.

Clancy is returning to the Games to try and claim his fourth consecutive team pursuit gold medal.

His team-mates in the event will be Ethan Hayter, Ethan Vernon, Matt Walls and Ollie Wood.

He won a bronze in the omnium in London.

Charlotte Dujardin - Equestrian

Charlotte Dujardin made her name at her home games in 2012 by winning gold in the team and individual dressage.

The British rider is looking for triple success in Tokyo after defending her individual title in 2016.

If she achieves her goal, Dujardin will become the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic individual titles.

The equestrian will also be looking to regain the team title after they slipped to silver five years ago.

Her horse Valegro however will not be going for a fourth gold after retiring in 2016.

Instead Dujardin will be riding Gio.

Jade Jones - Taekwondo

Jade Jones, pictured here in 2012 with her London gold, is looking to become a three times champ in Rio
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Jade Jones, pictured here in 2012 with her London gold, is looking to become a three times champ in RioCredit: PA

Jade Jones is a double Olympic champion aiming to make it a hat-trick of wins.

The featherweight made history in London by becoming Team GB's first ever taekwondo athlete to win gold - and she followed up with success in Rio.

Jones is one of five taekwondo athletes picked to represent Team GB in Japan.

Liam Heath - Canoeing

Liam Heath may not be a household name but he has three Olympic medals to his name.

He is the reigning champion in the K-1 200 metres - and will be looking to repeat that in Tokyo.

Heath won K2 200m bronze with Jon Schofield in 2012 before the pair nabbed silver in the same event four years later.

Joe Clarke - Canoeing

Joe Clarke is the first ever British athlete to win K1 canoe slalom gold.

The canoeist crossed the finish line in a time of 88.53 seconds to claim gold in Rio.

He followed up his success with World Cup gold in the K1 in Krakow, Poland, in 2018, and on home ground at Lee Valley in 2019.

Giles Scott - Sailing

Giles Scott sails in the Finn class - a discipline which is being removed from the programme after Tokyo.

Scott is under pressure to win a second gold on the trot as Team GB have been Olympic champions in the class since Athens 2000.

Scott has won ten golds in total - one in Rio, six world titles, and three Europeans.

Hannah Mills - Sailing

Hannah Mills won the Olympic 470 title with Saskia Clark five years ago.

Mills is returning to defend her title at the rescheduled games - but with new partner Eilidh McIntyre after Clark retired.

Mills and Clark also won silver in London 2012.

Philip Hindes - Cycling

Philip Hindes was part of the men's sprint who grabbed gold in Rio.

Hindes along with Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner saw off the challenge of New Zealand in an Olympic record of 42.440.

However Hindes may not be given the chance to defend his title in Tokyo as he has only been picked as a reserve in the team sprint.

Women's hockey team

Seven players from the gold-winning side of 2016 are returning to Tokyo in a bid to strike gold again.

Laura Unsworth is set for her third Olympic Games - having won gold in Rio and bronze in London.

The other returning gold medallists are Maddie Hinch, Susannah Townsend, Giselle Ansley, Hollie Pearne-Webb, Shona McCallin and Lily Owsley.

One more athlete of note is rowing's Mohamed Sbihi who won gold in the coxless four in Rio.

He won't be defending his title in Japan but has been picked as part of the men's eight.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

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