British Athletics names athletes for Paralympic World Class Performance Programme

“The athletes selected will be expected to fulfil tough performance criteria throughout the next cycle, but our immediate focus is firmly on winning medals at London 2017 next year.”

British Athletics has announced the selection of 48 athletes for its Paralympic World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) in 2016–2017, as the team focuses towards home soil success at London 2017 and the sport enters the Tokyo 2020 cycle.

Funded by The National Lottery through UK Sport, British Athletics WCPP selection is based upon the potential to win medals at the Paralympic Games (with special consideration given to the World Para Athletics Championships at London 2017) and is split into two levels: Podium (for athletes with the potential to win medals at London 2017 and Tokyo 2020) and Podium Potential (for athletes developing towards Tokyo 2020 and the Paralympics in 2024).

British Athletics has selected 23 athletes for the Paralympic Podium programme and an additional 24 athletes have been selected for the Paralympic Podium Potential programme. One athlete is included on the WCPP as part of the 4x100m relay squad.

British Athletics performance director Neil Black said: "2016 was an excellent year for the British Athletics teams at both the Olympics and Paralympics, winning more medals in Rio than in London 2012. But we are now at the start of a new Olympic and Paralympic cycle, so we need to build a team that is focused towards further success and improvement at Tokyo 2020, our selections reflect this. With a core group of established athletes and a large group of young and emerging talent, this is an exciting time for British Athletics.

“As ever, the athletes selected will be expected to fulfil tough performance criteria throughout the next cycle, but our immediate focus is firmly on winning medals at London 2017 next year. To have both World Championships in the UK, in the same year, is just incredible. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for British athletes to be crowned World Champions and become World medallists on home soil, and I expect a number of those selected on this year’s WCPP to grasp that opportunity.”

“I’d like to thank the National Lottery and UK Sport for their continued investment in our World Class Performance Programme. The support will enable our athletes to be amongst the best prepared in the world at London 2017 and beyond, ensuring they are able to perform to their highest achievable standards whenever they appear on the global stage.”

British Athletics invests 100% of the UK Sport grant on elite coaching, provision of world class training facilities, medical and sports science services, warm weather training camps and major championships team travel to ensure its athletes perform to the highest achievable standards. Athletes will also receive targeted financial assistance from UK Sport through the World Class Performance Programme’s Athlete Personal Award (APA).

Paralympic Podium programme (23)

•Kare Adenegan (Job King)

•Hollie Arnold (David Parker)

•Paul Blake (Rob Ellchuk)

•Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Fuzz Caan)

•Mickey Bushell (Jenny Archer)

•Joanna Butterfield (Phil Peat/Shona Malcolm)

•Libby Clegg [guide Chris Clarke] (Joe McDonnell)

•Hannah Cockroft (Jenni Banks)

•Kadeena Cox (Brian Scobie)

•Aled Davies (Ryan Spencer-Jones)

•Sabrina Fortune (Anthony Hughes/Ian Robinson)

•Toby Gold (Jenni Banks)

•Dan Greaves (John Godina)

•Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell)

•David Henson (Roger Keller)

•Georgina Hermitage (Paul MacGregor)

•Maria Lyle (Ryan Freckleton)

•Stephen Miller (Ros Miller)

•Jonnie Peacock (Dan Pfaff/Michael Khmel)

•Gemma Prescott (Mike Wood)

•Stefanie Reid (Aston Moore)

•Andrew Small (Rick Hoskins)

•Richard Whitehead (Keith Antoine)

Paralympic Podium Potential programme (24)

•Joshua Bain (David Parker)

•Dan Bramall (Peter Wyman)

•Shaun Burrows (Joe McDonnell)

•Richard Chiassaro (Jenni Banks)

•Vanessa Daobry (Alison O’Riordan)

•Kyron Duke (Anthony Hughes)

•Kylie Grimes (Phil Peat)

•Claire Harvey (Phil Peat)

•Jordan Howe (Keith Antoine)

•Abbie Hunnisett (Anthony Hughes)

•Moatez Jomni (Jenny Archer)

•Sophie Kamlish (Rob Ellchuk)

•Sammi Kinghorn (Ian Mirfin)

•Polly Maton (Colin Baross)

•Nathan Maguire (Ste Hoskins)

•Stephen Morris (James Thie)

•Holly Neill (Andrew Roda)

•Derek Rae (Ron Morrison)

•Ben Rowlings (Job King)

•Sam Ruddock (Jim Edwards)

•Zac Shaw (Joe McDonnell)

•Laura Sugar (Femi Akinsanya)

•Carly Tait (Jenni Banks)

•Isaac Towers (Peter Wyman)

Relay (1)

•Olivia Breen (Aston Moore)