PLYMOUTH Leander Olympian Ben Proud is part of Great Britain’s squad which will open their 2017 season this weekend in Luxembourg.

Double Commonwealth Games champion Proud is one of 13 swimmers named in the GB party to compete at the Euro Meet long course event at the Aquatic Centre d’Coque.

Joining him in the squad is Olympic and world champion Adam Peaty and Rio silver medallists Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, Stephen Milne, Duncan Scott, Dan Wallace and Chris Walker-Hebborn.

It is the first time British Swimming has sent a squad to the event.

Head coach Bill Furniss said: “This will be a tough challenge for our first long course event of the season but is just one element of a bigger race strategy of several long course meets that builds up to the British Championships in April.

“Our athletes will be at different stages of preparation, as some will have had an extended break after the Olympics, so this will provide a good litmus test and indication of where they are.

“The athletes will follow it up with their own chosen events in February before they come back together as a bigger squad in March for the Indianapolis Grand Prix.”

British Swimming selected athletes:

Hannah Miley – University of Aberdeen

Siobhan Marie-O’Connor – National Centre, Bath

Molly Renshaw – National Centre, Loughborough

Aimee Willmott – London Aquatic Centre Performance

Adam Barrett – Loughborough University

Nick Grainger – City of Sheffield

Max Litchfield – City of Sheffield

Stephen Milne – Perth City

Adam Peaty – National Centre, Loughborough

Ben Proud – Plymouth Leander

Duncan Scott – Stirling Swim

Dan Wallace – Stirling Swim

Chris Walker-Hebborn – National Centre, Bath