PLYMOUTH international sprint hurdler David King has been named on British Athletics’ World Class Performance Programme for the 2016-17 season.
King, who earned his first Great Britain senior vest this summer at the European Championships, is one of 29 athletes to be selected for the Olympic Podium Potential Programme. He is joined on the list by fellow 110m hurdlers Andy Pozzi and David Omoregie.
Another 15 athletes have been named on the Olympic Podium Programme, which includes the likes of multi-medal winners Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford.
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.”
Athletes on the programmes receive help with coaching, training facilities, medical and sports science services, warm weather training camps and major championships team travel.