The 2021 Olympics are in full swing- and the nation really seems to be getting into some of the sporting events.

At the time of writing, Great Britain has secured four gold medals and it’s hoped that our athletes can secure some more.

However, did you know that one of the Olympians competing today actually grew up on our doorstep in Lancashire?

Here’s all you need to know about Anna Hopkin and her surprising journey to the Tokyo Olympics- including when you can watch her swim:

Anna Hopkin is a 25-year-old swimmer from Chorley.

She already has a lot of medals under her belt, winning a bronze medal in the in the 4x100m freestyle while competing at the Commonwealth Games.

Tokyo is her Olympic debut.

Her time in the pool began at a very young age and she joined the Chorley Marlins swimming club at the age of eight, progressing to the elite squad, Gallica, where she remained for three years.

Afterwards, she trained full time with the Blackburn Centurions Swimming Club- a club she says had a huge impact on her swimming journey.

 

 

She told swimming.org: “I’d definitely say my coach at Blackburn, Lee [Orrell], really helped me.

“I sort of learned to love the sport and make everything more fun.

“He was probably the key in getting me back into swimming after I had stepped away from the more serious side of it for a bit.”

At the University of Bath back in 2014, she joined the student swimming club and her only aim was to take part in student competitions and socialise.

Speaking to her university, Anna said: “If you’d told me back then I would be an Olympian I’d have just laughed at you.

“I knew I wanted to be part of a team again and obviously Bath is so strong at swimming.

“That was a sport I’d always been good at but I didn’t have any major expectations about where I would get with it.

“I was hoping I could swim and maybe do the odd relay and have a bit of fun socially but just how quickly it accelerated and went beyond took me aback really.”

The Tokyo Olympics

At April’s trials, Anna booked her place at Tokyo with rapid 50m and 100m freestyle times.

In May, Hopkin maintained the momentum, securing medals at the European Championships – four in relays and individual bronze in the 100m freestyle.

Since then, she has competed with her team mates in the 4X 100m freestyle relay at the Tokyo Olympic games.

On Monday (26 July), Lucy Hope, Anna Hopkin, Abbie Wood and Freya Anderson set a British record of 3:33.96 in the 4x100m freestyle relay final- but that was only good enough for fifth place.

However, Anna has another chance of progressing further and securing a medal during the sixth heat of the women’s 100m freestyle at 11:15 GMT.

This is before the final on Friday 30 July.

Speaking to a national radio station she said “I just want to make it through the rounds and hopefully be in a position in a final to see what I can do.”

 

 

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