Olympic Dreams

The Olympic countdown has started and Britain's young hopefuls are dreaming of that elusive gold medal. This first of a four part series takes a look at what it takes to succeed in the cruel world of elite sport. 14 year old high board diving prodigy Thomas Daley, 11 year old Welsh gymnast Venus Romaeo and 18 year judo fighter Ashley McKenzie are all at crucial stages in their young careers and have all been tipped to win gold at the London 2012 Olympics. But how much have they and those around them had to sacrifice for their sporting success?

As the Olympic countdown continues, we find out what winning Olympic gold means for athletes who have more to prove than sporting ability. Paralympic dressage rider Lee Pearson is one of the most successful Paralympians ever, but is struggling to keep going in his sport due to lack of sponsorship. BMX is a first-time Olympic sport in Beijing and for BMX prodigy Shanaze Reade it's the chance to show the world that BMX is more than kids doing tricks. Rowers Annie Vernon and Elise Laverick are hoping that women's rowing can finally break out of the shadow of the men and win gold for Britain for the first time in history.

The 18 players of the GB wheelchair rugby squad are engaged in a desperate battle to be one of the 12 selected for the Beijing Olympics. Their fate lies in the hands of two men: their coaches. Unfortunately the two men tasked with bringing home a gold medal have very different coaching styles and trouble is brewing in the camp. This film follows the conflicts, drama and sacrifices of the players and coaches involved in the difficult and emotional Olympic selection process. The coaches of the GB table tennis squad face a very different challenge. Their hopes of overturning years of Chinese domination in the sport and bringing home an elusive Olympic medal lies in their ability to tame Paul Drinkhall and Darius Knight, two highly talented but unpredictable teenagers.

Fourteen-year old diving prodigy Tom Daley, heptathlete Jess Ennis and the crew of British rowing's flagship boat, the men's coxless four, give personal insights into their lives as they fight to make it to the Beijing Olympics. As the games approach, the intensity of their training increases and, as they push their bodies to the limit, they face a growing risk of injury. Will they make it, or will they push themselves too hard?