The British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced today 71 track and field athletes selected to Team GB for the London 2012 Olympic Games. These athletes join the six marathon runners earlier selected to complete the Team GB athletics line-up, bringing the athletics total to 77, and the overall number of athletes selected to Team GB to 502 from across 25 sports.
With an increase on the Beijing Olympic Games squad size of 68, UK Athletics Head Coach Charles Van Commenee has made it clear a target of eight medals - including at least one gold - has always been the aim for the Team GB athletics squad at London 2012. This ambitious tally would not only double the four medals won in Beijing, but would represent Team GB’s best result since the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, when a squad featuring Daley Thompson, Linford Christie, Colin Jackson and Steve Cram won eight medals in total, but no gold medals.
The athletes selected to Team GB today are:
Men
Women
The 2011 World Championships saw Britain’s largest medal haul since 1993, with gold medal winning performances from Mo Farah and Dai Greene and the World Indoor Championships followed suit with a record medal tally, including another two gold medals.
Both reigning outdoor World Champions will represent Team GB in London this summer. They will be joined by former World Champion and current double world silver medallist Jessica Ennis who will be making her first appearance as a member of Team GB, one of 47 Olympic debutants in the squad.
Beijing silver medallist Philips Idowu will be attending his fourth Olympic Games along with Commonwealth bronze medallist Christian Malcolm, who captained Team GB to their most successful World Championships in 2011. Whilst reigning Olympic 400m Champion Christine Ohuruogu will be making her third Olympic appearance.
Olympic debutant Robbie Grabarz catapulted onto the world high jump scene this year with an impressive European title in Helsinki last week, other first time Olympians include Jack Green, Lawrence Clark, Holly Bleasdale, Sophie Hitchon and Andrew Pozzi.
The long jump in London will also represent possible medal opportunities for Team GB, with Shara Proctor breaking a near 30-year-old national record at the Olympic Trials and Greg Rutherford currently ranked joint first in the world.
In the women’s 800m, Lynsey Sharp has been selected following her silver medal at the European Championships in Helsinki last week, which followed victory at the Olympic trials. International rules of the sport mean an athlete who has achieved the B standard can only be selected if there are no A standard athletes in that event selected to the team.
Adam Gemilli is the youngest member of the team at 18 years and 305 days old on the day of the first round of the men’s 100m on 4th August. World Indoor Champion Yamile Aldama takes the honour of being the team’s oldest athlete at 39. She will be just 11 days shy of her 40th birthday when she steps out for the women’s triple jump competition on August 3rd.
Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said:
Head Coach Charles van Commenee believes the team will be very competitive in London:
Reigning World and European Champion Mo Farah is delighted with his selection:
Jesscia Ennis said:
Dwain Chambers said:
Robbie Grabarz said: