Here is the list of athletes who UK Athletics are backing to battle for podium places in future
Keely Hodgkinson, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Matt Hudson-Smith are among 65 athletes awarded Lottery funding on the UK Athletics Olympic World Class Programme for the next 12 months ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo.
This follows a Paris Olympics where the British team won 10 medals – their best tally since 1984.
The programme is split into four different levels of support – Podium, Podium Potential, Relay and Confirmation – with the goal of helping athletes who the governing body feels can win medals at the 2028 LA Olympics or in 2032.
Among the notable names not on the lists for this coming year are Eilish McColgan, Scott Lincoln, Lizzie Bird, Callum Wilkinson, Lawrence Okoye, Nick Percy and Elliot Giles.
Steeplechaser Bird is now pursuing a career in law in the aftermath of making the European podium in Rome and breaking the British record at the Olympics, whereas there have also been post-Olympic retirements such as Holly Bradshaw, Andy Pozzi, Jessie Knight and Jodie Williams.
“Athletics has had two consecutive years of bringing back 10 medals from a global stage and this investment is key to that,” said Olympic head coach Paula Dunn. “I believe we have demonstrated as a sport we are directing this investment into the right areas and look forward to receiving confirmation of our LA investment later this year.
“For those athletes who have transitioned off the programme or not made the programme today, it is not to say they won’t have success in future, just that the parameters for WCP selection are very specific and they do not qualify right at this moment. Everyone who wears the GB & NI vest should be proud of their achievement, we are, and we will continue to see where we can add value, support and guidance to those individuals who do not meet the WCP criteria at this time.”
Amber Anning (Getty)
WCP Athletes:; Olympic Podium (21)
Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove); Dina Asher-Smith (Edrick Floréal, Blackheath & Bromley); Georgia Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave); Max Burgin (Ian Burgin, Halifax Harriers); Emile Cairess (Renato Canova, Leeds City); Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley); Jacob Fincham-Dukes (Austin Brobst, Leeds City); Keely Hodgkinson (Trevor Painter, Leigh); Matthew Hudson-Smith (Gary Evans, Birchfield); Zharnel Hughes (Glen Mills, Shaftesbury Barnet); Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Aston…
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