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British Triathlon confirms 2016 World Class squads

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British Triathlon has confirmed squads of 22 triathletes and 15 paratriathletes making up it’s 2016 UK Sport Lottery Funded World Class Performance Programmes.

British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell, commented: “We have a major focus on Rio’s Copacabana Beach next summer for the Olympic and Paralympic triathlon events, but this is also year zero of our Tokyo 2020 cycle.

“We have distinct groups of athletes now; those working towards Rio, and those looking further into the future. It’s exciting to be able to add someone like 17 year-old Ben Dijkstra to the programme alongside our Olympic athletes, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, Non Stanford and Vicky Holland."

In addition to Dijsktra, Leeds-based Heather Sellars has been added to the squad. The paratriathlon squad remains the same, with Stefan Hoggan having been added mid-way through the season and being confirmed as part of the squad for 2016. Matt Sharp and Aaron Harris will transition off the programme, but intend to continue to competing at the highest level.

Purcell added: “We’ve got a successful group of athletes, who are being supported by a very strong group of coaches and specialist practitioners. We’re really grateful for the support from UK Sport and everyone who buys a lottery ticket each week.”

The elite triathlon season gets underway in March with the first rounds of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Abu Dhabi and ITU World Paratriathlon Event Series in Buffalo City, South Africa.

However, the major focus for British triathletes will be on later season events, including the Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds on 11-12 June, the Olympic Games (18 & 20 August), Paralympic Games (10-11 September) and ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Mexico 11-18 September.

British Elite Triathlon Squad

Podium Squad

Adam Bowden, 33, from Watford, trains Loughborough
Alistair Brownlee, 27, Leeds
Jonny Brownlee, 25, Leeds

Vicky Holland, 29, from Gloucester, trains Leeds
Helen Jenkins, 31, Bridgend
Non Stanford, 26, from Swansea, trains Leeds
Jodie Stimpson, 26, from Oldbury, trains internationally

Podium Potential Squad

Marc Austin, 21, from Glasgow, trains Stirling
Gordon Benson, 21, Leeds
Tom Bishop, 24, from Derby, trains Leeds
Mark Buckingham, 30, from Holmfirth, trains Leeds
Miles Burton, 19, Bath
Morgan Davies, 21, from Porthcawl, trains Loughborough
Ben Dijkstra, 17, Loughborough
Grant Sheldon, 21, from Hamilton, trains Stirling

Lois Banks (Rosindale), 25, Leeds
Sophie Coldwell, 20, from Nottingham, trains Loughborough
Lucy Hall, 23, from Lutterworth, trains Leeds
Jessica Learmonth, 27, Leeds
Sian Rainsley, 18, Coventry
Heather Sellars, 25, Leeds
Georgia Taylor Brown, 21, from Manchester, trains Leeds

British Elite Paratriathlon Squad

David Hill, 26, Exmouth, PT4
Phil Hogg, 46, Derby, PT1
Andrew Lewis, 32, Lydney, Gloucester, PT2
Stefan Hoggan, 23, Auchtermuchty, Fife, PT4
George Peasgood, 20, Saffron Walden, PT4
Ryan Taylor, 22, Derby, PT2
Joe Townsend, 27, Eastbourne, PT1

Clare Cunningham, 38, Cambridge, PT4 - world champion 2009
Grace France, 27, Bristol, PT5 guide
Faye McClelland, 36, Eastbourne, PT4 - world champion 2010, 11, 12, 13
Alison Patrick, 28, Livingston, PT5 - world champion 2014
Melissa Reid, 25, Truro, PT5 - world champion 2013
Hazel Smith, 29, Edinburgh, PT5 guide
Lauren Steadman, 22, Peterborough, PT4 - world champion 2014, 15
Nicole Walters, 26, Bath, PT5 guide

 

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