BTF confirm World Class programme
Squad focuses in on prep for London 2012
British Triathlon has confirmed 25 athletes for its 2012 and 2016 programmes, and 16 young athletes for the Olympic Talent Squad. World Champions Alistair Brownlee and Helen Jenkins lead the way, along with ITU Sprint Triathlon world champion, Jonathan Brownlee, as the squad focuses in on preparations for London 2012.
Athletes who are new to the programme include Mark Buckingham and Matt Gunby, who have successfully graduated from trigold, the scheme funded by Barrie Wells. Buckingham was recently recognised as the GE British Triathlon Elite Duathlete of the Year at British Triathlon’s Annual Awards event, whilst Gunby won a second ITU Duathlon U23 world silver medal in Gijon in September.
Nineteen year old Lucy Hall joins the programme having had a breakthrough year. Her exceptional swimming speed saw her exit the water first against senior opposition at the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series events in Hamburg, Lausanne and Yokohama. She also won gold as part of Great Britain’s junior mixed relay team at the ETU European Championships.
Hall was recognised as British Triathlon’s Junior Female Triathlete of the Year, whilst Gordon Benson, 17 from Leeds, won the male junior award and will now also be part the squad having previously a member of the Olympic Talent squad.
Leeds based Non Stanford and Lois Rosindale are new additions having had successful seasons in races around the world. Talented junior Maddie Winzer from Richmond, also joins.
The Olympic talent squad includes members of the GE Great Britain Triathlon teams that won medals at both the ETU European Junior and Youth championships. Marc Austin, Miles Burton, Sophie Coldwell and Ellen McArthur were all medal winners along with Gordon Benson.
Olympic Performance Group Manager, Malcolm Brown, commented: “The 2012 squad is focused on delivering our target of one Olympic medal next summer, but we are also looking to the next Olympic cycle, having selected athletes who we think have the potential to make an impact in Rio in 2016.”
British Triathlon Performance Athletes 2011-12
2012 Squad
Liz Blatchford, 31, Loughborough (Born Winslow, grew up Gold Coast)
Vicky Holland, 25, Swansea (Hometown Gloucester)
Helen Jenkins, 27, Bridgend
Kerry Lang, 35, Glasgow
Jodie Stimpson, 22, Oldbury, West Midlands
Alistair Brownlee, 23, Leeds
Jonny Brownlee, 21, Leeds
Will Clarke, 26, Loughborough (Hometown Cambridge)
Tim Don, 33, Milton Keynes (Hometown Isleworth)
Stuart Hayes, 32, London
Olympic Academy Squad
Lucy Hall, 19, Loughborough (hometown Lutterworth, Leicestershire)
Lois Rosindale, 21, Leeds
Non Stanford, 22, Leeds (Hometown Swansea)
Tom Bishop, 20, Leeds (Hometown Derby)
Adam Bowden, 29, Loughborough (Hometown Loughborough)
Aaron Harris, 23, Loughborough (Hometown Overton, Hampshire)
Todd Leckie, 24, Eastbourne (Hometown Hailsham, East Sussex)
David McNamee, 23, Leeds (Hometown Irvine)
Matt Sharp, 22, Loughborough (Hometown Enfield)
Olympic Foundation Squad
Lucy Chittenden, 20, Loughborough (Hometown Fleet, Hampshire)
Maddie Wizner, 17, Richmond
Gordon Benson, 17, Leeds
Mark Buckingham, 26, Loughborough (Hometown Holmfirth)
Matt Gunby, 23, Loughborough (Barnack, Lincolnshire)
Rio Squad
Hollie Avil, 21, Loughborough (Hometown Bugbrooke, Northampton)
Olympic Talent Squad 2011-2012
Sophie Coldwell, 16, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire
Sky Draper, 16, Northwood, London
Ellen McArthur, 16, Wetherby
Sian Rainsley, 14, Coventy
Nicole Raymond, 18, Brentwood
Georgia Taylor Brown, 17, Droysldon, Manchester
Ellie Walton, 15, Bracknell
Marc Austin, 17, Glasgow
Miles Burton, 15, Bath
Gordon Benson, 16, Leeds
Simon Cooper, 17, Tiverton, Devon
James Davis, 18, Upminster, London
Morgan Davies, 17, Porthcawl, Wales
Iestyn Harrett, 18, Glynneath, Wales
Josh Harris, 18, Newport, Wales
Finlay Rae, 16, Ayr
Grant Sheldon, 17, Hamilton