British Triathlon’s UK Sport Lottery funded World-Class Performance Squad for 2014 will feature six newcomers, taking the overall total to 23 athletes. The increase in squad size is a reflection on the hard work by the Home Nations to develop young and exciting talent.
New names to the squad include ITU world junior medal winners, Marc Austin and Grant Sheldon as well as eighth place junior finisher, Morgan Davies.
Talented young triathletes Miles Burton, 17, and Sian Rainsley, 16, will also now be supported with UK Sport Lottery funding, as will Katie Hewison, who finished in the ITU World Triathlon Series top twenty last season.
British Triathlon’s Performance Director, Brendan Purcell, commented: “The Home Nations have been working hard to develop the talent pathways into the World-Class programme and as a result we now have more athletes hitting the standard.
“We have, of course, benefitted from an increase in UK Sport Lottery Funding, and that has allowed us to bring in additional athletes who have demonstrated their potential to win international medals and ultimately got on to feature at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”
He added: “Having a bigger squad and a strong support team will also be good for creating a culture of healthy competition and team working within the squad.”
Eight athletes continue to be supported at Podium level, including recent world and Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee, ITU world champion, Non Stanford and former ITU world champions, Jonathan Brownlee and Helen Jenkins.
Purcell continued: “Our resources are focussed on supporting the Podium athletes and their medal aspirations in the ITU World Triathlon Series and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games this year. However, our junior talent is equally as important if we want to achieve our long term objectives of success in 2020, and we will continue to work closely with the Home Nations to further develop young athletes.”
Podium Squad
Adam Bowden, 31, from Watford, trains Loughborough
Alistair Brownlee, 25, Leeds
Jonny Brownlee, 23, Leeds
David McNamee, 25, from Irvine, trains Leeds
Vicky Holland, 28, from Gloucester, trains Leeds
Helen Jenkins, 30, Bridgend
Non Stanford, 25, from Swansea, trains Leeds
Jodie Stimpson, 25, from Oldbury, trains internationally
Podium Potential Squad
Marc Austin, 20, from Glasgow, trains Stirling
Gordon Benson, 19, Leeds
Tom Bishop, 22, from Derby, trains Leeds
Mark Buckingham, 28, from Holmfirth, trains Leeds
Miles Burton, 17, Bath
Morgan Davies, from Porthcawl, trains Loughborough
Aaron Harris, 25, from Bideford, trains Loughborough
Matt Sharp, 24, from Enfield, trains Bath
Grant Sheldon, 19, from Hamilton, trains Stirling
Sophie Coldwell, 19, from Nottingham, trains Loughborough
Lucy Hall, 22, from Lutterworth, trains Leeds
Katie Hewison, 28, from Chorley, trains internationally
Sian Rainsley, 16, Coventry
Lois Rosindale, 23, Leeds
Georgia Taylor Brown, 19, from Manchester, trains Leeds
