Eilidh Child will lead the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team at the forthcoming IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland after being named as captain.
The 27-year-old won 4x400m gold at last year’s European Indoor Championships and will again look to defend her crown alongside Laura Wake and sisters Christine and Victoria Ohuruogu.
But the Scottish athlete, who made the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles at London 2012, will also assume additional responsibility after being chosen for the captaincy by British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black.
The championships take place this weekend from March 7-9 with Child admitting the announcement on her role had come as a welcome shock.
“I was really shocked when Neil (Black) phoned me. It was the last thing on my mind that I was going to be asked to be team captain. I’m really honoured, it was a complete surprise,” she said.
“To me the role of captain is about being there to support one another. Hopefully I can add that extra little bit of support and try and keep everyone chilled out and relaxed.”
Meanwhile, Eilish McColgan, selected to compete in the 3,000m, has withdrawn from the squad after failing to return to full fitness following a recent minor illness.
© Sportsbeat 2014