2024/25 OLYMPIC WORLD CLASS PROGRAMME ATHLETES ANNOUNCED

A group of 65 athletes have been nominated for membership to join the UK Athletics Olympic World Class Programme (WCP) for 2024/25.

The Olympic WCP is UK Sport’s National Lottery funded initiative to identify, develop and support talented athletes towards medal success at the Olympic Games and other global major Championships.

The WCP is split into several levels reflecting the actual and the future performance potential of athletes: Podium, Podium Potential, Relay and Confirmation. Athletes are nominated for the WCP if it is judged they have the realistic potential and demonstrable performance capability and capacity to win medals at Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games or towards 2032.

UKA are committed to the principle that winning will always be achieved with integrity and in line with UK Sport’s ambition of ‘Keep Winning and Win Well’.

As per previous years, the nomination for WCP membership is subject to UK Sport ratification and a signed athlete agreement between the athlete and UKA.

UKA Olympic Head Coach Paula Dunn said:

“I would like to thank UK Sport and The National Lottery for their continued investment in the World Class Programme. Their support is essential in helping our athletes be the best prepared they can be for the biggest competitions in our sport.

“Athletics has had two consecutive years of bringing back 10 medals from a global stage and this investment is key to that. 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.

“Finally, as with any Olympic year we have also seen a number of athletes choosing to retire from GB competition and their place on the WCP. I would like to thank those athletes who have represented GB & NI so well over the years. Your presence both on the WCP and on the GB & NI team will be missed and everyone wishes you the best of luck in your future careers and ambitions.”

WCP Athletes:

Olympic Podium (21)

Amber Anning (Chris Johnson, Brighton & Hove)

Dina Asher-Smith (Edrick Floréal, Blackheath and Bromley)

Georgia Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave Harriers)

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 Moore, Liverpool)

Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh)

Morgan Lake (Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill)

Daryll Neita (Marco Airale, Cambridge Harriers)

Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke and Mid Hants)

Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan)

Jazmin Sawyers (Aston Moore, City of Stoke)

Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Katie Snowden (Stephen Haas, Herne Hill)

Jake Wightman (Geoff Wightman, Edinburgh)

Olympic Podium Potential (11)

Melissa Courtney-Bryant (Rob Denmark, Poole)

Charlie Dobson (Leon Baptiste, Colchester)

Neil Gourley (Stephen Haas, Giffnock North)

Naomi Metzger (Aston Moore, Trafford)

George Mills (Thomas Dreißigacker, Brighton Phoenix)

Jade O’Dowda (John Lane, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Aimee Pratt (Thomas Dreißigacker, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Anna Purchase (Mohamed Ali Saatara, Notts)

Marc Scott (Chris Jones, Richmond and Zetland)

Jessica Warner-Judd (Mick Judd, Blackburn)

Olympic Relays – (22)

Eugene Amo-Dadzie (Steve Fudge, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)

Jeremiah Azu (Marco Airale, Cardiff)

Joe Brier (Nick Dakin, Swansea)

Lewis Davey (Trevor Painter, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Jona Efoloko (Ryan Freckleton, Sale Harriers Manchester)

Toby Harries (David Sadkin, Brighton Phoenix)

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Dai Greene, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Desiree Henry (Steve Fudge, Enfield & Haringey)

Louie Hinchliffe (Richard Kilty, Sheffield & Dearne)

Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood)

Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton)

Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Ryan Freckleton, Sutton & District)

Rio Mitcham (Leon Baptiste, Birchfield Harriers)

Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Ryan Freckleton, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield and Haringey)

Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnett)

Victoria Ohuruogu (Newham and Essex Beagles)

Asha Philip (Amy Deem, Newham and Essex Beagles)

Ama Pipi (Tony Lester, Enfield and Haringey)

Sam Reardon (Nigel Stickings, Blackheath and Bromley)

Bianca Williams (Linford Christie, Thames Valley)

Nicole Yeargin (Vince Anderson, Pitreavie)

Olympic Confirmation – (10)

Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)

Phoebe Gill (Deborah Steer, St Albans)

Romell Glave (Michael Afilaka, Croydon)

Megan Keith (Ross Cairns, Inverness)

Mahamed Mahamed (Idris Hamud, Southampton)

Jake Norris (Paul Dickenson, Windsor, Slough Eton & Hounslow)

Charlotte Payne (Paul Dickenson, Reading)

Calli Hauger-Thackery (Nick Hauger, Hallamshire)

Revee Walcott-Nolan (Thomas Dreißigacker; Luton)

Joshua Zeller (Matt Kane, Bracknell AC)

Olympic Relay Confirmation (1)

Yemi Mary John (Alan James, Woodford Green Essex Ladies)