TEAM GB cycling star and two-time Olympic champion Philip Hindes is targeting a return to Olympic action in Paris after heading to the Tokyo Games as a reserve.
Hindes won team pursuit gold medals at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games, though just missed out on a spot on the team for the delayed Games in Japan.
The 28-year-old instead supported a team of Jason Kenny, Jack Carlin, and Ryan Owens from the sidelines, as they took the silver medal behind the pre-event favourites from The Netherlands.
Hindes was speaking from the Beacon of Light in Sunderland, which is one of several venues across the UK hosting ‘I Am Team GB’ events to celebrate British athletes’ efforts in Tokyo this summer.
“Someone has to miss out and it was me, unfortunately. It was not the position you want to be in but I was training until race day,” he said.
“I just wanted to see my teammates do well if I’m honest. I know how much work they’ve put into it.
Last training session before racing Starts!
— Philip Hindes (@Philip_hindes) August 1, 2021
My work is done here as a reserve and it’s time to become a spectator and support the Team!
It’s not always been easy being the reserve and knowing I won’t be racing but I gave it my best and I’m proud to have made my 3rd Olympics! pic.twitter.com/y52bjh51uE
“I think the extra year helped us get closer to the Dutch team. We’re going in the right direction. By Paris we should hopefully be beating them.
“Olympic qualification starts in the summer next year so obviously you have to go and ride for these events you can actually qualify your team spots for the Olympics.
“I think we’re going to take it easy now until December or January and then we get back into racing. Paris is the focus.”
As well as the event at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland, there was a free her event at the Olympic Stadium, plus a family fun day at Paulton Park, the home of Team GB’s newest recruit Peppa Pig, among other events will be taking place all over the country on August 14 and 15.
The ‘Festival of Sport’ harnessed the incredible stories of Team GB athletes in Tokyo to inspire men and women, boys, and girls across the UK to ‘Get Up and Get Active’ at free and fun events held around the country across the weekend of August 14 and 15.
Hindes said: “I remember when I was a child getting to meet Olympians was a really rare opportunity for me, as was getting to try new sports.
“These I Am Team GB events get kids out to try loads of different sports. I think it’s great, especially in growing grassroots sports.”
I Am Team GB is already a much-loved and successful mass participation event, having seen over one million people in the UK take part after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and welcome home the country’s history making athletes at their local sports clubs and community events.
Team GB inspiring the nation to get active 🏋️
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 11, 2021
Try your own Olympic sport through I Am Team GB's Festival of Sport this summer ☀️
Supported by @ToyotaUK
Team GB Commercial Director, Tim Ellerton, added: “We are really excited to have launched I Am Team GB. With the support of our presenting partner Toyota, we created a host of free events up and down the country for those inspired by the Olympics to get up and active this summer, with a festival of sport on August 14 and 15.”
The ‘Festival of Sport’ harnessed the incredible stories of Team GB athletes in Tokyo to inspire men and women, boys, and girls across the UK to ‘Get Up and Get Active’ at free and fun events held around the country across the weekend of August 14 and 15.
Tom Whiteside, Sponsorship Manager for Toyota said: “Toyota is all about promoting mobility, so to activate our sponsorship of Team GB we wanted to create something in partnership that enabled us to take the magic of the Olympics and inspire people to get up and get active, irrespective of age, experience or skill level and I Am Team GB gives us the perfect opportunity for us to do just that and we have more exciting activations to announce over the course of the campaign.”
If you want to get involved; go to IAmTeamGB.com to find an event near you
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