Katie Archibald sets her sights firmly on Olympic gold while six shooters book their tickets to Rio 2016. Here's our review of the last 24 hours. Team pursuit gold the main target for Katie Archibald in Rio Ed Ling thrilled after being named as one of six shooters heading to Brazil Richard Hounslow ready to draw on London experience ahead of Olympics Athletes selected for World Class Performance Programme
Katie Archibald says the team pursuit in Rio is her ultimate goal after helping Britain claim European gold last month.
The 21-year-old came home with three gold medals from Grenchen with individual pursuit and elimination race titles to add to the team pursuit.
Britain are the reigning Olympic team pursuit champions and Archibald helped the team claim the world crown in 2014.
But 2015’s World Championships were a different story as Australia ousted GB to claim the top step on the podium.
However, Archibald is determined to help Britain retain their Olympic crown and says the strength in depth the country has is the perfect motivation.
"I feel good about training and how I've been performing at races so I hope it's going to pay off," she told the BBC.
"Everything I ever do will be to try to win that team pursuit medal.
"There are five of us and there are usually four spots, which seems like a recipe for disaster, but I think it just pushes you on.
"The ultimate target is against every other nation in the world, not against each other, so we're kind of held together by that.”
Ed Ling says it is an honour to turn out for Great Britain at another Olympics after the two-time World Championship medallist was named as one of six shooters chosen for Rio 2016.
Ling will be joined by Amber Hill, Elena Allen, Jen McIntosh, Steve Scott and Tim Kneale in Brazil with shooting the third sport to name athletes after sailing and slalom canoeing.
“I’m absolutely over the moon. All the hard work has come together. You never know who is going to get the place, but I knew that as long long as I held my form, I should get it,” said Ling.
“It’s a great honour. Every sports person who wears that flag for their country should be honoured - it’s a great experience. It’s what we work for, to obtain that Olympic medal. I think the experience I’ve had means I know what I’m going to expect going into this year but when competing we’re only as good as we can perform on the day.” Read more here.
Richard Hounslow knows the pressure of a home Olympics and insists this time around he's hoping to be out of the spotlight.
Hounslow and David Florence were confirmed as Team GB's canoe slalom C2 pair last week and will be looking to upgrade their London 2012 silver in Rio next summer.
Since their second place behind team-mates Etienne Scott and Timothy Baillie three years ago, Florence and Hounslow won the world title in 2013 and took bronze on home waters a few weeks ago.
And Hounslow admits such results bring expectation of more success next summer.
"We knew we were favourites for selection but that meant we could only really fail. If you get the spot everyone says it's expected, if you miss it then it's a massive shock," he said.
"Before London there was a general expectation but being out in Rio will help us escape the pressure and enable us to focus on our plan and not worry about expectations.
"I expect lots of myself, I have a silver in London and we both want to turn that into a gold in Rio. We aren't there for the tracksuit, we are there to win a medal and, hopefully, to make it a gold one.
British Athletics performance director Neil Black is excited about what the next few years have in store after the 2015-16 World Class Performance Programme athletes were named.
UK Athletics have invited 21 athletes to join the Olympic podium programme with an additional 29 joining the podium potential programme.
Among those chosen on the podium programme are Olympic champions Jess Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford while rising stars Dina Asher-Smith and Zharnel Hughes are also included.
British high jump record holder Isobel Pooley is included in the podium potential programme along with European indoor 60m hurdle silver medallist Lucy Hatton.
"2015 was an excellent year for the British Athletics teams at both the IAAF and IPC World Championships in Beijing and Doha respectively,” said Black.
“Our immediate focus is firmly on medals next year in Rio 2016, followed by London 2017 when we will host both the IAAF and IPC World Athletics Championships.”
Sportsbeat 2015