2026/27 Olympic World Class Programme – Athletes Announced

A total of 62 athletes are nominated for membership of the UK Athletics Olympic World Class Programme (WCP) for 2027.

The Olympic WCP is UK Sport’s National Lottery funded initiative to identify, develop and support talented athletes on the pathway to podium success at the 2028 LA Olympic Games and beyond.

The Programme is structured across several levels: Podium, Podium Potential, Relay and Confirmation. It reflects both current performance standards and future medal potential, for 2027 programme 10 new athletes are on the confirmation level.

Athletes on the World Class Programme receive competition opportunities, training camps and multidisciplinary support from UK Athletics’ performance practitioners, sports science and medical teams, helping them maximise their potential on the international stage.

Each athlete can receive an Athlete Performance Award, a contribution designed to support the living and sporting costs of being a high-performance athlete.

Nominations for WCP membership are based on the assessment that they have the realistic potential and demonstrated performance capability to achieve podium success at LA 2028 and future Olympic cycles.

A Relay Support Package is a targeted funding award designed to support relay athletes with the potential to contribute to medal winning success in future Olympic cycles. Please note that this support package does not include an Athlete Performance Award.

As in previous years, all nominations for the WCP remain subject to ratification by UK Sport and the completion of a signed athlete agreement between the athlete and UK Athletics.

Paula Dunn, Performance Director at UK Athletics, said:

“I would like to thank UK Sport and The National Lottery for their continued investment in the World Class Programme. Their support is fundamental to our ability to provide athletes with competition opportunities and performance support they need to compete on the world stage.

“This group reflects the strength and depth of talent we currently have across British athletics, bringing together established international medallists alongside an exciting generation of emerging athletes who have demonstrated the potential to achieve success at future global championships.

“As we continue building towards the Olympic Games in Los Angeles and beyond, this programme will play a vital role in helping athletes maximise their performance and realise their ambitions. Selection to the World Class Programme recognises both current achievement and future potential.

“I would also like to thank the coaches, practitioners, families and wider support networks whose commitment and expertise are so important to the development of the athletes.

“For those not included in this year’s programme, we recognise the hard work and commitment that has gone into reaching this level. Athlete development looks different for everyone.”

2027 World Class Programme:

Olympic Podium

Amber Anning (Brighton & Hove)
Dina Asher-Smith (Blackheath & Bromley)
Max Burgin (club:Halifax Harriers, coach:Ian Burgin)
Emile Cairess (Leeds City, Renato Canova)
Molly Caudery (Thames Valley, Scott Simpson)
Keely Hodgkinson (Leigh, Trevor Painter)
Amy Hunt (Marco Airale)
Georgia Hunter Bell (Belgrave Harriers, Trevor Painter)
Zharnel Hughes (Shaftesbury Barnet, Glen Mills)
Katarina Johnson-Thompson (Liverpool, Aston Moore)
Josh Kerr (Edinburgh, Danny Mackey)
Morgan Lake (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, Yannick Tregaro)
Scott Lincoln (City of York, Dale Stevenson)
Laura Muir (Dundee Hawkhill, Laura Weightman)
Daryll Neita (Cambridge Harriers, Lance Brauman)
Jade O’Dowda (Newham and Essex Beagles, John Lane)
Ben Pattison (Basingstoke & Mid Hants, Dave Ragan)
Jemma Reekie (Kilbarchan, Jon Bigg)
Jazmin Sawyers (City of Stoke, Aston Moore)
Jake Wightman (Edinburgh, John Hartigan)
Matthew Hudson-Smith (Birchfield Harriers, Gary Evans)

Olympic Podium Potential

Charlie Dobson (Colchester)
Tyri Donovan (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, Marina Armstrong)

Success Eduan (Sale Harriers Manchester, Anita Richardson)
Romell Glave (Croydon, Michael Afilaka)
Neil Gourley (Giffnock North, Stephen Haas)
Megan Keith (Inverness, Ross Cairns)
Mahamed Mahamed (Southampton, Idris Hamud)

George Mills (Brighton Phoenix, Thomas Dreißigacker)
Emily Newnham (Shaftesbury Barnet, Nick Dakin)
Hannah Nuttall (Charnwood AC, Helen Clitheroe)
Jake Norris (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, Nick Ridgeon)

Tade Ojora (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
Elise Thorner (Yeovil Olympiad, Helen Clitheroe)

Olympic Relay

Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff, Helen James)
Lewis Davey (Newham & Essex Beagles, Trevor Painter)
Toby Harries (Brighton Phoenix, David Sadkin)
Alex Haydock-Wilson (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow)
Desiree Henry (Enfield & Haringey)
Louie Hinchliffe (Sheffield & Dearne, Carl Lewis)
Yemi Mary John (Woodford Green Essex Ladies, Alan James)
Imani-Lara Lansiquot (Marco Airale)
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Newham & Essex Beagles, Michael Afilaka)
Lina Nielsen (Shaftesbury Barnet, Jack Green)
Laviai Nielsen (Enfield & Haringey)
Sam Reardon (Blackheath & Bromley, Nigel Stickings)
Nicole Yeargin (Pitreavie, Gregory Sholars)

Olympic Relay Confirmation

Lee Thompson (Sheffield & Dearne, John Henson)

Olympic Confirmation

Samuel Bennett (Basildon AC, Steven Surety)*
Joel Clarke-Khan (Thames Valley Harriers, Deirdre Elmhirst)*
Patrick Dever (Preston, Alastair Cragg)
Abbie Donnelly (Lincoln Wellington AC, Chris Jones)*
Phoebe Gill (St Albans, Mark Rowland)
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Hallamshire, Nick Hauger)
Charlotte Henrich (Invicta East Kent, Nigel Stickings)*
Owen Heard (Harrow AC, Kate Rooney)*
Kimani Jack (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Ryan Bailey)*
Arlo Ludewick (Herne Hill Harriers, Norman Poole)*
Stephen Mackenzie (Edinburgh AC)*
Jake Minshall (Coventry Godiva Harriers, James Wright)*
Abigail Pawlett (Trafford, Ashley Bryant)
Marcia Sey (Blackheath & Bromley, David Oliver)*

Relay Support Package

Ben Jefferies (Bristol and West AC)*

Those athletes with * by their name are new to the 2027 programme

Full Olympic World Class Programme policy can be found here, breaking down the tiers and selection criteria.