Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold is refreshed and ready to bid for more success after returning to training, while the Great Britain women’s hockey team is announced for the upcoming Champions Trophy in London. Here’s our review of the last 24 hours.
Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold is determined to return a better skeleton slider than ever before after resuming training with her British skeleton teammates.
Yarnold completed the career Grand Slam of Olympic, World Championship, World Cup and European Championship gold before taking time away from the circuit last season.
But after recharging her batteries, the 27-year-old is ready to go again, with retaining her Olympic title at PyeongChang 2018 high on the agenda.
“It feels great to be back in the swing of things with my teammates as we prepare for the upcoming season on ice,” said Yarnold, who won all four of the sport’s major titles in just over 400 days between 2014 and 2015, and is targeting a place on the team for the first race of the season in December.
“I’m fully aware that the competition is in great shape, not least within the GB team itself where Laura (Deas) and Donna (Creighton) have kept the flag flying for us. I’d like the World Championship trophy back on my mantelpiece and retaining my title at the 2018 Olympics is of course in my sights.
“More so than the accolades, I am even more motivated to be a better slider than I was before. I have to prove that, not for others, but for myself.”
Great Britain captain Kate Richardson-Walsh will compete in her seventh Hockey Champions Trophy after coach Danny Kerry named her in his squad for the London competition.
Kerry has named an 18-strong squad for the tournament, at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, which starts in ten days.
Britain begin their campaign against Argentina on Saturday, June 18, and Kerry has named a highly experienced squad for the encounter.
“We have selected a complimentary blend of combinations that is adaptable to the differing challenges we will face at the Champions Trophy,” said Kerry.
“We have creativity, pace, and assuredness across the lines and we are all looking forward to the opportunity to play again at Lee Valley in the wonderful Olympic legacy venue.”
London 2012 silver medallist Samantha Murray headlines a four-strong Team GB modern pentathlon squad for this summer's Olympic Games in Rio.
Murray is joined on the team by Kate French, Joe Choong and James Cooke – the latter three all set for their Olympic Games debut in South America.
"The Olympic Games means everything to me," said Murray. "Having competed at London I now know what it's all about, I know what it's like to compete at the Games, and I feel like I know what it takes to get on the podium again.”
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Chris Froome remains third overall in the Criterium du Dauphine after Astana’s Fabio Aru took victory on stage three.
Froome, winner of the race last year, finished the stage in the peloton in 23rd place with race leader Alberto Contador 39th.
It means there is no change with Contador leading Froome by 13 seconds with Richie Porte second.
Gordon Benson will embrace his supporting role in Rio de Janeiro this summer - with delivering gold for his team-mates, rather than himself, the only ambition.
Team GB’s six-strong triathlon team is the most powerful ever named for an Olympic Games, with Benson racing alongside defending men’s champion Ali Brownlee and his younger brother, London 2012 bronze medallist and former world champion Jonathan.
“I’m happy to do whatever it takes to aid Ali and Jonny and help get them back on that Olympic podium where they belong. Having been on the other side does give you a bit of extra motivation too and you know how important a job it is.”
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Rio-bound sailors Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth have not completely changed sport but with the huge amount of new techniques they needed to learn when switching to the 49erFX class in order to fulfil their Olympic dream, they may as well have.
“I came over from Laser Radial so I had to learn how to stand up on the boat and talk from scratch,” explained Dobson.
“It was quite the transition and Sophie was very understanding while I was still finding my feet and my voice!”
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Sportsbeat 2016