Dan Pembroke (John Trower, Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow) and Anna Nicholson (Richard Kaufman, Gateshead) have been named as the Novuna GB & NI team co-captains for the World Para Athletics Championships that begin today in New Delhi, India.
Keeping with tradition, these two athletes were voted in by their GB & NI teammates, and both gave heart-warming speeches to the rest of the team ahead of the Championships.
Pembroke, the two-time Paralympic Champion, will aim to retain his World title in the F13 javelin for a third time. He spoke about his first experience of representing GB & NI, imparting wise words to the team, plus the importance of showing up for other people in the team.
“It is an incredible honour to be your captain and stand here with Anna – an incredible athlete who is kind, compassionate and empathic. All the characteristics you need as a team captain, so I feel very confident being here with Anna to share this experience.”
Nicholson, who won bronze at the Paris Paralympics in the F35 shot put, will be competing in her third World Championships. The North East athlete spoke to the squad about the importance of being part of a team, always having her door open to others and reminding them to have fun.
“It means the world to have been voted in by my teammates. The fact that it has come from them, those who have competed for years on the world stage, to the new people in the team, for them to tell me I am a good captain, is something special, as I see those captain qualities in everybody else. It is so lovely for them to have said it to me.”
The Championships begin on Saturday, 27th September, and fans in the UK can watch it via the Para Athletics YouTube channel.
The full Novuna Great Britain & Northern Ireland team selection for the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, India, between 26 September and 5 October.
Women
Kare Adenegan (Arno Mul, Coventry) – T34 100m, 800m and 400m
Hollie Arnold (Scott Knighton, Blackheath & Bromley) – F46 Javelin
Fabienne Andre (Chris Parsloe, Sutton & District) – T34 800m, 100m and 400m
Olivia Breen (Aston Moore, City of Portsmouth) – T38 Long Jump,100m and Universal Relay
Hannah Cockcroft (Paul Moseley, Leeds) – T34 100m, 800m, 400m and Universal Relay
Lydia Church (Mark Edwards, Peterborough & Nene Valley) – F12 Shot Put
Bree Cronin (Josh Clark, Cardiff) – F44 Discus*
Maddie Down (Mike Bennett, Halesowen) – T38 Long Jump, 100m and Universal Relay
Sabrina Fortune (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Deeside) – F20 Shot Put
Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood) – T38 100m, 200m and Universal Relay
Bebe Jackson (Alan James, Woodford Green, Essex Ladies) – T44 100m and 200m*
Victoria Levitt (Mansfield) – T44 100m and 200m*
Anna Nicholson (Richard Kaufman, Gateshead)– F35 Shot Put
Funmi Oduwaiye (Josh Clark, DSW Para Academy) – F44 Shot Put and F44 Discus
Didi Okoh (Tony Hadley, Birchfield Harriers) – T63 100m
Amy Thompson (Mark Edwards, Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton) – F41 Shot Put*
Hannah Taunton (Charlotte Fisher, Taunton) – T20 1500m
Mel Woods (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) – T54 800m, 400m and 1500m
Men
Jonathan Broom Edwards (Deidre Elmhirst, Newham and Essex Beagles) – T64 High Jump
Aled Davies (Cardiff) – F63 Shot Put
Dan Gladman (Leigh) – T64 100m*
Dan Greaves (Zane Duquemin, Charnwood) – F44 Discus
Michael Jenkins (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Swansea) – F38 Shot Put
Nathan Maguire (Ste Hoskins, Kirkby) – T54 1500m, 400m and 800m
Finlay Menzies (Graeme Reid, Livingston) – T72 100m and 400m*
Arthur Milles (Trevor Cummings, St Mary’s Richmond) – T13 1500m*
Luke Nuttall (Sonia and Chris McGeorge, Charnwood) – T46 1500m
Dan Pembroke (John Trower, Windsor Slough Eton Hounslow) – F13 Javelin
Marcus Perrineau Daley (Jake Foster, Weir Archer Academy) – T52 100m
Ben Sandilands (Steve Doig, Fife) – T20 1500m
Zak Skinner (Aston Moore, Loughborough Students) – T13 Long Jump
Luke Sinnott (Bournemouth) – T63 Long Jump
Harrison Walsh (Ryan Spencer-Jones, Swansea) – F44 Discus
Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood) – T38 100m
*Those marked will be making their senior international debuts
For more information regarding the classifications, you can read more via ParalympicsGB or IPC para athletics.