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Team GB's best athletics medal hopes

Team GB's best athletics medal hopes
© PA Photos
Sports Mole selects five track and field athletes that we expect to contend for medals at the London Olympics this summer.

There is always pressure on an athlete heading into an Olympic Games.

However, that pressure will increase tenfold on British athletes during the upcoming London Olympics as a home crowd calls for medals to be won.

With that in mind, Sports Mole has selected five British competitors from the track and field disciplines that we believe are capable of claiming a spot on the podium this summer.

Mo Farah

Twenty-nine-year-old Farah is arguably Britain's best hope of claiming a gold medal on the track. The distance runner is likely to have two chances of winning the top prize, with many tipping him to run in both the 5,000m and 10,000m. Farah will head into the Games in good form, having came away from last year's World Championships with a gold and silver medal to his name. His main threat is likely to come from Olympic record holder Kenenisa Bekele.

Jessica Ennis

Heptathlete Ennis has endured a mixed 12 months in preparation for the Games. Her performance at the recent World Indoor Championship, where she was forced to settle for silver, was criticised by many. However, she responded in May of this year with a new personal best. It would be a big shock if the 26-year-old fails to claim a medal.

Robbie Grabarz

The 24-year-old has rose to prominence during 2012. Last year his performances were at such a low level that he failed to make the squad for the World Championships in Daegu and lost his Lottery funding. Nevertheless, the turn of the year saw the high jumper's fortunes improve and he is currently ranked second in the world. Add to that his win at the European Championships and Grabarz is heading into the Olympics full of confidence.

Dai Greene

Greene's standing in Team GB was highlighted when he was installed as the captain. The 400m hurdler underwent a knee operation during the winter which has hampered his preparation for the Games. However, he showed what he could earlier this year by running a new personal best in Paris. Gold may prove to be out of Greene's reach, but he does have a good chance of snatching a medal.

Holly Bleasdale

The Lancashire pole vaulter burst onto the scene when she broke the British record aged just 19. Now a year older, Bleasdale is currently ranked fifth in the world for the season. Having set a new personal best at the recent UK trials, many have tipped her to challenge for medal in the capital.

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