THREE Worcestershire athletes will begin their medal hopes over the weekend as the Olympics get underway in Paris.

Swimmer Matt Richards is a favourite to pick up medals for Team GB this summer. The 21-year-old won gold in his debut Olympics in 2021 as a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Richards, alongside teammates Duncan Scott, Tom Dean, Alexander Cohoon and Jack Whittle could be among the first British athletes to pick up medals this year, as they compete in the Men's 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday (July 27). 

The team will take to the pool for their heat around 11.30am, with the final scheduled for 8.44pm.

On Sunday (July 28), Richards will be back in the pool for his first solo event of the games. The men's 200m freestyle heats are the first session of the day, scheduled for 10am. If Richards makes it through, he will be back at 7.45pm for the semi-finals. The final is scheduled for 7.40pm on Monday (July 29).

The 200m freestyle is one of the Droitwich-born swimmer's strongest events; in 2023, he picked up the gold medal at both the European and World Championships.

Richards won't be the only Worcestershire athlete taking to the world stage on Sunday. Malvern's Evie Richards will be taking to the Elancourt Hill course in Versailles in her bid to win gold in the Mounting Biking at 1.10pm.

The 27-year-old came seventh in Tokyo but has since won gold at the 2021 World Championships and 2022 Commonwealth Games. However, Richards has had a difficult road to Paris, after suffering a concussion in April that ruled her out of racing for two months.

At the Stade de France, Worcester Warriors' 2021 player of the season, Jade Shekells, and her rugby sevens side will begin their campaign with two matches against difficult opposition. 

Great Britain will face Ireland first at 2.30pm, before the matchup against tournament favourites Australia at 6.30pm. The teams final group match is against South Africa on Monday. 27-year-old Shekells is one of eight Olympic debutants in a young and inexperienced side.