Europe Triathlon

With less than 50 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympics, the British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced today the six triathletes officially selected to represent Team GB at the Games.

Team GB will have a full complement of three male and three female triathletes in Hyde Park this summer, where the women’s and men’s competitions will take place on 4th and 7th August respectively.

The triathletes selected to Team GB today are:
Alistair Brownlee
Jonathan Brownlee
Lucy Hall
Stuart Hayes
Vicky Holland
Helen Jenkins

Great Britain has made outstanding progress in the sport of triathlon since the last Olympics in Beijing in 2008, and Team GB will be looking to record their first ever Olympic triathlon medals at London 2012.

Current world champion Alistair Brownlee won the men’s dress rehearsal event in Hyde Park, which was one of six major victories in 2011, including the World Championship Grand Final in Beijing. He will look to build on the 12th place he achieved at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, a race which he was leading with just 3km to go.

Alistair will be competing alongside his younger brother, Jonathan, who will be taking part in his first Olympic Games and finished 2011 as the world number two. He has shown great form so far this season by winning the most recent two ITU World Triathlon Series events in San Diego and Madrid. The Brownlee brothers are joined in the men’s race by Stuart Hayes, a former winner of a World Championship Series round in Kitzbuhel and long term member of the British team.

The women’s trio is led by current world number one Helen Jenkins, who will be competing in her second Olympic Games. Helen’s victory in the ITU World Championship Series last September made her the first British woman to win the world title since it changed to a series format in 2009. Jenkins is a two-time World Champion, having previously won in 2008 under her maiden name of Tucker. She was also victorious in Hyde Park last August, completing a British double act with Alistair Brownlee.

Joining Jenkins in the women’s race is Vicky Holland and 20-year old Lucy Hall, who both make their Olympic debuts. Holland has been a consistent performer in the ITU World Triathlon Series this year, and Hall has made a name for herself as one of best swimmers and most promising young athletes in the sport.

The athletes will be able to draw inspiration from the huge support they will receive at Hyde Park, with much of the course open and un-ticketed during the two races as spectators enjoy the most memorable free-to-view event of London 2012.

The addition of the six triathletes brings the total number of athletes officially selected to compete for Team GB at London 2012 to 190 across sixteen sport disciplines: archery, athletics – marathon, badminton, boxing, canoe slalom, fencing, hockey, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, synchronised swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and triathlon.

The athletes were formally nominated to the BOA for selection to Team GB by British Triathlon, the National Governing Body for triathlon in the UK.

Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said:
“As we move into the final 50 days of preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games, I am delighted to announce these six triathletes as selected to Team GB.

“Triathlon has made truly outstanding progress since Beijing 2008. We are now a world leading nation in the sport of triathlon, with the number one ranked male and female athletes in Alistair Brownlee and Helen Jenkins. It is encouraging that both athletes have already tasted success at the Olympic venue after winning the test event last summer.

“With the full vocal support and encouragement of the British fans behind them, I have every confidence that these athletes can create history and achieve Team GBs first ever Olympic triathlon medals in Hyde Park this summer.”

Team GB Triathlon Head Coach Malcolm Brown said:
“We have a group of fantastic athletes, and I’m confident that all six of them will put in strong performances for Team GB at London 2012. Britain has never won a triathlon medal so we are trying to make history this summer, and I feel that we definitely have the strength and ability within our squad to do so.

“We are going into London with a strong and united team, a group of athletes who will know what each other’s strengths and ambitions are, and we will all be working together to achieve success.”

Alistair Brownlee said:
“London will be my second Olympic Games, and the level of excitement and interest is just massive. Now that the team has been announced it feels like we’re a step much closer. I’ve also got my first race of the season this weekend, which is a big milestone for me personally and now I’m looking forward to the next eight weeks of intense preparation for the summer.”

Helen Jenkins said:
“I’m really excited to be going to my second Olympics. The fact it is a home Games is making the experience so much different to four years ago. The level of interest in the team is huge, and I hope the nation will really get behind us, as home support really does give us an advantage.”

Jonathan Brownlee said:
“It feels fantastic to officially be part of Team GB, it’s my first Olympic Games and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m confident that we have a strong team and that we’ll put on a good show for the big crowds that are expected to come to Hyde Park on the 7th August.

“Wearing the Team GB tracksuit for the first time will be a big honour and I can’t wait for the Games to begin.”

Lucy Hall said:
“When I got the call to say I’d been selected to go to the Olympic Games I was so excited! To be able to tell people that I’m part of Team GB makes me incredibly proud, and I plan to make the most of this amazing opportunity to compete at a home Olympics.”

Vicky Holland said:
“I’ve dreamed of going to the Olympic Games for twenty years. To be part of Team GB is an amazing feeling and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me. We have such an opportunity to do something amazing this summer and I can’t wait to be part of it.”

Stuart Hayes said:
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity be part of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games. I was born and grew up in London, so to be part of a very strong British triathlon team at a home Games is a dream come true.”