European Championships: UK Athletics announce roster featuring Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Published 28/05/2024 at 15:24 GMT+1
UK Athletics has named the 72 athletes setting off for Rome in early June, with Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Keely Hodgkinson and Matthew Hudson-Smith among the leading names. Johnson-Thompson is looking to win her first gold medal at the European Championships, as she and the rest of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks gear up for the Olympic Games.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Image credit: Getty Images
Katarina Johnson-Thompson is among the star names in the 72-strong roster representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the European Athletics Championships.
The 26th edition of the track-and-field event - which now runs every two summers - takes place in Rome in early June, at the Stadio Olimpico.
GB holds top spot in the all-time rankings for gold medals (124) heading into it, with Mo Farah and Roger Black sharing the individual record (five apiece).
Johnson-Thompson enters the selection as a 2023 world champion in the heptathlon - her 200m and long-jump wins taking her to the gold medal ahead of American Anna Hall. She also enjoyed her lifetime best in the javelin and 800m.
That was her second gold at the World Championships, to add to a collection featuring the same number at the Commonwealth Games - but continental glory has eluded her so far.
Indeed, the Liverpool native missed Munich 2022, the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and she finished second in 2018.
If the 31-year-old can have a successful outing in Italy, she'll be given the required boost ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, as she also chases a maiden medal of any kind on the biggest stage.
Elsewhere in the squad named by UK Athletics, Keely Hodgkinson was one of two wildcard entries. She'll compete in the 800m, which she won gold in last time around, after also claiming a silver medal at the delayed 2020 Olympics.
The other wildcard is Matthew Hudson-Smith, who sits just one gold behind the all-time record of Farah and Black.
Hudson-Smith has picked up a total of seven medals at the European Championships, across the 400m and 4x400m relay.
Reflecting on the picks, GB coach Paula Dunn told UK Athletics: "I am really pleased with the team we have announced today.
"It is incredibly strong with a high number of athletes feeling that Rome will form an important part of their preparations for Paris.
"For some athletes, winning a medal in Rome will be the perfect preparation for the Olympics, for others competing here will provide a benchmark as to where they are knowing that their peak performance needs to come at the start of August."
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