2nd August 2018
GREENE CHOSEN BY TEAMMATES AS BRITISH CAPTAIN FOR BERLIN
Dai Greene (coach: Benke Blomkvist; club: Swansea) has been voted as captain by his British teammates for next week’s European Championships in Berlin from 6-12 August.
Greene, who won the world, European, Commonwealth and Diamond League 400m hurdles titles in a 14-month period from 2010 and 2011, received the most votes after every member of the 101-strong British team, the largest of the modern era, was given the chance to nominate who they would like to be captain.
The 32-year-old is enjoying a successful summer having booked his place to Berlin with gold at the Müller British Athletics Championships and having returned to the international stage at the Athletics World Cup, presented by Müller, both last month. Greene has previous captaincy experience having been handed the honour for the European Team Championships in Stockholm in 2011 and the Olympic Games in London in 2012.
Greene won his first major senior medal in Berlin, claiming silver as part of the British 4x400m relay quartet at the World Championships in 2009 and his first ever international medal at a European Championships, taking silver as an under 20 in 2005. As part of his role, he will deliver a pre-Championships speech at the British team meeting.
Dai Greene said: “After such a long time out of the team, it came as quite a shock to be selected as captain for the European Championships by my teammates. I am incredibly proud to take on the role once again. I can’t wait to lead such a great team into the Championships in Berlin next week.”
Neil Black, Performance Director at British Athletics, said: “I am delighted for Dai that he has been chosen to captain the British team for the European Championships in Berlin. Dai is enjoying a great season after a difficult period of time with injury and it is testament to his determination and character that his peers have chosen him for such an honour. Dai is a truly great athlete both on and off the track and is a fantastic choice to lead what is our biggest team of the modern era. I have no doubt he will lead by example with his performances on the track and by how he operates off the track.”
Meanwhile, race walker Gemma Bridge (Mark Wall; Oxford City) has withdrawn from the British team for the European Championships as she recovers from injury.