Team Visa FACT 1: In a year's training, GBR gymnastics Hopeful Beth Tweddle performs 11,000 pirouettes on the bars and uses 8kg of chalk on her hands

Team Visa FACT 2: GBR fencing Hopeful Richard Kruse hits his coach approximately 120,000 times a year

Team Visa FACT 3: GBR swimming Hopeful Caitlin McClatchey swims about the distance from London to Cyprus in a year

Team Visa FACT 4: Over one year, GBR running Hopeful Mo Farah runs approximately 4,680 miles

Team Visa FACT 5: GBR Paralympic Hopeful John McFall lifts close to10 tonnes per training session on one and a half legs

Team Visa FACT 6: GBR Paralympic Hopeful Libby Clegg runs with a guide runner

Team Visa FACT 7: In one training session, GBR taekwondo Apprentice Aaron Cook performs in excess of 1000 kicks per leg

Team Visa FACT 8: GBR diving Hopeful Tom Daley performs 24,960 dives a year in 520 hours of training

Team Visa FACT 9: FRA triathlon Hopeful Frederic Belaubre swims 25km, cycles 300km and runs 80km a week

What is Team Visa?

Team Visa is a sponsorship programme that helps the best young athletes in Europe as they strive to fulfil their Olympic and Paralympic dreams.

The members of Team Visa are selected and mentored by former Olympic and Paralympic Champions and given the wisdom and motivation they need to train, qualify and win medals at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Team Visa is made up of two generations of great athletes. Our ‘Hopefuls’ are great prospects for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and, looking further ahead, our ‘Apprentices’ are contenders for London 2012.

Young potential Olympians and Paralympians are put forward to Team Visa by the national governing bodies of their sports. Then our Mentors select the very best of these to join the team.

Quick facts

What support does Team Visa offer?

  • Financial support for kit, training and travel
  • Invaluable mentoring by European Olympic and Paralympic legends
  • The opportunity to meet and share experiences with other athletes of all ages and backgrounds

Discover Team Visa

Meet the team

Now you’ve seen what Team Visa is all about, get to know our athletes.

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