Which North-East athletes are in the running for a place at Rio 2016?

ARCHERY

Alan Wills (Peterlee)

Having competed at the last two Olympics, Wills looks well placed to make it a hat-trick this summer. The 34-year-old remains one of Britain’s leading ranked archers, and enjoyed a successful 2015 that saw him claim a bronze medal in the recurve class at August’s European Championships in Poland.

ATHLETICS

Jo Atkinson (Middlesbrough)

Having returned to action after a spell on the sidelines, the Teessider will be keen to compete at Rio in an attempt to eradicate the memory of the London Games, which saw her disqualified in the 20km walk. She finished 38th in last year’s European Race Walking Cup in Spain.

Kate Avery (Newton Aycliffe)

As one of the brightest young talents in the country, Avery will be hoping to make her mark on either the 5,000m or 10,000m in Rio. Now based in the United States, the Shildon Harrier recently claimed a silver medal at the European Cross-Country Championships and is set to compete in March’s World Indoors.

Alyson Dixon (Sunderland)

The Wearsider is currently one of only two British women to have achieved the Olympic qualifying standard in the marathon, and while others will attempt to match that feat in the next few months, she has a good chance of being selected for Rio.

Richard Kilty (Stockton)

Determined to rewrite his reputation as an indoor specialist, Kilty will hope to make the team for the individual 100m or 200m, as well as being part of Britain’s 4x100m relay squad. Faces a massive battle for selection, and will start his season attempting to defend his World Indoor title.

Marc Scott (Northallerton)

An outsider for a place in either the 5,000m or 10,000m, but one of British athletics’ brightest emerging talents as he combines his running with a sports scholarship in the US. Recently finished fourth in the Under-23 race at the European Cross-Country Championships.

Chris Tomlinson (Middlesbrough)

As his career begins to wind down, the Teessider will attempt to secure a final hurrah by making the team for Rio. Lost his central funding in the last round of selections, but continues to compete and finished fourth at last year’s British Championships.

Laura Weightman (Alnmouth)

A medallist at both the Commonwealth Games and European Championships in 2014, Weightman will head to Rio with high hopes in the 1,500m. The Morpeth Harrier is part of a strong group of British female middle-distance runners, and will be desperate to improve on last year’s World Championships, when injuries sustained in a fall forced her out.

BOXING

Savannah Marshall (Hartlepool)

Long considered a staple on the British team, Marshall’s hopes of competing in her second successive Olympics received a major boost when she beat her leading domestic rival, Natasha Gale, in November’s GB Championships final. A gold-medal winner from the 2014 Commonwealth Games, she will be a medal contender if she makes it to Rio.

Luke McCormack (Birtley)

The Birtley lightweight pressed his Olympic claims when he triumphed at November’s British Championships. That earned him selection for last month’s Olympic test event in Rio, and he won a bronze medal as he lost to World bronze medallist Robson Conceicao in the semi-finals.

Pat McCormack (Birtley)

Having disappointed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the more experienced of the McCormack twins will be desperate to rebuild his reputation in Rio. The light-welterweight won a silver medal at last year’s European Championships and was also crowned England Boxing elite champion.

Troy Williamson (Darlington)

Having been a late call-up to last year’s European Championships squad, Darlington middleweight Williamson is making a late push for Olympic selection. Another winner at November’s GB Championships, this could be a big year for the youngster.

DIVING

Jack Laugher (Harrogate)

A double bronze medallist at last year’s World Championships, 20-year-old Laugher, pictured right, could prove to be one of the stars of the summer. A specialist in the 3m springboard and 3m synchro, Laugher will compete in both events in Rio and will rival Tom Daley as the figurehead of the British team.

EQUESTRIAN

Nicola Wilson (Morton-on-Swale)

A silver-medal winner in the team three-day-event at London 2012, Wilson will once again hope to be involved in the British squad for the eventing in Rio. She faces huge competition for a place on the five-person team, but riding One Two Many, was part of the British team that won a silver medal at last year’s European Championships.

GYMNASTICS

Amy Tinkler (Bishop Auckland)

After bursting into the senior ranks last season, this could be the year when County Durham teenager Tinkler becomes a global star. She was part of the British team that won a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in Glasgow – a result that guaranteed an Olympic place - and looks certain to make it onto the team for Rio.

ROWING

Beth Bryan (Stockton)

Having only entered the senior ranks last season, Tees RC member Bryan is an outsider for an Olympic place. However, having finished in the top 25 at the recent Winter Trials, the youngster could yet force her way into a place.

Kat Copeland (Stokesley)

The reigning Olympic champion in the lightweight double, Copeland will surely be defending her title in Rio. She won silver at last year’s World Championships, and while the identity of her partner remains up in the air, her victory at last month’s Winter Trials confirmed her status as one of the world’s leading lightweights.

Jess Eddie (Durham)

Already a two-time Olympian after appearances in Beijing and London, 31-year-old Eddie looks certain to complete a hat-trick with selection for the women’s eight. She helped the crew claim an automatic Olympic spot at last year’s World Championships and was in fine form at the recent trials.

Will Fletcher (Chester-le-Street)

Having already secured a number of impressive results, Fletcher signed off for 2015 in style as he won the men’s lightweight section at GB Rowing’s Winter Trials. That should help guarantee a place in the lightweight double at Rio, an event that saw him claim a silver medal at last year’s World Championships.

Jamie Kirkwood (Ashington)

A world finalist in the lightweight single scull last year – a non-Olympic category – Kirkwood will hope to thrust himself into Olympic-class contention this spring. He has partnered Fletcher in the double in the past, but lost his place in that boat last season.

Zoe Lee (Richmond)

A member of the women’s eight for most of last season, Lee will be determined to hold on to her place in the boat for the Olympic regatta. The 30-year-old missed out on a place at London 2012, but has been a valued member of the British team ever since.

Nathaniel Reilly-O’Donnell (Durham)

A gold medallist in the coxed pair at last year’s World Championships, Reilly-O’Donnell is the shake up for a place in the one of British team’s heavyweight Olympic boats. The competition will be fierce, but a fourth-place finish in the men’s pair at the recent trials should stand him in good stead.

Jo Wratten (Middlesbrough)

Like Bryan, Wratten has only just graduated into the senior ranks, but like her fellow Teessider, the 23-year-old could yet make a late charge to secure Olympic selection. She finished 21st at the recent trials and will be a member of the senior squad for the rest of the season.

RUGBY SEVENS

Katy McLean (South Shields)

Rugby sevens makes its Olympic debut this summer, and as the captain of England’s 15-a-side team, McLean looks all but certain to be part of the British squad. She has been a key part of the side that has been playing on the sevens circuit in the last 12 months, and will hope to add an Olympic medal to the World Cup crown she secured in 2013.

SWIMMING

Jemma Lowe (Hartlepool)

A finalist in the 200m butterfly and 4x100m medley relay at the 2012 Olympics, Lowe will hope to make the team for her second Olympics this summer. Now based in Wales, he experience of major championships could play a pivotal role in helping her secure selection for Brazil.

Aimee Willmott (Middlesbrough)

Now firmly established as one of the senior members of the British team, Willmott is set to compete in the 400 Individual Medley in Rio, and could also make the team for the 200m Individual Medley and 200m butterfly. She made the 400m IM final at last year’s World Championships, and was a double medallist at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

TABLE TENNIS

Paul Drinkhall (Loftus)

Having competed in the 2012 Olympics thanks to a home country place, Drinkhall will have to secure an automatic qualifying spot if he is to make it to Rio. That won’t be easy, but his current world ranking would be good enough to guarantee a place and his form last season was as impressively consistent as anything throughout his career.

TAEKWONDO

Jade Slavin (Consett)

Having soared up the rankings in the space of a year, Slavin’s progress stalled slightly in 2015 when she suffered a hip injury that sidelined her for the best part of four months. She is back in training now though, and will be hoping some good results in the first half of the year thrust her back into Olympic contention.

TRAMPOLINING

Kat Driscoll (West Rainton)

Having helped Great Britain secure two automatic Olympic spots at last year’s World Championships, Driscoll is pretty much guaranteed a place in Rio provided she stays fit. Having narrowly missed out on the final of the 2012 Games, the 29-year-old has every chance of claiming a medal this summer.