Tokyo Olympics: It’s a family affair for 26 sets of siblings
From competing against each other to teaming up, be it in the pool, on the track and even on the basketball court, it's a family affair in Tokyo.
Jessica Korda (left) on the golf course with her sister Nelly; the two will compete at the Tokyo Olympics for the USA. Picture: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
It’s a family affair at the 29th edition of the Olympic Games.
Tokyo will see 26 sets of siblings in action, all gunning for medals and personal bests.
And, interestingly, all the sets of siblings will compete in the same sport, but not necessarily the same event.
Great Britain features nine sets of siblings – the most.
Here are some of the more interesting sets of siblings who’ll be in action.
The Korda sisters
Hard-core golf fans will know the Korda sisters, Nelly and Jessica, who play on the LPGA Tour.
Nelly recently won the PGA Championship and is ranked number one in the world, while Jessica is ranked 13th. They’ll compete for the US golf team.
Interestingly, if you didn’t know, their father is Petr Korda, the former world number two in tennis and winner of the Australian Open in 1998. He was also runner-up at the French Open in 1992, and played in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and the US Open.
Korda’s son and the brother of Nelly and Jessica is Sebastian, a professional tennis player who won the 2018 junior title at the Australian Open.
Football, gymnastics, track and field
In football, the Mewis sisters, Kristie and Sam, play for the US team – the first set of siblings to ever be named in the side.
In gymnastics, 16-year-old twins Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova are members of Great Britain’s Olympics women’s team, and well-known for their floor routines.
Another two sets of sisters will compete in track and field when it gets under way later this week.
Tiffany Porter and Cindy Sember will go up against each other in the 100m metre hurdles, while Jodie and Hannah Williams will race together as members of the 4x400m relay team.
The Yates brothers
More siblings in Team GB are cyclists Adam and Simon Yates, who competed in the weekend’s men’s road race.
Africa’s siblings
In the swimming pool, the brother and sister “team” of Troy and Jayla Pina will represent Cape Verde in swimming – the first time the African country has sent a swimming team to the Games.
Spain’s basketball brothers
In basketball, the Gasol brothers, Marc and Pau, are already three-time Olympians with Spain. They won bronze in 2016 and silver in 2012 and 2008 – and could medal for a fourth time if all goes well.
To see the full list of the siblings, in Business Insider US, click here.
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