Hodgkinson and Asher-Smith named in GB squad for European Championships

UK Athletics has officially named a 98-athlete squad to represent Great Britain at the upcoming European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. The team includes several high-profile athletes, such as Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson and sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, both aiming to defend their European titles. Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who missed the previous edition due to injury, returns to the heptathlon after winning silver at the Paris Olympics.

Many top athletes opted out of the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to focus on the European Championships. Among them is Birmingham-born Matt Hudson-Smith, the 400m Olympic silver medallist and four-time European champion, who will compete at the stadium where a stand is named after him.

In the women's 1500m, Georgia Hunter Bell (2024 European silver medallist and world indoor champion) will compete alongside 2022 champion Laura Muir. The men's side features former 1500m world champion Jake Wightman and world indoor 400m champion Amber Anning.

Jake Heyward, who set a new Welsh mile record at the London Diamond League earlier this month, is included in the squad. However, Scotland's Josh Kerr, who set a world record in the same race, has chosen not to participate.

Performance Director Paula Dunn said: "To compete at a major championship is always a tremendous achievement, and it makes the occasion even more special with the event taking place on home soil. This team reflects the strength and depth of talent we have across track and field, bringing together established international medallists alongside an exciting group of emerging athletes. I have every confidence that this team will rise to the occasion."

The European Championships will be held at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium in early July, marking the first time Britain hosts the event.