Olympic24: Richardson-Walsh is back and Lake claims record

Olympic bronze medallist is back in the international hockey fold and rising star level 18-year old claims high jump record: Here's our review of the last 24 hours.

Kate Richardson-Walsh returns to the international fold after a brief break from the centralised programme after last year's Commonwealth Games.

Richardson-Walsh, who captained Team GB to hockey bronze at London 2012, initially hinted she might retire after Glasgow but changing her mind.

She is named in a 22-strong British squad for a three-match test series with world number 15 side Spain, which starts today.

“It’s great to be taking this group to Valencia and to be playing as Great Britain as we look ahead to a big year for the squad with Olympic qualification in June," said head coach Danny Kerry.

"There are six players in line to make their Great Britain debuts and as ever the combination of talent across the wider squad is an exciting prospect and brings extra competitiveness to selection and raises the bar of performance even further.”

Rising star heptathlete Morgan Lake has equalled the long standing British under-20 high jump record.

The 17-year old warmed up for this weekend's indoor British Championships by clearing 1.89 metres to equal the mark set  by Michelle Dunkley in 1997. And she even admitted disappointment she didn't go higher.

Elsewhere, Lawrence Clark warmed up for Sheffield with a lifetime best of 7.59 seconds in the 60m hurdles.

And world indoor 60m champion Richard Kilty equalled his season's best of 6.57 secs as he finished second to Germany's in-form Christian Blum.

Tiffany Porter secured the European Indoor qualifying standard in two consecutive races, posting 7.99 secs and 8.01 secs to take the world Indoor bronze medallist to the top of the domestic rankings.

Sir Bradley Wiggins is ready to go through the pain barrier in the Tour of Qatar - hoping it's perfect preparation for his bid to land one of cycling's famous monuments.

The four-time Olympic champion is targeting the famous Paris-Roubaix in April before he switches his focus towards ending his career on the track at the Rio Olympics.

He finished nine minutes off the pace in Monday's second stage after a getting caught up in a sandstorm but insists it's all part of the process.

"It's one of those horrible races and no one really likes it but for the classic races, it's the best preparation," he said.

British Shooting has received a funding boost as one of seven sports set to share £2.3 million to help prepare athletes for the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Their funding and specialist help is very important to us and will allow us to implement our strategy for the sport through to Rio and beyond," said chairman John Harris.

Short track speed skater Jack Whelbourne reached the final of the 1500m but suffered a fall.

Britain's curlers started their campaigns with mixed results, David Murdoch's rink beating Russia but losing to Sweden. Eve Muirhead's rink lost to eventual silver medallists Sweden. Of course, they went on to win silver and bronze respectively.

© Sportsbeat 2015