Anna Hopkin MBE

Swimming

Anna Hopkin had lost all of her shyness by the time she stepped on the podium at Tokyo 2020. 

The 25-year-old had revealed that taking up swimming with friends in Chorley, Lancashire helped build her confidence, it also set her on a path to Olympic glory. 

Her journey began with a first national title in the 50m freestyle in 2017 before earning a bronze on the global stage at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games a year later. 

It was at this time Hopkin swapped Lancashire for Arkansas, competing for the University of Arkansas while studying for a degree in Sports and Exercise Science. 

The pandemic saw Hopkin return to England and join up with legendary coach Mel Marshall in Loughborough, a move that paid off in spectacular fashion as she claimed Olympic gold as part of the 4x100m mixed relay team.