The 27-year-old from Coventry tested positive for Covid just before the Games, but was able to make it out there and get on the podium in the -52kg category, bringing home Team GB’s first medal of the Olympics.
Since then, she has reached the top of the world rankings, won a silver medal at the World Championships and taken European gold.
After the tumultuous Tokyo experience, Giles is much calmer heading into Paris.
A five star line-up! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ pic.twitter.com/gnpB9Ufsav
— Team GB (@TeamGB) June 30, 2024
She said: “It was a stressful time, every time I had a test, I was so scared of it coming back positive. This time is more stress-free and that is making me more relaxed. I’m very chilled so far.
“Before I went out to Tokyo, I tested positive for Covid so I didn’t even think I would go to an Olympics. To go and come away with a medal was unbelievable. The Olympics has been a dream since I was a little kid.
“I didn’t realise, I remember coming back and my friend said you used to say this all the time at primary school, you said you were going to go to the Olympics. I couldn’t believe I was saying that at such a young age.
“After the Olympics I felt that I had to prove myself, I wanted to get more medals to prove that it wasn’t a fluke and that I have worked hard to get to that stage. The two years after the Olympics, when I got a European and a world medal, I think it made myself believe that little bit more. Now I’m quite relaxed.”
As was the case in Tokyo, Giles will have younger brother Josh joining her in Paris as a training partner, while her dad will be watching in the crowd – even more nervous than Chelsie.
If she is to make history and become Team GB’s first-ever Olympic champion judoka, Giles may have to take down Tokyo gold medallist Uta Abe of Japan – who has four world titles in addition to the gold medal she won in Tokyo at just 21.
Giles added: “She is the one to beat, the current Olympic champion. She doesn’t fight very often, so it’s not that often that you get to fight with her or train with her. So everyone is looking to beat Abe. She’s one of the few that I haven’t beaten, so hopefully I can do that at the Olympics.
“It can have its disadvantages, a lot of the girls I’ve trained and fought with a lot, but at the same time, they know me very well. Hopefully it can play in my favour, I can come up with some tactics and the right thing to do. She won’t know what I do either.”
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