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Britain has unveiled a strong track and field team for the Paris 2024 Olympics with gold prospects in at least four disciplines.
Keely Hodgkinson, Molly Caudery, and Josh Kerr will lead Britain’s 64-strong track and field squad to the Paris Olympics, following the official team announcement on Friday.
The team features a blend of seasoned athletes and fresh talent, aiming to leave a significant mark on the international stage.
Among the notable selections is 17-year-old star Phoebe Gill, who will compete in the women’s 800m. The team also welcomes back 2022 world 1500m champion Jake Wightman, who secured the final spot in the men’s 800m despite missing the trials due to injury.
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However, the squad has some surprising omissions. CJ Ujah, whose positive drug test led to the forfeiture of GB's 4x100m relay silver medal in Tokyo, was not selected despite recent training with the relay squad and finishing third in the 100m trials.
Additionally, no British women will compete in the throwing events, even though several qualified for Paris via World Athletics’ rankings. The squad size has decreased from 77 athletes in Tokyo and 80 in Rio.
This exclusion has sparked controversy, particularly among athletes like Anna Purchase, who narrowly missed the higher UK Athletics standard by 57cm, despite reaching the world and European hammer finals over the past year.
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Shot-putter Amelia Campbell, who qualified through her world ranking, criticised UKA’s policy as “disgusting” and accused it of “killing” British athletics. Discus thrower Jade Lally echoed this sentiment, expressing that she feels “ashamed” to represent her national federation.
Despite these controversies, Team GB’s chef de mission, Mark England, praised the squad as “hugely talented and exciting,” highlighting the team’s mix of Olympic, world, and European medallists.
“I am confident that their experience will be a source of inspiration and support not only to the 35 debutants who have also made the team, but to the wider Team GB too,” he said.
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Britain has strong medal prospects, with Hodgkinson in the women’s 800m, Kerr in the men’s 1500m, Caudery in the women’s pole vault, and Matt Hudson-Smith in the men’s 400m all showing promising form this year.
Hodgkinson, in particular, faces pressure to deliver gold, especially after reigning Olympic champion Athing Mu failed to qualify for Paris with Kenya’s Mary Moraa, the world champion, now her main rival.
“But even though she’s not there, it’s still so hard to achieve,” Hodgkinson remarked. “It’s just one less person to worry about. It’s going to be difficult. It’s the Olympic Games and anything can happen.”
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Team leader Paula Dunn also conveyed optimism following the team announcement. “We know from this we have a high-quality team for Paris who know how to produce their best when it counts and will be challenging for medals,” she said. “It’s an exciting time for everyone.”
With the Paris Olympics fast approaching, Team GB’s track and field athletes are gearing up to showcase their talent and determination on the world stage.
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