Tin Tin’s Olympic Dream As TASS Athletes Invade Tokyo
Rising star Tin Tin Ho has urged dual career athletes to chase their dreams and enjoy the journey as she prepares to take her Olympic bow in Tokyo.
Scores of TASS athletes past and present have touched down in Japan following a pandemic-hit run-up to the delayed 2020 games.
And nine TASS alumni have already kicked off their Olympic campaign after Team GB’s footballers opened their account against Chile with a 2-0 win.
Tin Tin is a current TASS athlete and heads into her first Olympics on the back of two years of TASS support. The 22-year-old medical student said: “I’m so excited to be here.
“It’s been a dream since I was young to represent Team GB at the Olympics.
“I hope I can perform at a level I’m proud of and try to play in the way I have been working on lately. Hopefully the results will come.
“Even though it can be very challenging at times to be a dual career athlete this is what makes the hard work worthwhile.
“To all TASS athletes aspiring to achieve their dual career goals I’d say keep learning and embrace the challenge as it’s a unique position to be in. Cherish the journey!”
Londoner Tin Tin is studying medicine at the University of Nottingham and gets her Tokyo campaign underway this weekend.
She added: “TASS has helped me a lot.
“The funding has contributed to my entry into international tournaments — in turn that’s helped me achieve the ranking that’s enabled me to qualify for the Olympics.
“The S&C and lifestyle support has also aided my journey to help me to keep improving whilst managing my studies and schedule.
“TASS has encouraged me to keep going with my studies and sport, both of which are big dreams in my life.”
Team GB’s football squad includes TASS alumni Lucy Bronze, captain Steph Houghton and the opening double goal scorer Ellen White.
But dual career athletes are making their presence felt across a raft of sports as the world’s biggest sporting event takes centre stage.
Rower Helen Glover and diver Tom Daley both received TASS support early in their careers.
And gold medal hope Dina Asher Smith — one of the fastest women in the world — is another celebrated TASS alumna.
Eighteen of Team GB’s men’s and women’s hockey players have been part of the TASS programme during 15 years of support for the sport.
And Glover is one of 12 dual career rowers competing in Tokyo after the celebrated Olympian came out of retirement to clinch her place on the plane to Japan.
Sailors, swimmers, boxers and archers are all among a strong contingent of TASS athletes past and present flying the flag for the dual career approach.
And Guy Taylor, TASS National Director, said: “We’d like to wish everyone involved with Team GB the very best of luck in Tokyo.
“We’re very proud to have played a small part in the dual career journey of so many world class athletes and it’s wonderful to see emerging stars like Tin Tin chasing their goals at an Olympic Games.”
Listing Photo credit: ITTF