The British Olympic Association (BOA) has today announced the names of six triathletes that will compete for Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
There is no shortage of pedigree in the ranks with Olympic Champion Alistair Brownlee leading the way and brother Jonathan – who won Olympic bronze in 2012 – also selected for his second Olympic Games.
They will be joined in the men’s race by 22-year-old Gordon Benson who staked his claim by clinching the gold medal for Team GB at the inaugural European Games at Baku 2015.
There is plenty of strength in the women’s ranks with 2013 World Champion Non Stanford included along with London 2012 Olympian Vicky Holland.
Helen Jenkins rounds off the team and will bring plenty of experience, having competed at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and winning the World Championships in 2008 and 2011.
Rio 2016 will be the fifth Games that has included triathlon in its programme – the first being Sydney 2000 – but it took Team GB until 2012 to claim a first Olympic medal.
Those Games saw Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee clinch gold and bronze respectively with Spaniard Javier Gomez denying Team GB a one-two podium finish.
Team GB have now selected 71 athletes from eight sports for Rio 2016.
The selected triathletes are:
Alistair Brownlee, 28, born in Dewsbury now lives in Leeds
Jonathan Brownlee 26, born in Bramhope now lives in Leeds
Gordon Benson, 22, born in Halifax and now lives in Leeds
Non Stanford, 27, born in Swansea now lives in Leeds
Vicky Holland, 30, born in Gloucester now lives in Leeds
Helen Jenkins, 32, born in Elgin now lives in Bridgend
Mark England, Team GB’s Chef de Mission said:
“I would like to congratulate these six athletes on securing their spots for Rio 2016 and welcome them onto Team GB.
“At London 2012 we won our first medals in triathlon and since then we have gone from strength to strength as a nation.
“As Olympic medallists Alistair and Jonny bring an incredible pedigree to the team and Gordon’s European Games triumph means the men’s field is very strong.
“Non, Vicky and Helen have all tasted World Championships success and will go into the Games in fine form and full of confidence.”
British Triathlon Performance Director and Team GB Triathlon Team Leader, Brendon Purcell, said:
“This is a strong and very experienced team. Arguably we’re in a stronger position going into the Games than we were four years ago, but the competition is also stronger too.
“The sea swim and hilly, technical bike course in Rio suit the strengths of our athletes, so we have all the ingredients for a great Games and now it’s time to prepare to be in the best possible shape that we can be in Rio.”
Alistair Brownlee said:
"It's an honour to be a defending champion returning to the Olympic Games. I intend to make the absolute best of the opportunity in Rio."
Non Stanford said:
"It's a dream to be going to the Olympics and to be part of a such a strong British team. There's some hard miles to be done in the lead up, but I'm proud to be part of Team GB and looking forward to my first Games."
