Tanfield ready to chase Olympic gold medal dream in Paris

Charlie Tanfield wants to turn his Olympic nightmare into a dream by winning gold at Paris 2024.

The 27-year-old travelled to Tokyo 2020 as a reserve but received the call-up he craved on the eve of the Games, only to be involved in a devastating crash in the opening round of Great Britain’s team pursuit series against Denmark.

The men’s team ultimately finished a disappointing seventh, ending Britain’s run of three consecutive gold medals in the event.

The incident shook Tanfield’s confidence to the point where he almost gave up on the sport altogether, but the Great Ayton rider slowly got back on the bike and fought his way back into the race.

And after sealing selection for the Games, Tanfield hopes to create unforgettable moments in Paris this summer.

“I’ve worked really hard over the last three years to make the team and it hasn’t been easy,” he said. “I had to pull everything out of the bag to get selected and I’m just happy I did.

“I missed the World Championships the year after the Games because I had Covid and the guys there won it. For me it was a journey to try to make the team. I had to be very focused and work very hard to get there.

“At one point I thought it would be more unlikely that I would go there rather than go there. For me to be here and achieve the performances that I managed to do this year has been really good for me. It’s a good feeling.

“I’m determined to make sure everything goes well. I really want to go out there and put in a really good performance and show people what I’m capable of.

“It’s an opportunity to come back and I want to show people what I’m capable of, because I wasn’t.”

Tanfield took a few months to get back on the bike but quickly found his groove and returned to the podium a year later with a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games alongside team pursuit teammates Daniel Bigham, Ethan Vernon and Oliver Wood, who will all travel to Paris.

His excellent performances continued, with Great Britain winning silver in the European team pursuit in 2023 before moving on to gold earlier this year, with Tanfield also taking silver in the individual pursuit.

It’s a far cry from the difficult days of 2021 when Tanfield almost quit cycling for good, but the 27-year-old is now more positive than ever about his chances on two wheels.

“You get a call saying you’re running tomorrow, you feel this elation, and then when it goes so badly, it’s just terrible,” he reflected.

“I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to continue cycling, but I’m glad I did.

“At the time, we didn’t really understand the seriousness of the situation because there was no one there. I didn’t know what was happening at home.

“I got home and didn’t really realize it until my girlfriend said I was on the front page of the paper and there was a photo of me decorating it. You then understand that everyone is watching.

“It took me a few months to start riding again and to slowly get into it. Just to start enjoying it again.

“There are more important things in life than cycling, but I guess I’m proud of myself. »

The Tanfield pursuit team’s strong form means the chance of putting Britain back on the top step of the podium is realistic. And while Tanfield is in the race for gold, he’s also determined to simply enjoy the experience of a full Olympics.

He added: “Given the year we’ve had, we’re hopeful we’ll play well. I feel like that’s what we’re capable of. Why not aim for this goal? »

“There’s obviously pressure but that’s OK. You need it to perform well. If you went in there and felt really jaded you wouldn’t do so well.

“There have been all these names in the past, but there are some really good ones here now.

“We had a really good year, it prepared us well and it’s good for our confidence.

“For me, just to make sure I put in a good performance. I want to go out there and enjoy it, put on a really good performance and have a good time. »

Aldi is a proud official partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB, supporting all athletes through to Paris 2024