Olympic lightweight double champion Kat Copeland will make her first international appearance since London 2012 after being named in the 50-strong GB Rowing Team for the European Championships in Belgrade.
Copeland, who took a season’s rest from international competition last year, is one of 15 Olympic medallists in the team as Great Britain take part in their first ever European Championships.
Her selection comes following a strong return at April’s trials where she stormed to victory in the singles, and will partner 2013 World finalist Imogen Walsh in the double sculls.
Paul Thompson, chief coach for women said: “Kat has made an outstanding come-back to the squad and was dominant in the trials.
“She topped, with Imogen, a very competitive training group at the Trials. Everyone in this group has been pushing each other onwards. It will be a pleasure to see them race.”
The British squad will contest 17 different boat classes in total at the regatta from May 30 – June 1.
In the women’s pairs, Olympic champion Helen Glover will renew her World championship partnership with Polly Swann after London 2012 partner Heather Stanning withdrew from consideration on medical advice.
Olympic champions Alex Gregory and Andy Triggs-Hodge make up a new-look men’s coxless four crew, with Mohamed Sbihi, bronze medallist in the eight in London, and George Nash – who also won 2012 bronze in the men’s coxless pair, also selected in the boat.
The men’s eight includes five Olympic medallists – Pete Reed, Will Satch, James Foad, Matt Langridge and cox Phelan Hill – and they are joined by Oliver Cook, Matt Gotrel, Matt Tarrant, Phil Congdon and Scott Durant.
And 2012 Olympic bronze medallist and 2013 world finalist Alan Campbell goes in the single scull with GB Rowing Team’s Performance Director Sir David Tanner expecting some strong performances in Serbia.
"The European Championships have emerged as an important event in their own right and we are ambitious to do well in Belgrade," he said.
"We are excited to see how our winter's training translates into these first races before making decisions on the world cups in June and July and the World Championships in August.”
© Sportsbeat 2014