Brownlees bag Rio slots

British Triathlon’s Olympic Nomination Committee has confirmed the pre-selection of four triathletes, subject to form, fitness and eligibility, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games next summer. Official selection to Team GB will be announced by the British Olympic Association (BOA) next June.

Non Stanford and Vicky Holland met the Automatic Qualification criteria of the 2016 BTF Olympic Nomination Policy by winning medals at both the Rio Olympic Triathlon Test Event and the World Triathlon Grand Final in Chicago.

Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee met the British Triathlon Pre Selection criteria based on evidence of their ability to win a medal at the Olympic Games. Both Alistair and Jonathan have won rounds of the ITU World Triathlon Series this year and were memorable medal winners at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

An announcement will be made by the British Olympic Association in June 2016 to confirm the team. It is hoped that British Triathlon will be able to nominate three men and three women based on ITU ranking points.

British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell said: “Non and Vicky achieved the Automatic Qualification criteria with their performances at the Rio Olympic Triathlon Test Event and at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Chicago. The progress made by both of them this season has been really exciting, and now they can focus completely on their Rio preparations.

“Similarly, we wanted to put Alistair and Jonathan in strong positions to focus on medals next summer. They both met the British Triathlon Pre Selection criteria and we’re delighted to have been able to give them this news as they start their winter training.”

Alistair Brownlee said: “There is nothing bigger in triathlon than the Olympic Games, and I’m hugely excited about the year ahead. This news allows me to structure my winter training with Rio at the forefront of my mind. Knowing that Jonny has been pre-selected with me is another big boost.”

Jonathan Brownlee added: “I’ll be doing everything I can to be at my absolute best on 18 August 2016. Performing on the day in Rio is the dream, and it’s great to be another step closer to it now that I have been pre-selected.”

Non Stanford said: “At the start of this year Rio felt a long way off, but with pre-selection confirmed I just can’t wait to get 2016 started.”

Vicky Holland added: “Confirmation of pre selection is another big tick in the box after getting the results I needed in Rio and Chicago. There’s a lot of hard work to do now, but I can’t wait for next summer.”

The 2016 season will get under way in March with the opening round of the ITU World Triathlon Series in Abu Dhabi.

Liz Barrett 220 Deputy Editor

About

220 deputy editor Liz Barrett started work on the magazine in 2007 as staff writer. Since then, she’s reported live from almost every major triathlon across the globe, including the Ironman World Championships, 70.3 Worlds, six ITU Worlds, Challenge Roth, the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealths, the London and Paris Olympics and the Rio Paralympics, to name but a few. Name a pro and chances are she’ll have interviewed them, so, unsurprisingly, she’s our go-to pro-athlete expert on the team. When not covering races, you’ll find her whipping words into finely-crafted shape for both the magazine and website.