Going for gold

1:32pm Friday 8th August 2008

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Liam Killeen

Malvern mountain biker Liam Killeen is hoping to cap a fine season with an Olympic medal.
The 26-year-old has already finished fourth at the cross-country world championships in Italy and won the British national championships this year.
He won gold for England at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne two years ago and took the under-23 World Cup in 2003.
But now he heads to Beijing, his second Olympic Games, in search of the ultimate prize.
He said: “It’s been a progressive curve throughout the season.
"Things are feeling good and I am pretty sure I will be very competitive in Beijing.
"I was fifth four years ago and I’m aiming for a medal.”

Todd Cooper

Swimmer Todd Cooper believes he has what it takes to reach an Olympic final.
The 25-year-old Worcestershire athlete is part of the Great Britain squad hoping to make a big splash in Beijing.
Originally from Kidderminster, Cooper will take part in the 100 metres butterfly and 4x100m medley relay.
He qualified for Beijing after finishing runner-up in the 100m butterfly at the British Championship in Sheffield in April in a time of 52.33 seconds.
Cooper, who is studying for a media management and law degree at the University of Stirling while also putting himself through a gruelling training schedule to get in shape for the Games, said: “Representing your country in the Olympics is the ultimate in our sport.”

Zac Purchase

Zac Purchase is preparing for the biggest regatta of his life, starting with Sunday’s heats.
The 22-year-old World Cup champion starts as favourite for Olympic gold in the men’s lightweight doubles with Great Britain partner Mark Hunter.
But the former King’s School, Worcester, student says: “We’ve been keeping it low-key out here, training and relaxing.
"It’s what we’ve been preparing for for the last four years, but at the end of the day, it’s another 2km race, you’ve got to keep a lid on it.”
He’s keeping a lid on the tag of favourites as well.
“Not having lost a race this season makes us favourites, but I don’t like to use that word.
"I’m not scared of being favourites because we’ve made ourselves top dogs.”

Naomi Folkard

Kidderminster archer Naomi Folkard has targeted a medal in Beijing.
Folkard, 24, a member of the Saints & Sinners Bowmen archery club near Mustow Green, competes in the women’s individual recurve event.
Folkard finished in 11th place in Athens four years ago and believes she is capable of bettering that this time.
She claimed the silver at the European Indoor Championships in Vittel, France, earlier this year and bronze at the World Indoor Championships in Turkey 12 months ago.
She said: “Most of my targets are to concentrate more on technical points than my final score but I do want to finish in the top eight and in the team event we want to win a medal.”

Rachel Walker and Jennie Bimson

The failure of the Great Britain women’s hockey team to qualify for Athens four years ago was an immense disappointment for Worcester-born Rachel Walker and Jennie Bimson, from Stoke Heath, near Bromsgrove.
Bimson, 31, said: It was absolutely devastating at the time.
"But then it was all systems go to make sure we qualified for Beijing.”
This they did, and the 16-strong squad will face pool matches against reigning Olympic champions Germany on Sunday, followed by Argentina, New Zealand, Japan and the USA.
The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the semi-finals and a shot at the medals but neither player is in any doubt as to the enormity of the task in front of them.
Walker, a former Nunnery Wood High School and Worcester Sixth Form College student, said: “Some people think we are in a less tough group.
"However, we are still up against the reigning Olympic champions and the number two team in the world in Argentina.
"We will have to take every game as it comes. We are not going to have a match that’s going to be easy, it will be a difficult group.”
Walker, 29, said: “We missed out for Athens, which was a pretty painful experience.
"I have waited eight years for this so it’s even more special.
"We are trying to get into the top six but everyone going to the Games wants to win a medal.
"If the team has its day then we have it in ourselves to win a medal.”