LAVIAI NIELSEN TO CAPTAIN THE GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TEAM AT GLASGOW24

Global medallist Laviai Nielsen (coach: Tony Lester, club: Enfield and Haringey) will lead the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland [1-3 March].

Nielsen – a four-time world outdoor relay medallist – will captain the squad for the home Championships.

The 2024 UK Indoor champion will compete in the individual 400m and 4x400m relay at the Championships. She has started her 2024 campaign in style, running 51.11, an indoor personal best, in Lievin this month.

The Enfield and Haringey athlete has represented GB & NI at multiple senior Championships and Games since 2017,

reaching the world podium in the 4x400m relay in London, Oregon and Budapest. She has also enjoyed success on the track at the Emirates Arena, winning silver in the 4x400m relay at the European Indoor Championships in 2019.

On receiving 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.

“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.

“So, I really want to express to the team how special it is to compete in front of a home crowd and how lifted they will feel. They should embrace this opportunity and use the crowd for that extra push which will add to their performances.”

Team Leader, Paula Dunn, said, “Laviai demonstrates all the qualities of a great team captain, and I am delighted to hand her the honour 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.”

There has been one update to the team announced last week. After sustaining an injury earlier in the week, Jeremiah Azu has made the decision to withdraw from the men’s 60m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships. We wish him a speedy recovery and all the best for the rest of 2024.