Rhondda Cynon Taf swimmer Calum Jarvis is competing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, one of 27 Welsh athletes representing Team Great Britain.
For 18 of the 27 competitors, Calum included, this will be their very first Olympic Games.
The group of elite athletes will be aiming to emulate the achievements of the Welsh contingent in Rio five years ago. They won a record 10 medals – four of them gold.
Calum, 29, of Ystrad, Rhondda, will be competing in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, having become a key figure in British 4x200m relay teams over the past few years.
Councillor Jill Bonetto, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “I send the best wishes of everyone back home to Calum, who will be representing Great Britain, Wales and Rhondda Cynon Taf thousands of miles away in Tokyo.
“This is the culmination of many years hard work, commitment and dedication to his chosen sport. We wish him well and share in his pride of representing us at the Olympic Games.”
Calum, son of proud parents Deborah and John Jarvis, trains at the National Performance Centre, Bath, under coach Jol Finck.
He was part of the squad that won gold at the 2015 and 2017 World Championships, as well as the 2018 European Championships. Calum missed out on London 2012 and Rio 2016 but has been to two Commonwealth Games for Wales – winning 200m bronze at Glasgow 2014.
Speaking ahead of the Olympic Games, Calum Jarvis said: “It’s great to be wearing the kit. I never really doubted it – I just needed the opportunity to do it. This pandemic didn’t help. But I’ve done it now.”
