ATHLETICS Laviai Nielsen to captain Great Britain & Northern Ireland team in Glasgow

Nielsen, a four-time world outdoor relay medallist, will take charge of the squad during the home Championships.

Laviai Nielsen, a distinguished global medallist hailing from Enfield and Haringey club under the guidance of coach Tony Lester, has been appointed as the captain to lead the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland from March 1 to March 3.

Nielsen, a four-time world outdoor relay medallist, will take charge of the squad during the home Championships.

 The 2024 UK Indoor champion is set to compete in both the individual 400m and the 4x400m relay events. Notably, she kicked off her 2024 campaign impressively, achieving an indoor personal best of 51.11 in Lievin earlier this month.

Having represented GB & NI in multiple senior Championships and Games since 2017, Nielsen has secured her place on the world podium in the 4x400m relay in London, Oregon, and Budapest.

 Her success on the track at the Emirates Arena includes winning silver in the 4x400m relay at the European Indoor Championships in 2019.

Expressing her feelings about the captaincy, Nielsen said, “It was quite surreal to receive the phone call from Paula (Dunn). 

"This is my third home Championships and my fifteenth senior Championships for GB & NI, so I think I have the right experience and wisdom to share with the team. I am very excited to deliver my speech."

She added, “It feels like it has come full circle for me. In 2012 I volunteered in front of a home crowd in London.

"I felt the warmth of the crowd and after hearing that, it inspired me to take on this career. Five years later I competed at the World Championships in London and won my first global medal, and then I did the Euros in Glasgow back in 2019 and I am back there again this year."

Nielsen emphasized the significance of competing in front of a home crowd, encouraging her teammates to embrace the opportunity and use the crowd for that extra push, enhancing their performances.

Paula Dunn, the Team Leader, expressed her confidence in Nielsen's ability to lead, stating, “Laviai demonstrates all the qualities of a great team captain, and I am delighted to hand her the honor for these home Championships in Glasgow. 

She has vast experience on GB & NI teams over the last few years and she was an integral member of the medal-winning relay teams in Budapest last summer. 

“I know she will step up to the role with huge enthusiasm and provide inspiration to the whole team as they compete at the World Indoors this week."

Unfortunately, there has been an update to the team as Jeremiah Azu, following an injury sustained earlier in the week, has decided to withdraw from the men’s 60m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. The team wishes him a speedy recovery and all the best for the remainder of 2024.

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships, Glasgow, Scotland on the 1-3 March 2024:

Women

Georgia Bell (Trevor Painter, Belgrave) – 1500m

Isabelle Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield and Haringey) – 800m

Amelia Campbell (Zane Duquemin, Thames Valley) – Shot Put

Molly Caudery (Scott Simpson, Thames Valley) – Pole Vault

Amy Hunt (Marco Airale, Charnwood) – 60m

Morgan Lake (Robbie Grabarz, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow) – High Jump

Laura Muir (Steve Vernon, Dundee Hawkhill) – 3000m

Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield and Haringey) – 400m

Hannah Nuttall (Helen Clitheroe, Charnwood) – 3000m

Abigail Pawlett (Ashley Bryant, Trafford) – Pentathlon

Jemma Reekie (Jon Bigg, Kilbarchan) – 800m

Cindy Sember (Chris Johnson, Woodford Green Essex Ladies) – 60m Hurdles

Revee Walcott-Nolan (Thomas Dreißigacker, Luton) – 1500m

4x400m: Hannah Brier (Matt Elias, Swansea), Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton), Jessie Knight (Marina Armstrong, Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow), Laviai Nielsen (Tony Lester, Enfield and Haringey), Lina Nielsen (Tony Lester, Shaftesbury Barnet) and Ama Pipi (Linford Christie; Enfield & Haringey)

Men

Callum Elson (Nick Aguila, Cambridge & Coleridge) – 1500m

Adam Fogg (Cory Leslie, Coventry) – 1500m

Josh Kerr (Danny Mackey, Edinburgh) – 3000m

David King (Tim O’Neil, City of Plymouth) – 60m Hurdles

Scott Lincoln (Paul Wilson, City of York) – Shot Put

Tade Ojora (Joanna Hayes, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) – 60m Hurdles

Team Staff

Team Leader: Paula Dunn

Team Coaches: Darren Campbell, Robbie Grabarz, Darren Ritchie, Allan Scott, Dan Stepney, Laura Turner-Alleyne and Steve Vernon

Medical and Sport Science: Nils Bogaard, James Brown, James Hedger, Catherine McCormick, Adam Rattenberry and Jen Savage

Team Management: Lorna Dwyer and Sharon Morris