Eight Scots are named on World Class Programme by UK Athletics

Wednesday 25th October 2023

Jake Wightman is one of four Scots on the Olympic Podium level in the WCP (photo via Getty Images/British Athletics

Full list and announcement by UK Athletics

Eight top Scots have been nominated for membership to join the UK Athletics Olympic World Class Programme (WCP) for 2023/24.

The Olympic WCP is UK Sport’s National Lottery funded initiative which has the purpose to identify, develop and support talented athletes towards medal success at the Olympic Games and other major Championships.

A total of 67 athletes are included with the Scottish cohort strong via eight names – and four of those at the highest level of support.

The WCP is split into several levels reflecting the actual and potential performance development levels of athletes: Podium, Podium Potential, Relay and Confirmation.

Athletes are nominated for the WCP to further the aim of UK Athletics to win medals at Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Josh Kerr, Laura Muir, Jemma Reekie and Jake Wightman are on the highest level, with Neil Gourley and Eilish McColgan on the Olympic Podium Potential level. Nicole Yeargin is with the Olympic Relays and Alyson Bell moves onto the WCP for the first time.

It means the Scottish representation is at 12 percent of the overall UK programme (higher than the population ratio). Seven Scots were named on the Para WCP last month (out of 41 athletes).

We send our warm congratulations to these athletes after many years of hard work to compete at this level and to their coaches and support teams, as well as the clubs involved in their development along the pathway.

Seven Para Scots named on WCP programme

14 Scots on WCP – our story in November 2022