UKA, the national governing body for British Athletics, has announced the Paralympic athletes that will be supported by the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) for 2014 – 2015.
The selection of these athletes is based on their potential to win medals at the Paralympic Games. The WCPP, funded by the National Lottery through UK Sport, is split into two levels. Podium is for athletes with the potential to medal at Rio 2016, while Podium Potential is for athletes developing towards Tokyo 2020.
UKA has selected 26 athletes to Paralympic Podium and 26 Paralympic athletes have been selected onto Podium Potential. Of these 5 Welsh athletes have been selected for the Podium Programme whilst 7 are on the Podium Potential programme. Additionally British Athletics hosts a Talent Programme with 2 athletes from Wales being invited onto the programme.
British Athletics Performance Director, Neil Black said:
“Our World Class Performance Programme selections for 2014-15 once again reflect on the criteria of medal potential at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Competition for places on the programme is extremely competitive and this year the selection panel faced tough performance decisions based on such stipulations in this funding cycle.
“Next year we are looking to build on the excellent foundations set in 2014 and I’m excited about how our athletes will fare on the global stage at the IPC World Championships in Doha.
“I’d like to thank the National Lottery and UK Sport for their continued investment in the World Class Performance Programme. The support enables our athletes to be the best prepared in their quest for success in 2016, at the home World Championships in 2017 and beyond.”
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 our athletes perform to the highest achievable standards.
Podium WCPP
Paralympic (5)
Hollie Arnold (Anthony Hughes), Aled Davies (Ryan Spencer Jones), Kyron Duke (Anthony Hughes), Beverley Jones (John Parkin), Josie Pearson (Anthony Hughes).
Podium Potential WCPP
Paralympic (7)
Samantha Bowen (Anthony Hughes), Olivia Breen (Jonas Tawiah Dodoo/Julie Hollman), Jordan Howe (Keith Antoine), Rhys Jones (Keith Antoine), Stephen Morris (Chris Moss), Laura Sugar (Femi Akinsanya), Bradley Wigley (Jane Coia)
UKA Talent Programme
Sabrina Fortune & Tony Mills
