British Triathlon has confirmed its 2017 UK Sport Lottery Funded World Class Performance Programme athletes. With Sport England and UK Sport investments confirmed, the sport is in a strong position to grow and perform over the next four-year cycle.
British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell, commented: “It was fantastic to get funding confirmed from UK Sport, and this is what allows us to support a group of athletes who are targeting Tokyo and or the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Our athlete success would not be possible without 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.
“Several athletes have left the programme, but are continuing to compete in triathlon, and we wish them all the best. They make way for exciting juniors such as Alex Yee and Sam Dickinson. We’re also able to extend our support of India Lee, the current ETU European Champion, by adding her to the UK Sport Lottery Funded squad.”
“Our Paratriathlon roster will be added to. For now it features the key performers from Rio. Following the summer successes, we are currently working on developing a strong talent pathway to bring more paratriathletes through to world class level.”
Purcell added: “Our athlete success would not be possible without 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.”
The season starts in March with the first round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Abu Dhabi. The ITU World Paratriathlon Series season opens a month later on the Gold Coast. Winning ITU world titles will be the major focus across both the triathlon and Paratriathlon squads in 2017, and hosting a round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Leeds, 10-11 June, will provide a highlight next summer.
British Triathlon Chief Executive, Jack Buckner, said: “2016 has been a very successful year, highlighted by our seven medals in Rio, and Alistair Brownlee’s second place award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
“As well as UK Sport continuing to invest in our performance goals, the sport continues to grow and Sport England has awarded £5,581,154 for the continuation of participation and talent programmes. This will allow Triathlon England to continue to support grassroots work with clubs and coaches across England whilst significantly expanding GO TRI over the next four years to attract new participants into the sport.
“We also had key people elected to the ITU Executive Board, Committee, and Coaching positions in Madrid last weekend. I feel confident that triathlon in Britain is in a strong position and look forward to the next four years and beyond.”
British Elite Triathlon Squad (1 Jan – 31 Dec 2017)
Podium Squad
Alistair Brownlee, 28, Leeds – Rio gold
Jonny Brownlee, 26, Leeds - Rio silver
Vicky Holland, 30, from Gloucester, trains Bath - Rio bronze
Helen Jenkins, 32, Bridgend
Non Stanford, 27, from Swansea, trains Leeds
Jodie Stimpson, 27, from Oldbury, trains Loughborough
Podium Potential Squad
Marc Austin, 22, from Glasgow, trains Stirling
Gordon Benson, 22, Leeds
Tom Bishop, 25, from Derby, trains Leeds
Sam Dickinson, 19, Leeds
Ben Dijkstra, 18, Loughborough
Grant Sheldon, 22, from Hamilton, trains Stirling
Alex Yee, 18, from Brockley, London
Sophie Coldwell, 21, from Nottingham, trains Loughborough
Lucy Hall, 24, from Lutterworth, trains Leeds
Jessica Learmonth, 28, Leeds
India Lee, 28, Winchester
Sian Rainsley, 19, from Coventry, trains Leeds
Georgia Taylor Brown, 22, from Manchester, trains Leeds
British Elite Paratriathlon Squad (1 Jan – 31 Dec 2017)
Andrew Lewis, 33, Lydney, Gloucestershire, PT2 – World Champion 2016, Rio gold
George Peasgood, 21, Saffron Walden, PT4
Ryan Taylor, 23, Derby, PT2
Joe Townsend, 28, Eastbourne, PT1
Grace France, 28, Bristol, PT5 guide
Alison Patrick, 29, Livingston, PT5 - world champion 2014 & 16, Rio silver
Melissa Reid, 26, Truro, PT5 - world champion 2013, Rio bronze
Hazel Smith, 30, Edinburgh, PT5 guide, Rio silver
Lauren Steadman, 23, Peterborough, PT4 - world champion 2014 & 15, Rio silver
Nicole Walters, 27, Bath, PT5 guide, Rio bronze
