Rafa Maciel

Can't help but feel decidedly underwhelmed by the qualifying performances across a lot of the sports - after Tokyo I was expecting us to be sending a much bigger team.

"that thing"?

To be fair to Learmouth, he wanted the opportunity to run in front of a home crowd - there's not that many opportunities for major sporting events to be held in Scotland after all. Sure he may not have exactly set the track alight but there was every chance that he could have/would have put in a decent performance. I agree with you on your second point - nothing is going to change whilst the recognisable names of the sport speak out. That should have started earlier this year with the talking heads on the BBC - but given Denise Lewis' view of Learmouth was "he just wasn't good enough to be selected" and Ennis-Hill doesn't want to say anything that could be viewed as controversial, that's not likely to happen. I'll be interested to see if it is brought up again in Paris and whether Michael Johnson has a more forthright opinion on it (but I kind of doubt it). So, as you say, until you get the likes of DAS, Hodgkinson, Reekie, Muir, Kerr, KJT, Wightman etc. going public and criticising the sport, nothing will change and that should be worrying for everyone in the sport given we are due to host the Europeans in '26 and there is a real risk that if we carry on with the selection policy, GB will be missing from the majority of field events and have limited representation on the track.

A couple of surprising results over the last few days. I really didn't think that Dart would be able to trouble Katie Boulter given the form that she's be in this grass court season. Unfortunately I think Dart's run will likely come to an end in the next round. Biggest surprise was Cam Norrie finally getting his s**t together this season to beat Jack Draper. I had expected Draper to make a deep run into the draw and I definitely think he'll view it as a missed opportunity. Good to see Raducanu back to the kind of form that took her to the US Open title. The draw to the semi-final has really opened up for her. With her results so far this week, she should be back inside the top 100 and if she can win her next match (against a qualifier from New Zealand) she'll be knocking on the top 60. There's always 1 British player who has a bit of a breakout tournament and this year that honour goes to Sonay Kartal. OK she was steamrollered in the 2nd set against Gauff, but she was able to hold her own in the first set.

So maybe I am reading too much into the presentation of the squad announcement for the women's road cycling team but on first reading, it looks like GB may not be filling their second spot in the women's individual time trial - it's only Anna Henderson that is showing as taking part.

Anyone have Kartal getting through to the 3rd round on their bingo card? She's having quite a week.

After defeats for Watson, Broady, Broom and Frey, Raducanu becomes first Brit to progress to the second round with an entertaining 7-6 6-4 victory over the Mexican luck loser Renata Zarazua. That was quickly followed by an excellent win for Lily Miyazaki who came through comfortably 6-2 6-1 over Tamara Korpatsch. Worth saying that it's only day 1 but the quarter of the draw that Raducanu is in has already started to open up with the withdrawal of Sabalenka and the defeat of 6th seed Zheng Qinwen.

Heather Watson becomes first Brit to fall, losing to her doubles partner in straight sets - 7-5 6-4. Watson didn't win a point until the 3rd game of the first set but she came back pretty strongly in the first set winning 4 games in a row to lead 5-4. Ultimately, Minnen was able to raise her game enough to break back and take the set. The second set was close but Watson paid the price for some erratic serving.

Emma Raducanu gets a big boost ahead of her 1st round as 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova has withdrawn with illness. Raducanu now faces a lucky loser - #98 Renata Zarazua.

My argument was purely that the cost of sending the team to an Olympic games falls to the BOA - preparing the athletes for the games absolutely falls to the national federations. Having said that, given the games are only a few weeks away, those costs have already been incurred so unlikely to be much more in the way of additional costs for UKA. I'm not disputing that UKA is financially challenged (and grossly mismanaged) but at the same time, I can't think of a recent major event that UKA have not sent a decent sized squad to with the exception of race walking. The biggest impact we've seen from the financial situation has been that the number of athletics events that the UK is hosting has been reduced to bare minimum. The biggest impact on the squad selection approach has been brought about by the hiring of Jack Buckner. I've no doubt that the introduction of the limited number of places on the team for the Europeans was brought about by him. Given that was the system he used at British Swimming, we probably shouldn't be too surprised by it. I don't think the policy works particularly well or is fair, but until the bigger named athletes start using their platform and speaking out against the selection policy then we're stuck with it.

I don't think cost is a factor when it comes to the Olympics as the costs of sending the team, support staff etc. are borne by the BOA as opposed to UK Athletics.

He doesn't have the World Athletics standard but I think that he did get the UKA standard - so assuming he gets a WA invite, then it should be accepted.

To be clear, I think the women did pretty well 3 getting to the final round - that's an improvement on last year - and Klugman is going to spearhead the next generation of British players. My comment was more geared towards the men's side of things. Only 2 players got through their first round compared to 4 last year.

Men's Singles: Arthur Fery (#243) v Daniel Altmaier (#77) Fery has a string of first round defeats this season so unlikely that he'll be able to get past Altmaier but worth pointing out that Altmaier hasn't competed on grass so far this season. Charles Broom (#245) v Stan Wawrinka (#93) Expect this to be on one of the show courts. Broom reached the final of the Challenger in Nottingham before coming close to qualifying for the main draw in Eastbourne (he ultimately got promoted as a lucky loser). Unfortunately, he is likely to come up short against Wawrinka. Liam Broady (#146) v Botic van de Zandschulp (#96). Broady lost in the first round at Eastbourne whilst van de Zandschulp was out in the first round at S'Hertogenbosch. Broady will go into the match believing he has a decent chance of winning. Jan Choinski (#174) v Luciano Darderi (#37). Darderi recently won a challenger event in Perugia so his confidence is riding high whilst Choinski's form hasn't been great recently. Dan Evans (#61) v 24th seed Alejandro Tabilo (#24). Evans picked up an injury at Queens and had to withdraw from his first round match. He isn't in the best form whereas Tabilo is in the final of the Mallorca Championships. Jack Draper (#28) v Elias Ymer (#206). Jack Draper is the only Brit to be seeded this year after taking his first title in Stuttgart. He followed that up with quarter-final at Queens. He should be able to dispatch Ymer fairly easily and there's a possibility of all British second round. Cameron Norrie (#44) v Facundo Diaz Acosta (#67). Norrie seems to be in a bit of a spiral and his ranking is only heading in the wrong direction. His form is pretty dire of late - highlighted by a defeat at the hands of Jack Pinnington Jones at the challenger in Nottingham. That was followed by first round losses at both Queens and Eastbourne. Grass isn't the natural surface for Diaz Acosta but he will probably start as favourite. Henry Searle (#568) v Marcos Giron (#46). Giron has reached the second round at Eastbourne and Stuttgart and the quarter-final at Halle. That being said, Searle won the boy's championships last year and so far, this grass court season he has come through qualifying at Eastbourne and the Nottingham challengers and reached the final of ITF event in Nottingham. Giron will start as firm favourite. Andy Murray (#115) v Tomas Machac (#38). Think there is a good chance Murray will withdraw before the tournament gets under way given the recent procedure on his back. It's a shame if this really was going to be his Wimbledon swansong. Billy Harris (#139) v Jaume Munar (#63). Billy Harris is the BBC's new darling of tennis given his back story. (FWIW I think it's great he is getting some great results, but I am getting tired of hearing about his transit van). His confidence will be sky high after reaching the semi-final at Eastbourne and I think he could have a great chance of taking Munar out. Munar's only grass court match this year ended in defeat at Mallorca Championship. Paul Jubb (#289) v Thiago Seyboth Wild (#74). Jubb hasn't had a great grass court season losing early at both Queens and the Nottingham challenger. His best performance came in Surbiton where he qualified and made the second round. Seyboth Wild got to the second round at Eastbourne. Jacob Fearnley (#271) v Alejandro Moro Canas (#189). Fearnley won challenger at Nottingham before losing out in the first round at Eastbourne. Moro Canas on the other hand failed to qualify in Ilkley.

Main Draw Participants: Ladies Singles: Francesca Jones (#217) v Petra Martic (#74). Martic got to 3rd round last year but hasn't had great season in the Grand Slams this year. She qualified for main draw at Eastbourne before losing to Katie Boulter in the round of 32. Fran Jones got to the Quarter-final of Nottingham Open before withdrawing as precaution. In that run, Jones took out 8th seed Caroline Dolehide. Martic will start as favourite, but I think Jones has a good chance of pulling of an upset. The winner will be guaranteed centre court billing in round 2 as they will likely be up against Iga Swiatek (at which point their championship will come to an end ). Katie Boulter (#32) v Tatjana Maria (#61). Boulter has played a lot of grass court tennis this season with the sole aim of doing enough to be seeded here at Wimbledon and she got her wish as she is seeded 32. She got to the 3rd round last year and there is every reason to think that she will be able to match that this year. Having retained her title in Nottingham and reaching the quarter-finals at Eastbourne, she will start this match as heavy favourite and could set up and British second round. A potential 3rd round against 5th seed Jessica Pegula will be where the draw starts to get difficult. Harriet Dart (#105) v Bai Zhuoxuan (#92). Like Boulter, Dart has been playing a lot of tennis in the grass court season to the point that she is carrying a knee niggle picked up at Eastbourne. The draw has been relatively kind to her and she should start the match as favourite. Emma Raducanu (#168) v 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova (#22). Alexandrova got to the 4th round here in 2023 but hasn't made it out of the 1st round at the last 2 slams. Alexandrova reached the semi-final at S'Hertogenbosch before losing in the 2nd round at both Berlin and Bad Homburg Open. Raducanu skipped the French Open to concentrate on preparing for the grass court season and it seems to have paid off. She reached the semi-final in Nottingham. She was well placed to take the win against Boulter and was unlucky that it was called off after the first set. At Eastbourne, she got her first win over a top ten player when she took out Jessica Pegula in the second round. Alexandrova probably starts as the favourite but Raducan could pull a surprise. Yuriko Lily Miyazaki (#148) v Tamara Korpatsch (#75). Korpatsch will start as favourite despite having a mixed grass court season to date. She lost in the first round at S'Hertogenbosch and Berlin but reached the 2nd round at Bad Homburg. Heather Watson (#196) v Greet Minnen (#85). Having played doubles together at Birmingham, they should know each other's game pretty well. Minnen reached the quarter-final at S'Hertogenbosch at came through qualifying at Eastbourne last week before losing in the first round to Jelena Ostapenko. Heather Watson on the other hand reached second round at Nottingham before losing in the first round at Birmingham Classic. This one could go either way but Watson will be hoping home support can help pull her through. Sonay Kartal (#295) v 29th seed Sorana Cirstea (#29) Kartal's reward for coming through qualifying is a 1st round match up against the 29th seed. Cirstea reached the 3rd round last year and will start as favourite but she isn't in great form having lost in the first round at both Birmingham Classic and Eastbourne. Kartal on the other hand has plenty of grass court tennis under her belt over the last couple of weeks so I wouldn't be too surprised if she pulls off a shock.

The biggest tennis jamboree gets underway on Monday and whilst I wont have the luxury of watching the majority of it, I'll be keeping a close eye on as many of the matches as I can. Quick rundown of the Brits taking part: Men's Qualifying: Felix Gill (#306) - Wildcard entry was beaten in the first round by 30th seed Emilio Nava (#136) Ryan Peniston (#266) - Beaten in the first round by Benjamin Bonzi (#152) George Loffhagen (#754) - Wildcard entry got through a tough 3 set first round match but fell in the second round to 5th seed Lloyd Harris (#91) Jack Pinnington Jones (#639) - Wildcard entry soundly beaten in the first round by Lucas Pouille (#213) Jay Clarke (#322) - Wildcard took out Diego Schwartzman in the first round but was on the wrong end of a tight 3 setter in round 2, going out at the hands of Quentin Halys (#223) Stuart Parker (#561) - Wildcard entry lost in the first round to Patrick Kypson (#142) Anton Matusevich (#434) - Wildcard entry beaten in the first round by Tomas Barrios Vera (#196) Oliver Crawford (#217) - Former American, he was a little unlucky with the draw coming up against 20th seed veteran Richard Gasquet (#126) in the first round, losing in 2 sets. Ladies Qualifying: Mika Stojsavljevic (#654) - Wildcard entry was beaten in the first round by Selena Janicijevic (#223) Sonay Kartal (#295) - Wildcard entry has made it to the main draw. This will be her 3rd time at Winmbledon, but she is yet to win a main draw match. Emily Appleton (#353) - Wildcard entry lost in the first round to Elsa Jacquemot (#151) Amelia Rajecki (#740) - Wildcard entry unsurprisingly beaten in the first round by 7th seed Arina Rodionova (#101) Mingge Xu (#692) - Wildcard entry lost in the first round to Ipek Oz (#260) Katy Dunne (#331) - Wildcard entry beaten in the first round in tight 3 sets by Tena Lukas (#224) Hannah Klugman (#623) - There were high hopes for last year's Orange Bowl winner and to an extent, she didn't disappoint, making it to the final round of qualifying before coming unstuck against Alycia Parks (#121) Amarni Banks (#258) - Wildcard entry did well to make it to the final round of qualifying, but ran out of steam against Marina Stakusic (#164) Overall, a pretty disappointing qualifying campaign by the Brits with just a couple of exceptions.

Not sure on this. The athlete eligibility only says that the rider has to have gained at least 10 points in a qualifying event counting towards the Olympic Ranking - it doesn't specify the requirement applies to each event they are entered for. I'm sure a good lawyer could make an effective argument

Not surprised by the lack of Thomas or Cavendish in the road squad but perhaps a little surprised that neither of the Yates brothers got the nod. I am surprised that Ed Lowe got selected ahead of both Truman and Fielding for team sprint. He competed in 2 NC events this year but hasn't exactly been a mainstay of the squad so far. Biggest shock probably selection of Maclean-Howell ahead of both Annie Last and Isla Short in women's MTB. I get the logic behind it - young athlete with potential for LA'28 - but it's tough on the more established elite riders.

I was pretty skeptical of the concept of the OQS when it was first announced - I thought it would be a bit of a gimmick but I think I could be converted to it. The sports they have selected to showcase at the OQS have all worked pretty well. Not breaking obviously because it has no place anywhere near an Olympic games - but the rest were great to watch. I wonder if they'll look to extend the OQS in 2028 - I'd like to see beach volleyball getting involved next time.

I'd been thinking about the same thing - how best to share GB performances for those of us not lucky enough to be able to go in person. My initial thought was to create a thread for each day with the first post highlighting the Team GB athletes who will be competing and potential medals. Most of that can be completed in advance of the opening day so will give the group a focus for discussion whilst we wait for the action to get underway.

1.) I think the women's football team will be biggest disappointment but worth bearing in mind that their performances - continental champions and world cup runners up - would have been enough to qualify in any other continent and would have qualified them across the last 3 Olympic cycles. Just our luck the UEFA moved the goalposts - no pun intended - for Paris. Second qualification miss would be women's basketball team - they threw away a great chance to get to the OQT. Last up would be men's BMX Racing - across the majority of the qualification window, GB were on track for 2 spots but they couldn't string the results together in the final run up so we end up with just a single spot. 2.) It has always surprised me that squash hasn't had their chance at Olympic exposure but I'm not a huge fan of the idea that we have to keep adding more and more sports to the Olympics - history suggests that adding more events only dilutes the quality of the fields existing sports. 3.) Not changes for Paris but for future I'd like to see taekwondo get rid of their limitation to team sizes - if you're good enough to earn a quota through a qualifying tournament you should be able to go the games. I'd also like to see the continental quotas reformed - the notion that we need to have every continent represented in every event is for the birds. All it does is give free quotas to big countries and does nothing to develop the sport in the smaller countries on the continent. Last up I'd say if the event has less than 30 competitors in it, then each NOC should be limited to 2 spots.

BOA confirming we've qualified full team for sport climbing and 3 for skateboarding - Brown, Tambling and MacDonald

Is MacDonald the one that looks like a maths teacher clinging on to his youth and wants to be "down with the cool kids"?

After relatively disappointing European Champs, Molly Caudery is back on form with a new NR of 4.92. Her confidence is riding high as she then went on to try clearing 5.00m

4.92m NR and WL for Molly Caudery