Hair pulling, Lego fights and worms all over the back of shirts. Oh yes, there is nothing like sibling. Imagine what it must have been like over the years for a group of parents whose offspring are preparing for the Tokyo Olympics.
Nine pairs of siblings take part, including three pairs of twins. However, according to them, who speak exclusively to Femail, this super-competitive instinct, combined with passionate loyalty and love, will give the team an extra edge when it comes to bringing the medals home.
Spurred on by the quarrels
Rowers Mathilda (26) and Charlotte (24), Hodgkins-Byrne, from St. Weonards, Herefordshire:
The Hodgkins-Byrne sisters have competed with each other since childhood, says mother Kathryn.
“When Mathilda first met Baby Charlotte, she asked to be ‘sent back’,” Kathryn recalled. “And there was an unforgettable Mother’s Day when they argued over a pearl. Charlotte said: ‘It’s mine!’ and put it up her nose. A&E and a tricky process followed. ‘
This rivalry spurs them on today: “They always look at each other and push each other on,” says Kathryn. “I would definitely want to be on your team.”
The Hodgkins-Byrne sisters have competed with each other since childhood, says mother Kathryn. “When Mathilda first met Baby Charlotte, she asked that she be” sent back “,” Kathryn recalled
Love won’t get in our way when we go for gold
Given the hurdles they had to overcome, it’s a small miracle that 100m sprint hurdlers Tiffany Porter and Cindy Sember made it to more Olympic Games together
Hurdling sisters Tiffany Porter, 33, and Cindy Sember, 26.
Given the hurdles they had to overcome, it’s a small miracle that 100m sprint hurdlers Tiffany Porter and Cindy Sember made it to more Olympic Games together.
The American-born sisters, who have dual US citizenship thanks to their British mother, competed for Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics.
Cindy finished fourth, but suffered an Achilles tendon rupture in 2017 that could have spelled the end of her career. And Tiffany had a baby girl two years ago.
The sisters want to win especially in Tokyo and don’t let sibling love get in their way.
“We’re competitors so my goal is to beat them like everyone else,” said Cindy.
The tremendous power of the sisters
Track and field athletes, Williams sisters Jodie, 27, and Hannah, 23, from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
Track and field athletes, Williams sisters Jodie, 27, and Hannah, 23, from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
Jodie was just eight years old when she took her heart to become an Olympic athlete after her school sports day triumph.
Meanwhile, Hannah, “a typical younger sibling,” according to mother Christine, decided that whatever her older sister could do, she could do too.
Almost two decades later, Jodie, who was part of Team GB at the Rio Olympics, will compete in the 400m, while she and Hannah will both compete in the 400m relay.
Christine, who is over 50, recalls, “Jodie had an amazing mindset and that was an inspiration for Hannah.”
The Williams sisters’ relationship is not without rivalry, however.
“I think I still have it right now, but it will overtake me in the next few years,” said Jodie.
We even run for medals
Rowers Ford siblings Tom, 29, and Emily, 26, from Holmes Chapel, Cheshire.
The main entertainment for the other members of their rowing teams must surely be the banter between Tom and Emily Ford.
After it became known that both of them had landed seats in the aft of Team GB, Emily wasted no time publicly teasing her older brother. “He was a pretty chubby little boy. Then he stopped eating cream cakes for breakfast. Seriously, he really had to fight for what he deserves and I’m very proud of him. ‘
The duo have two older brothers. “All four of us were very competitive. We’d see who could finish first at tea time, ”says Emily.
Rowers Ford siblings Tom, 29, and Emily, 26, from Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. The main entertainment for the other members of their rowing teams must surely be the banter between Tom and Emily Ford
Can the judges tell us apart?
Turner twins Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova, 16, of Aylesbury, Bucks.
The 20 minutes between Jessica’s long-awaited call saying she made Team GB’s four-man Olympic gymnastics team and twins Jennifer receiving hers must have felt endless.
‘James [Thomas, British Gymnastics Performance Director] asked me how I would feel as an Olympian. I said, ‘Oh, that would be so cool’ and then everyone burst into tears, ”said Jennifer.
A big challenge for the jury in Tokyo will be to tell the sisters apart, as the only noticeable difference between them is a small freckle on Jessica’s forehead. However, they have very different personalities. Jennifer describes herself as the “quiet one” and her sister as the “loud one”.
Turner twins Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova, 16, of Aylesbury, Bucks. The 20 minutes between Jessica’s long-awaited call that she made the Team GB Olympic gymnastics team and twins Jennifer who received hers must have felt endless
We’re rivals in the pool
A lifelong urge to hit each other could be why both Litchfield brothers landed spots on Team GB
Swimming Litchfield brothers Max, 26, and Joe, 22, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
A lifelong urge to hit each other could be why both Litchfield brothers landed spots on Team GB.
On a Zoom call with the Mail from Japan this week, Max said, “It’s not a bad thing because we are getting faster and faster.”
So how was it for Max, who finished fourth in the 400 m medley in Rio 2016, to be beaten by his little brother in qualifying?
“The first thing Max said to me was that you just qualified for the Olympics,” says Joe.
“He didn’t indicate that he hadn’t qualified yet.”
We had to be pulled apart
The boys have been banging seven bells at a boxing club in Birtley since they were seven. Proud parents Michelle and Martin were at the ring the whole time
Boxing twins Pat and Luke McCormack (26) from Washington, Tyne and Wear:
“We can’t save any more because it’s getting out of control too quickly – as soon as he hits me with a good shot, I want to hit him with a better shot and it’ll turn into a war.”
This is how Pat once described his relationship with twin Luke. “The coach sometimes had to go into the ring to pull us apart. I always want to be better than him, but I still want him to be okay – it’s definitely a friendly rivalry. ‘
The boys have been banging seven bells at a boxing club in Birtley since they were seven. Proud parents Michelle and Martin were at the ring the whole time.
“We’re bursting with pride,” said Michelle, 53, who works for the NHS. “They are good friends and a great support for one another.
“During their careers, they have always celebrated each other’s victories. By the time Pat qualified for the Olympics, he seemed even more excited that Luke had already qualified. ‘
These identical twins have been racing since the day the stabilizers were removed from their kids’ bikes
From Moors to the podium
Cycling twins Simon and Adam Yates, 28, from Bury, Lancashire.
These identical twins have been racing since the day the stabilizers were removed from their kids’ bikes.
“We came home from school, got something to eat, and then we went out here (the moors of West Pennine) in pitch black,” Adam said. ‘Two hours in the freezing cold.’
“You don’t train when you start,” he continued. “You are just leaving. Then start edging the wheels at the front. . . ‘
Her father John took them to the Manchester Velodrome where they began to compete.
Adam finished fourth in the 2016 Tour de France and won the coveted white jersey for the best young rider – an honor that Simon received in 2017.
… and the great Murrays
Tennis brothers Andy Murray, 34, and Jamie, 35, from Dunblane, Scotland.
Wimbledon Champion Andy may be a household name, but growing up, Brother Jamie was the one to beat.
Being 15 months ahead of age meant Andy was always catching up in golf, soccer, table tennis, squash and of course tennis. ‘
Jamie was bigger and stronger and better than me in most things. He was smarter than me, ”Andy admitted.
While Andy won the Wimbledon men’s final in 2013 and 2016, Jamie was initially not selected for this year’s Team GB.
But after Dan Evans, the British double number one, tested positive for Covid, he was called on to step in and team up with Neal Skupski. Jamie has participated in three previous Olympics.
Tennis brothers Andy Murray, 34, and Jamie, 35, from Dunblane, Scotland. Wimbledon champ Andy may be a household name, but growing up, Brother Jamie was the one to beat