Meet your local athletes competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

From training at home to Covid-19 issues, each member has come face to face with different challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Here are the local faces representing us on the world stage:

Hector Pardoe

PA Wire/PA Images

Hector Pardoe was born in Wrexham but lives in France. At the young age of 20, this strong swimmer aims to bring home an Olympic medal at the 10km open water swimming event at the Odaiba Marine Park on August 5.

He began swimming at age five at Whitchurch Wasps in Shropshire

Pardoe, who holds the British Record for 25km Open Water, switched to open water in frustration after trailing other rivals in the pool and quickly found he adapted better to the changing conditions and courses. A subsequent decision to switch his training to France paid off as he continued his rise through the sport.

His fear of jellyfish is not ideal in a country which boasts one of the biggest of the species in the world.

He said: “I had quite a brutal experience with jellyfish in Malta in 2018 in the European Juniors. I was at the front of the pack going through the jellyfish first, and I got some nasty stings up my arms for which I’ve still got the scars.

“If I was just swimming recreationally in the sea I’d still be scared of jellyfish, but when I’m in an open-water race now I’ve got so much adrenaline and stuff, I don’t really think about it.”

Jade Jones

Great Britain Taekwondo athlete Jade Jones, during the kitting out session for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 at the Birmingham NEC, UK. Picture date: Saturday June 19, 2021..

Jade Jones is a 28-year-old Taekwondo prodigy from Flint and will be competing in the 57kg event on July 25..

Jade will be bidding for her third straight Olympic title. No British woman in any sport has ever won three consecutive Olympic golds. Could this be the year?

Her winning streak began at the London 2012 Games followed by success in Rio 2016. Now, after a year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones touched base in Tokyo with the rest of Team GB last week. She has her eyes firmly on the prize for a golden hat-trick.

While the situation is far from ideal, Jones insisted the pandemic is not detracting from her enjoyment, with the opening ceremony a week away.

Speaking to PA news agency, she said: “I thought because of COVID it’s not going to be the same, it’s going to be rubbish, it’s not going to compare to London and Rio.

“I got here and it seems the same. Obviously you have to wear the mask but I still feel like that little kid walking around saying ‘this is amazing’.

“Just wearing the kit, I just feel proud to be here again.”

Victoria Thornley

(190240) GB Rower Victoria Thornley visits Rivermead eisure Centre for Cancer Research. Pictures by Mike Swift.

Victoria Thornley is a 33-year-old rowing champion from St Asaph.

Tokyo 2020 will be Victoria Thornley's third Olympic Games. She competed in the women's eight at London 2012 and then won silver in the double sculls in Rio 2016.

She has now turned to the single scull and is targeting a first ever Olympic medal by a British woman in the class.

The former showjumper and fashion model hoped to bring home a medal - can she do it?

Victoria will be competing in the women's single scull event.

Who and when can I watch?

There is a time difference of eight hours between Japan and the UK.

The fights that will matter most to Jade are taking place this weekend on Sunday, July 25.

UK timings for Jade are as follows:

• 3.30am - first round

• 6.30am - second round

• 8.30am - third round

• 12.30pm – bronze medal round

OR

• 1.30 pm – gold medal round

UK timings for Victoria Thornley are as follows:

Rowing events will kickstart on July 23 with the finals for the single sculls events being held on July 30.

23 July Vicky will compete at 2pm UK time in Heat 4.

If successful the final will be held on July 30.

UK timings for Hector Pardoe are as follows:

Marathon swimming held on August 4-5. The Men's 10km will be held on August 5 from 6.30am.