Officially launching today, the ‘Train Your Way to Tokyo’ challenge sees Blue Peter presenter Lindsey Russell joining forces with athletes from the three GB squads to cover the 9,448km distance – an average of 314km per day, which they are completing from inside their own homes or outdoors within current government guidance.
Supported by star mentors Lauren Rowles, Elinor Barker and Laura Muir, Lindsey will be trying her hand at all three sports for the 30 day challenge and getting an insight into how Olympic and Paralympic athletes are training at home.
Rowers from British Rowing’s Olympic, Paralympic, U23 and World Class Start squads around the UK are all getting involved and contributing their training distances to the challenge.
The group effort is running until 16th June, with the final film being shown on Blue Peter on 18th June (5.30pm) on CBBC, iPlayer, and CBeebies on Friday 19th June at 5pm as part of a Sport Badge Special. The 2020 Sport Badge was designed by a Blue Peter viewer to celebrate next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. To earn a sport badge, kids aged 6-15 must try a new way of getting active.
Paralympic and World Champion Lauren Rowles MBE said: “I’m incredibly excited to be part of the Train Your Way to Tokyo challenge with Blue Peter and our friends at British Cycling and British Athletics. During these tough times, it’s more important than ever for kids and parents to stay active and I hope this challenge inspires them to get involved in sport and take on new challenges.”
Laura Muir, five-time European athletics champion, said: “It is great to be supporting Lindsey as part of Blue
Peter’s ‘Train Your Way to Tokyo’ challenge. I loved the show when I was growing up and so jumped at the opportunity to take part. It was so exciting to receive the new Blue Peter badge and I hope everyone watching can learn something along the way. I’ll be contributing my normal training miles as part of the challenge and I am excited to be offering my support and tips and advice to Lindsey – I have no doubt she will do a fantastic job.”
Olympic and World champion Elinor Barker said: “I’m enjoying being part of the Train Your way to Tokyo challenge with Blue Peter and already in our first week, myself and my Great Britain Cycling Team teammates have clocked up a good number of kilometres in training to help Lindsey on her way. Hopefully, we will help to inspire the audience to take up more activity themselves especially as we’re in this difficult period of lockdown.”
Blue Peter’s Lindsey Russell said: “Though I’ve completed many Blue Peter challenges, I’ve never taken on a multi-sport challenge quite like this. It’s daunting but I can’t wait to train with these incredible athletes and hopefully show what can be achieved by working together, all from our own homes.”