Olympic silver medallist Gemma Gibbons will compete against her Team GB teammates as 16 Olympic heroes take part in a one-off Christmas special of BBC show, ‘Superstars’.

The athletes’ versatility and determination will be pushed to the limit as they participate in eight different disciplines – on the track in the 100 metres and 800 metres, on the field in the javelin, take to the pool in a 50 metre swim and test their archery skills. The sporting contestants will tackle a kayak race and use their cycling skills in a hill climb. Their efforts will culminate in a grand finale featuring the classic Superstars event – the gym tests.

Gemma Gibbons follows in the footsteps of British Judo legend and 1972 Olympic bronze medallist Brian Jacks who earned national fame as regular on the show in 1979 and 1980.

Jacks, who won Britain’s first world medal in 1967, won four Superstar titles including a European final in 1979.

The athletes taking part in the 90-minute television special are:

Alistair Brownlee, Olympic gold winner, Triathlon

Jonathan Brownlee, Olympic bronze winner, Triathlon

Mo Farah, Olympic double gold champion for 5,000 and 10,000 metres

Robbie Grabarz, Olympic bronze medal winner, High Jump

Michael Jamieson, Olympic silver medallist in 200 metres breast stroke

Anthony Joshua, Olympic gold winner, Boxing (Super Heavy weight)

Andrew Triggs Hodge, Olympic gold winner, Rowing (Coxless Four)

Peter Wilson, Olympic gold winner, Shooting (Double Trap)

Nicola Adams, Olympic gold medal winner, Boxing

Lizzie Armitstead, Olympic silver medal winner, Cycling (Road Race)

Laura Bechtolsheimer, Olympic gold and bronze medal winner, Dressage

Gemma Gibbons, Olympic silver medallist, Judo

Helen Glover, Olympic gold medal winner, women’s coxless pair

Katherine Grainger, Olympic gold winner, Double Sculls

Jade Jones, Olympic gold winner, Taekwondo

Christine Ohuruogu, Olympic silver medal winner, 400 metres

In addition, London 2012 bronze medallist, swimmer Rebecca Adlington, will also act as a mentor to all the athletes in the swimming event. She’ll be providing useful tips and guidance on technique, as well as of course encouragement to her Team GB teammates.

Superstars 2012 will be hosted by Gabby Logan, who, fresh from her success as one of the faces of the BBC’s London 2012 coverage, will oversee the proceedings. Gabby will be following in her father’s footsteps, as her dad, former professional footballer Terry Yorath, also featured on Superstars during the 1970s.

She’ll be joined by former Olympians Denise Lewis and Iwan Thomas as pundits, providing their own unique spin on the action. The Superstars 2012 games will be shot in front of an eager crowd at the University of Bath, which boasts state of the art sporting facilities. The grand finale will see the competitors battle in the historic setting of the city’s Assembly Rooms.

Alistair Brownlee (Triathlon) said: “Let’s see if we can repeat our London 2012 achievements and get two Brownlee brothers on the Superstars podium.”

Andrew Triggs Hodge (Rowing) said: “The legacy of the superstars is as strong as that in rowing itself! I’m looking forward to being part of the one true thing that all athletes look up to! The Superstars event!”

Anthony Joshua (Boxing) said: “I can’t wait to get started. I’ve been training in the gym for a little while now… it’s going to be interesting to try some different sports and see how I get on!”

Christine Ohuruogu (Athletics 400 m) said: “I’ve always been a fan of Superstars and have wanted to take part ever since I watched two of my former GB team-mates, Kelly Holmes and Jason Gardener, take part in the 2008 show.”

Gemma Gibbons (Judo) said: “Being asked to participate in Superstars is an amazing opportunity to try new sports in a competitive environment and of course I am able to meet loads of other athletes, so it is going to be lots of fun!”

Helen Glover (Rowing) said: “I love challenging myself and enjoy all types of sport so I am very excited to be involved with Superstars. I’m not sure if my preparation will be quite as it was when trying to become an Olympic champion but I will be giving it my best shot.”

Jade Jones (Taekwondo) said: “I am the youngest competitor on Superstars but I won’t let that faze me. We are all Olympians and we will all have different strengths so I think we are actually on quite a level playing field. I think it will be an interesting competition.”

Jonathan Brownlee (Triathlon) said: “Having Alistair taking part in Superstars as well doesn’t faze me, this is not triathlon, there will be no team tactics, but we will be competitive, let the best brother win!”

Katherine Grainger (Rowing) said: “It is always great to take part in something a little more light-hearted at the end of the year and after achieving my dream in London I’m looking forward to finishing 2012 on another sporting high by participating in Superstars.”

Laura Bechtolsheimer (Dressage) said: “There haven’t been many Equestrian athletes over the years who have taken part in Superstars so I am looking forward to representing the riders, hopefully without causing too much embarrassment!”

Lizzie Armitstead (Road Cycling) said: “It is so exciting to be a contestant on Superstars. I am sure the experience will be great fun and am looking forward to testing my skills against other amazing athletes.”

Michael Jamieson (Swimming) said: “I feel very excited to be taking part in such a great show and even more so as it is taking place where I train, my friends and team-mates are going to come along to the events and cheer me on which will hopefully give me an advantage over the other athletes.”

Mo Farah (Athletics Endurance – 5,000m/10,000m) said: “Superstars is going to be a lot of fun. I’m really looking forward to it. After a hard season it will be nice to compete in a different environment. Some of the events are quite new to me which will make it all the more interesting.”

Nicola Adams (Boxing) said: “Superstars is a legendary programme which has featured some of the greatest athletes of all time, I feel privileged to be entering into such an elite group of sports people.”

Peter Wilson (Shooting) said: “Taking part in a Superstars Olympic special is going to be an amazing end to a brilliant year. It will be great to get a lot of team GB together again, however it will be strange competing against each other rather than cheering each other on like in London.”

Robbie Grabarz (Athletics – High Jump) said: “I’ve always enjoyed watching Superstars and love the idea of a number of elite athletes from different sports battling it out to see who comes out on top.”