GWENT cycle star Julian Winn (pictured) begins his Olympic campaign today.

Winn, from Abergavenny, goes in the men's road race in his first ever Olympic games - and gold medal cycling hope Nicole Cooke is certain he can make his mark.

"I imagine that in the men's cycling team they will be riding as a very united group to try to get one of their riders to get a medal or as high a finish as possible. They will get together and decide who has got the best form and who they are going to pull their strengths for.

"So even if he isn't expected to win a medal he won't just be going there to make up the numbers, he will be of great importance to his team, and it is great for Julian to be involved in Athens."

Kelly Morgan, from Pontypridd, starts her third Olympics today when she competes in the first round of the Badminton singles.

Morgan knows she can't afford to have a bad day if she is to improve on her last outing at an Olympic games when she reached the last 16.

"My aim is to go one better than Sydney and reach the quarter-finals," said Morgan. "What I've got to draw strength from is the fact that I'm probably one of the most experienced badminton players in Athens this month.

"Not many have gone to two Olympic games previously and that experience will be useful for me."