Local Heroes

Just a topic of interest here. Do any of the posters on this site have an Olympic hero who either comes from their locale, or has any other connection..?

Penzance went crazy yesterday when Helen Glover who was born in Truro and lives in Penzance won, along with Heather Stanning, Britain's first gold medal of the games. Such was the excitement here that several people nodded their heads and said "Yep" as she roared across the line..!!

But seriously..... although I myself am Londoner by birth, it is my spouse who is the Kernew in our house and of course, the town is immensely proud of Heather and already plans are afoot to give her a massive welcome home.

Does anybody else out in 606 Land have a townsman or woman performing at these Olympics..?

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Went to the same school as one of the cyclists in the men's road race (prefer to maintain some anonymity by not mentioning who), albeit over a decade apart. Wasn't even sure he was riding until I went through the full list of results - needless to say he came nowhere.

Having had so many A-listers come from in and around Mansfield down the years (Alvin Stardust, Peter Barlow from Coronation Street, Steven "Steve" Ogrizovic), you could forgive us for getting a bit blasé about yet another local achieving worldwide fame and adulation.

Not a bit of it however, and when Rebecca Adlington won those two golds in Beijing we somehow found a place for her in our collective hearts... probably by pushing former World Top 70 snooker player Lee Spick out and giving him a new home. Perhaps somewhere towards the colon area.

Sorry Lee, you were great, but time waits for no man and legends fade. One day, even the guitarist from Paper Lace might find himself forgotten.

Below is a picture of Miss Adlington being received by her adoring townsfolk in Mansfield marketplace after returning home triumphant from China.

Spoiler:

I was there that day and can honestly say that it was the biggest outpouring of local pride since our very own Richard Bacon got the sack from Blue Peter for being on coke.

Well I am from south london- so probally to many to call

mystiroakey wrote:Well I am from south london- so probally to many to call

Been living in SE London for a while so not much chance unless Sumo wrestling is introduced to the Games.

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Cystal palace normally means that south london and south east london are highly representated in the athletics mate

Ellen Gandy bromley
Adam Gemili dartford
Claire Rafferty Orpington
James Ellington croydon
martyn ronney croydon
lawrence okoye croydon


i could keep going- there are loads of south london even SE london- But most atletes just say london.

Anyway if you want to know which GB athletes are local to you check this list out

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2171029/London-2012-Olympics-Team-GB-list-athletes.html

Was thinking more of the roads surrounding mine than the whole of SE London - summer time can be painful.

Are you right in SE london then. It is very painfull

I go from chislehurst to croydon every day but luckily i can go the countryside route in

I'll retract my statement, Conrad Williams lives not very far away - pretty impressive list.

Hither green hey. Loads of athletes within 10 miles of that mate

It's cheating a bit with London though to use a 10 mile measurement as that would include a quite a few million people.

yeah i know lol.

probally more like 10 million!!

Chambers brothers yesterday, and ALAN CAMPBELL!

Much more as well, I'm sure you'll allow to claim the Northern Ireland contingent as all local to me!

Paddy Barnes, the Irish light Flyweight, is a fellow North Belfast lad. He boxes this afternoon for anyone interested.

Queen Victoria Pendleton grew up round my way, went to school in the same town.

I lived a couple years in Kilburn where Wiggo is from and near where former Olympian, James de Gale, is from (Harlesden - a proper whole).