Strong Yorkshire ensures a strong Team GB heads to Rio

Yorkshire will provide a greater portion of the Great Britain squad bound for Rio than they did for London four years earlier, after Team GB confirmed its final 366-strong squad for next month's Olympics.
Alistair Brownlee will spearhead Yorkshire's challenge at the forthcoming Rio Olympics. (Picture: Tony Johnson)Alistair Brownlee will spearhead Yorkshire's challenge at the forthcoming Rio Olympics. (Picture: Tony Johnson)
Alistair Brownlee will spearhead Yorkshire's challenge at the forthcoming Rio Olympics. (Picture: Tony Johnson)

The county’s success at London 2012 – they would have finished 12th on the medals table after winning seven golds and five minor medals – was one of the many uplifting narratives from a memorable summer.

Yorkshire was represented by 54 athletes at their ‘home’ Games, which equated to around 10 per cent of the national squad.

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In Rio, the county will again – coincidentally – be represented by 54 people who were either born here, raised in the White Rose county or call Yorkshire their home.

Lani Belcher and Angela Hannah have squeezed into the Great Britain canoe sprint team for Rio just hours before the final deadline for entries. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire)Lani Belcher and Angela Hannah have squeezed into the Great Britain canoe sprint team for Rio just hours before the final deadline for entries. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire)
Lani Belcher and Angela Hannah have squeezed into the Great Britain canoe sprint team for Rio just hours before the final deadline for entries. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire)

That figure makes up 14.75 per cent of the Brazil-bound British squad, an increase of nearly five per cent which reflects favourably on the Broad Acres and its harnessing of the London legacy.

Defending Olympic champions Alistair Brownlee and Jessica Ennis-Hill will once again fly the flag for county and country in Rio, with their places on the plane being assured for some time.

Leaving their selection to the last minute yesterday were a pair of canoe sprinters and men’s cyclist Steve Cummings, who has been called up to the Great Britain cycling team in place of Peter Kennaugh after he voluntarily withdrew due to a loss of form.

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Cummings, who will compete in the road race, is rewarded for his stunning stage win in the Tour de France earlier this month. Canoe sprint pair Lani Belcher and Angela Hannah have been handed a place after the International Canoeing Federation upheld a doping ban on the Romania and Belarus teams.

Team GB rugby sevens men's captain Tom Mitchell, (left) and women's captain Emily Scarratt, (right) during a photo opportunity at Trafalgar Square, London. (Picture: John Walton/PA Wire)Team GB rugby sevens men's captain Tom Mitchell, (left) and women's captain Emily Scarratt, (right) during a photo opportunity at Trafalgar Square, London. (Picture: John Walton/PA Wire)
Team GB rugby sevens men's captain Tom Mitchell, (left) and women's captain Emily Scarratt, (right) during a photo opportunity at Trafalgar Square, London. (Picture: John Walton/PA Wire)

Team GB chef de mission Mark England said: “After four years of hard work our team for Rio 2016 is now complete.

“We have a strong squad of athletes ready to do their country proud and it’s great to welcome our largest British Olympic team for almost a quarter of a century.

“I also genuinely believe this is our most talented ever team and to qualify in 23 out of the 
28 sports is a fantastic achievement.

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“For the athletes the Olympic Games represent a lifetime of dedication in the pursuit of excellence and I wish them all the best over the comings weeks.”

Lani Belcher and Angela Hannah have squeezed into the Great Britain canoe sprint team for Rio just hours before the final deadline for entries. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire)Lani Belcher and Angela Hannah have squeezed into the Great Britain canoe sprint team for Rio just hours before the final deadline for entries. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire)
Lani Belcher and Angela Hannah have squeezed into the Great Britain canoe sprint team for Rio just hours before the final deadline for entries. (Picture: Tim Goode/PA Wire)

One hundred and 64 women make up 45 per cent of the British squad to compete in Rio, 21 more than went to Beijing eight years ago. Great Britain had 262 female competitors at London 2012, though that owed much to the extra spaces on offer in a multitude of sports for the host nation.

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