Olympic champions offer guidance for athletes ahead of Rio 2016 in Team GB Greats programme

Eight of Britain's Olympic greats will offer their advice to athletes ahead of Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Britain’s most successful Olympian Sir Chris Hoy is one of eight former athletes who will take part in a Team GB Greats programme launched to help provide guidance to athletes in the build-up to Rio 2016.

The six-time Olympic cycling gold medallist will be joined on the programme by rower Sir Steve Redgrave, the man whose gold medal tally he surpassed at London 2012, as well as the Olympic Games most successful sailor Sir Ben Ainslie.

Swimmer Rebecca Adlington, boxer Anthony Joshua, heptathlete Denise Lewis, gymnast Beth Tweddle and taekwondo’s Sarah Stevenson are the remaining Olympic medallists who will be part of the programme, in which they will act as role models for Rio 2016 hopefuls.

The greats will attend various Team GB events ahead of next year’s Olympics where they will pass on their knowledge picked up in during their own experiences to athletes, whilst they will also dispense advice to the athletes’ friends and families.

As well as offering his support to the athletes, Sir Chris called upon the British public to get behind the athletes as they prepare for the Games.

“Right now Team GB athletes are hard at work, training day in day out to ensure that they are the best that they can possibly be in Rio next year,” he said.

“With just one year to go until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games it is not just about the athletes aiming for Olympic glory, we have a role to play, we need to start showing our support right now.

“I know how much of a major part the support of the public can play to spur you on to achieve you goals.”As well as offering his support to the athletes, Sir Chris called upon the British public to get behind the athletes as they prepare for the Games.

“Right now Team GB athletes are hard at work, training day in day out to ensure that they are the best that they can possibly be in Rio next year,” he said.

“With just one year to go until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games it is not just about the athletes aiming for Olympic glory, we have a role to play, we need to start showing our support right now.

“I know how much of a major part the support of the public can play to spur you on to achieve you goals.”

The British public will be able to follow the athletes closer than ever before by signing up free to the Team GB Club, which has been launched with a year to go until the Games and offers fans exclusive content from the athletes as they prepare for Rio.

In addition to the behind the scenes content, they will also be able to take advantage of offers and competitions, while fans can also personalise the website to their sporting tastes.

Good luck messages to the athletes can also be submitted on TeamGB.com with the messages set to be displayed on flags which will be given to the athletes named in the team for Rio 2016, as well as being hung in Team GB’s accommodation at the Olympic Village.

Image title — Sir Ben Ainslie is among eight former athletes recruited by the British Olympic Association to be part of a Team GB Greats programme ahead of Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Selected messages will be featured on Team GB Bahia Bands, a traditional Brazilian bracelet symbolising good fortune, which athletes will receive ahead of Games with fans able to buy them later this year.As well as offering his support to the athletes,

British Olympic Association Chairman Sebastian Coe believes the support of the country will help athletes deliver their best performances next year.

“The plan for Team GB in the run up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is to leave no stone unturned in the preparation of a world class performance environment in which our athletes can deliver their personal best," he said.

“Their sporting achievements at London 2012 inspired the nation and we look forward to the British public showing their support once again for their Olympian endeavours whilst in Rio.”