Beijing heroes – where are they now?

By Gerard Meagher,

AT 12 minutes past eight on Monday July 27, it was years to go until the London 2012 opening ceremony gets underway.

CLOCK IS TICKING: It’s exactly three years to go until the London 2012 opening ceremony

Last year the Beijing Olympics began on August 8 (08/08/08) at eight minutes past eight o’clock – celebrating the significance of the number eight as a lucky number in China.

But this time around, Olympic fans will have to wait an extra four minutes as London 2012 organisers look set to keep up the tradition.

One thing is for sure – it will be upon us before we know it. It’s now very nearly a year since Beijing 2008 – where 27 British athletes contributed to 19 gold medals.

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For some, that was enough – they had reached the pinnacle and it was time to stop. Others have continued to go from strength to strength while some have seen their careers plateau.

Here’s reminder of all of last year’s heroes and an insight into what the last year had in store for them.  

1. NICOLE COOKE – ( Cycling – road race)

 SETTING THE TONE: Nicole Cooke grabbed Great Britain’s first gold medal of the Beijing Games

It was this Welsh cyclist who set the ball rolling Beijing, collected Great Britain’s first gold of the Games and she has continued her dominance on the road.

The 26-year-old has been inundated with accolades in 2009 for her Beijing exploits but she has backed that up back in competition and she captured her tenth British title last month.

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She also picked up the prestigious Giro del Trentino crown in June and she will be among the favourites to retain her world crown in Switzerland in September.

2. REBECCA ADLINGTON – (Swimming – 400m freestyle and 800m freestyle)

BACK IN THE HABIT: Rebecca Adlington has not had it all her own way since her double gold at the Beijing Olympics

It has been a tumultuous 12 months ever since this teenager from Mansfield became Britain’s most successful swimmer for a century in the Water Cube.

Adlington’s two gold medals were without question worth dining out on but she did so until the New Year and after Christmas lunch on top of all that, she was notably out of shape at the start of 2009.

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But it’s fair to say she’s come in for a bit too much stick because of it. The second fastest ever 400m freestyle time at the British Championships in March was seen as a failure because she didn’t win.

And her 400m bronze medal at the World Swimming Championships was achieved in a personal best time – and after all, her lucrative Speedo contract puts her at a disadvantage in the swimsuit wars.

3. CHRIS HOY, JASON KENNY, JAMIE STAFF – (Cycling – team pursuit)

THREE AMIGOS: Chris Hoy, Jamie Staff and Jason Kenny have raced at just one competition together this year before Hoy’s injury (Getty Images)

As sure as death and taxes, Great Britain monopolised proceedings in the Laoshan Velodrome last year. And perhaps it was fitting that Sir Chris Hoy laid the ground work along with Jason Kenny and Jamie Staff.

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While Staff – the veteran of the trio – was a member of the silver medal winning team at the World Championships, the 36-year-old is living on borrowed time.

Hoy, as I’m sure you’ll remember, returned to the track to pick up a couple of other gold medals so he’ll get a mention later. 

4. TOM JAMES, STEVE WILLIAMS, PETER REED, ANDY TRIGGS-HODGE (Rowing – coxless four)

ALL FOUR ONE: The coxless four grabbed gold in Beijing against the odds but have since moved their separate ways

Perhaps the most dramatic of sagas for Team GB at the Beijing Games was that of the flagship coxless four.

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James was injured – then he was back, Triggs-Hodge was a major doubt – then he was back, Alex Partridge was in, then he was out, but the final four eventually romped home to gold.

Relief was the buzzword among the quartet after victory however, not joy. And it was enough of a trauma to force James and Williams to remain on dry land until at least the end of 2009.

Reed and Triggs-Hodge have teamed up in the pair and made an impressive start to their new-look partnership, even if they have come a little unstuck against top quality opposition.

5. BRADLEY WIGGINS – (Cycling – individual pursuit)

CHANGE OF SCENERY: After mastering the track, Bradley Wiggins has fully focused on the road (Getty Images)

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A year of relative mediocrity for Wiggo finally came to fruition in the 2009 Tour de France – and boy was it worth the wait.

The three-time Olympic champion, while comfortable enough as an also ran in the Grand Tours, was never expected to make the step up to being a contender.

That was at least until he abandoned the track and fully committed to the road. And his fourth place finish in Paris and his visible weight loss proved what he can do when he puts his mind to it.

Wiggins is contemplating calling time on his track career to fully focus on the road and while he would forgo a crack at London 2012, he may just achieve something no other Brit has ever done before in Paris.

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