Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee says he is looking forward to a huge year ahead after he was named as one of four triathletes to be pre-selected for Rio 2016.
With official selection coming next June, British Triathlon have pre-selected Alistair and brother Jonathan based on their ability to win medals at the Olympics – with both finishing on the podium in London.
Non Stanford and Vicky Holland have also been pre-selected after meeting the automatic qualification criteria by winning medals at the Rio Test Event and World Triathlon Grand Final in Chicago.
All selection will hinge on form, fitness and eligibility and Alistair is determined to keep up his fine history of results up and reach the shores of Brazil.
“There is nothing bigger in triathlon than the Olympic Games, and I’m hugely excited about the year ahead,” he said.
“This news allows me to structure my winter training with Rio at the forefront of my mind. Knowing that Jonny has been pre-selected with me is another big boost.”
Alistair won gold at London and is also a two-time individual World Champion while Jonathan claimed Olympic bronze and was world champion in 2012.
For the women there is also plenty of pedigree with Stanford having claimed the world crown in 2013 and she says she can’t wait to get started ahead of a monumental year.
Stanford said: “At the start of this year Rio felt a long way off, but with pre-selection confirmed I just can’t wait to get 2016 started.”
Sportsbeat 2015