2026-27 Olympic Futures programme athletes announced

UK Athletics has announced new athletes for the 2026/27 Olympic Futures Programme and Futures Relay Sprint Programme.

Supported by Nike and delivered in partnership with the Home Country Athletics Federations, the programme identifies and supports athletes and coaches who have shown the potential to achieve success on the world stage and at future Olympic Games.

Through tailored guidance and experiences, the programme aims to build on existing support to help athletes develop towards senior international success and progression onto the World Class Programme (WCP).

We welcome World U20 bronze medallist Wyatt Larkins to the Futures programme in the hammer throw, alongside World U20 relay medallist Sophie Thomas and European U18 100m champion, Divine Iheme.

Samuel James jumped to new heights this summer at the European U18 Championships, claiming gold in the men’s high jump in Italy and setting a new age-group record.

Tito Odeunaike made waves at the start of the year, winning the men’s triple jump at the Novuna UK Indoor Championships at just 16. He went on to win gold at the U18 Championships in Italy.

Freddie Rowe became the youngest winner of the Bannister Mile in Oxford, running 4:00.88; he later claimed the European U18 1500m title.

Bronson Hearn-Smith won gold in the 200m at the European U18 Championships, setting a new championship record in the final.

Daniel Emegbor, who placed 7th in the men’s long jump final with a jump of 7.72m at the World U20 Championships, set an outstanding new personal best and a championship record of 7.82m in the men’s long jump to win the English Schools title.

Futures graduate Ben Jefferies did the relay double at the European Championships, winning silver in the mixed 4x400m and then again on the final night as part of the men’s 4x400m team. Alongside him was Sam Lunt, who was in the quartet that qualified the men’s team for that final, securing his first senior medal.

Shakira King delivered a standout performance to claim bronze in a highly competitive 800m field at the World U20 Championships in Eugene, while Innes FitzGerald secured a third consecutive U20 European Cross Country title. Both athletes remain supported through the Futures Programme.

The Futures Sprint Relay programme, supported by Nike, is split into U20 and U23 age groups to develop the next generation of British sprint talent.

Through camps, competitions and performance experiences, athletes and coaches receive support from British Athletics relay and senior coaches, alongside the performance team to develop the skills needed to excel in relay teams and transition successfully into senior athletics.

This summer, the junior relay teams had great success, setting a new world record in the mixed 4x100m at the U20 Worlds and going on to win silver, featuring new Futures athlete Sophie Thomas and European U18 Champion Divine Iheme.

The men’s 4x100m won silver, making that Iheme second medal of the champs, the quartet setting a U20 European record time of 38,90. Motivated by the team’s success in the USA, the women’s 4x400m claimed bronze on the final day in Eugene.

Dan Wagner, Head of Performance Pathways at British Athletics, said:

“This year’s cohort reflects the strength of emerging talent across British athletics, and we’re delighted to welcome new athletes and their coaches onto the Olympic Futures Programme. Their performances over the past season have demonstrated significant potential for future international success.”

“It’s also been encouraging to see current and former Futures athletes continue to progress on the world stage. Our goal is to collaborate and understand athletes and coaches and provide relevant support, experiences and opportunities that adds value at this key stage of their development as they continue their journey towards senior success.”

There will be a second round of selections for the Futures Relay Programme following the indoor season looking towards European Athletics U20 and U23 Championships in July.

New to the Futures Programme

Bronson Hearn-Smith (Colchester Harriers AC, Stephen Garnham) – 200m / relay

Daniel Emegbor (Harrow AC, Rohan Samuel) – Long jump

Divine Iheme (Radley Athletic Club, Nkiruka Joyce Iheme) – 100m / 4x100m relay

Freddie Rowe (Havering AC, Patrick Gahagan) – 1500m

Samuel James (Kingston AC and Poly Harriers, James Wild) – high jump

Sophie Thomas (Dunfermline Track & Field Club, Agustin Osorio) – 200m / 4x100m relay

Tito Odunaike (Marshall Milton Keynes AC, David Johnson) – triple jump

Wyatt Larkins (Harrow AC, Jamie Bath) – Hammer throw

Retained on Futures Programme

Ava Lloyd (Wigan & District Harriers & AC, Trevor Painter) – 1500m

Daniel Goriola (Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC, Tony Jarrett) – 110m hurdles

Ed Bird – (Poole AC) 3000m/5000m

Eden Robinson (Cardiff Archers, Christian North) – Heptathlon

Elizabeth Korczak (Brighton & Hove AC, Bob Willows & Ray Robinson) – Javelin

Gemma Tutton (Lewes AC, Erick Duffy) – Pole Vault

Henry Jonas (City of Norwich, Sonia & Chris McGeorge) – 800m

Innes Fitzgerald (Exeter AC, Gavin Pavey) – 3000m/5000m

Jaden Smith (Arkansas) – 400m

Jake Odey-Jordan (Be Fit Today Track Academy, Calvin Robinson) – 200m

Lyla Belshaw (Colchester Harriers AC, Trevor Painter) – 1500m

Mabel Akande (Lincoln Wellington, Denise Timmins) – 100m / 4x100m Relay

Michael Allison (Windsor, Slough, Eton and Hounslow, Nick Nieland) – Javelin

Otis Poole (Yate & District,Joy Bray) – High Jump

Piers Cameron (Birchfield Harriers, Kyle Stringer) – Shot Put

Renee Regis (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Clarence Callender & Darren Braithwaite) – 200m

Sam Lunt (Wirral Athletics Club, James Wright) – 400m Hurdles / 4x400m Relay

Sammy Ball (Reading, Rafer Joseph) – Decathlon

Shakira King (Wreake & Soar Valley, Jon Bigg) – 800m

Teddy Wilson (Shaftesbury Barnet, Marvin Rowe) – 100m / 4x100m Relay

Thea Brown (Sale Harriers Manchester, Ash Bryant) – Long Jump / Heptathlon

Will Barnicoat (Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletics Club,Dean Miller) – 5000m

Will Rabjohns (Poole AC, Mark Pauley & Kyle Bennett) – 800m

Zara Obamakinwa (Blackheath and Bromley, Mark Chapman) – Discus

Ben East (Team Kennet, John Trower) – Javelin

Molly Palmer (Nick Newman & Lukasz Zawila) – Long Jump

Transition

Abbie Ives (Basildon Athletic Club, Luke Gunn) – 800m

Aleeya Sibbons (Newham & Essex Beagles, Colin Bovell) – 100m / 4x100m Relay

Alyson Bell (Glasgow Jaguars, Anne Scott) – 200m / 4x100m Relay

Brodie Young (Airdrie Harriers, James McMenemy) – 400m / 4x400m Relay

Faith Akinbileje (Blackheath and Bromley Harriers AC, David Sadkin) – 100m / 4x100m Relay

Jeriel Quainoo (Blackheath and Bromley, Linford Christie) – 200m / 4x100m Relay

Justin Davies (Team Bath, Martin Rush) – 800m

Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Harrow, Michael Frater) – 100m / 4x100m Relay

Poppy Malik (Harrow, Nick Dakin) – 400m / 4x400m Relay

Joy Eze (Gateshead AC, Mike Donnelly) – 100m / 4x100m Relay

For more information about the British Athletics Futures programme, you can read more here, including the selection policy.

Futures Relay Programme – 4×100 & 4×400

4x100m U20	4x100m U23
James Arminio, Maizie Boylan, Emma Clark, Nell Desir, Farrell Fabusiwa, Bronson Hearn-Smith, Ethan Heggarty, Maia Heward-Mills, Divine Iheme, Owen Keenlyside, Shaiya Kenion, Keeley Little, Shivelle Marshall, Celine Obinna-Alo, Tyler Thompson, Holly Whittaker	Matthew Ajayi, Mabel Akande, Faith Akinbileje, Mayo Alabi, Serena Blackwood, Lily Bradley, Ethan Franklin, Kissiwa Mensah, Savannah Morgan, Ebuka Nwokeji, Jake Odey-Jordan, Renee Regis, Kaya Slater, Sophie Thomas, Nia Wedderburn-Goodison, Jasmine Wilkins, Dylan Williams, Alec Williamson, Teddy Wilson
4x400m U20	4x400m U23
Matthew Agbolegbe, Lucia Bertacchini, Lucas Cameron, Noa Chodokufa, Luseni Conteh, Darcy Coslett, Caitlin Hadfield, Cara Monachello, Bisan Musa, Shiloh Omotosho, Holly Ryan, Thomas Watton, Rowan Whittaker	Jessica Astill, Alexander Beck, Camiah Bennett, Harry Bradley, Rebecca Grieve, Charlotte Henrich, Emma Holmes, Annabel Howells, Nandy Kihuyu, Sam Lunt, Luc Macleod, Eleanor McIntosh, Rayhan Mourtada, Casey Musgrave, Stephanie Okoro, Fabian Powell, Dylan Purton