Oliver Wood determined to continue Team GB pursuit legacy at Paris 2024

Oliver Wood is determined to pick up the mantle and continue Team GB's team pursuit legacy in Paris.

Wood will return for his second Games next month, looking to right the wrongs of Tokyo where Great Britain's run of three consecutive gold medals in the event ended with a disappointing seventh-place finish.

There is just one change from the Tokyo team, with Wood returning alongside Ethan Hayter, Charlie Tanfield, and Ethan Vernon while Dan Bigham has replaced three-time gold medallist Ed Clancy.

But the Wakefield-born rider believes the current composition have got what it takes to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Clancy, Bradley Wiggins, and Geraint Thomas by sealing another gold in Paris.

"Growing up as a kid, that's what Team GB did, they went to the Olympics and won the team pursuit," he said.

"I was part of the team in Tokyo, we finished seventh which was a pretty terrible time, but you learn and sometimes people don't deal with these things well but it just made me hungrier for the next Olympics.

"I thought I was going to be a part of that, we went, we got there and we didn't. That was quite deflating, but I don't think I took it badly. I thought at least I don't have to wait four years; I only have to wait three.

"I think if we just go out there and do our best, what will be will be and hopefully it will be an Olympic gold medal.

"I wanted to do this because I watched someone do it on television. If we don't do it for people to watch on television, then who is going to want to do it.

"Perhaps we won't be household names but hopefully we can inspire young boys and girls to get on their bikes.

"The Olympic gold medal is something I have wanted to achieve since I was 16 and that's what has driven me to where I am today."

Wood is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport's National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world's best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – this is vital for his pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.

Wood refused to let disappointment in Tokyo put him down and responded in perfect fashion with World Championship gold in 2022 before adding European gold earlier this year.

The 28-year-old also claimed madison world silver alongside Mark Stewart in 2023 and he will team up with Tokyo silver medallist Ethan Hayter in the event in Paris in a bid for two medals.

And Wood revealed that swiftly moving on after Tokyo was the perfect way to approach a tilt at a pair of medals this summer, though revealed primary focus is trained on getting Team GB back on the team pursuit podium.

"Some people do dwell on things a lot but I move on fairly quickly," he added. "People might think it doesn't mean enough to me but that's just my way of dealing with things.

"If something doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. You have to process what's gone wrong and think what you can do to improve it but there's no point dwelling on things.

"The madison is just another race. Team pursuit takes up a lot of time because it is hard to get right. Quite a lot of time at the track goes towards that.

"Most of the training for the madison is done out on the road anyway, it's just the finishing touches you do. We focus on team pursuit first and then focus goes straight to the madison."

National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for good causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. To find out more visit: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk #TNLAthletes

Sportsbeat 2024