British Athletics have today named 25-year-old multi-eventer Ashley Bryant (coach: Aston Moore) as captain of its team at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

Bryant, who claimed silver in the Decathlon at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, will captain a team of 32 athletes, including the record breaking Laura Muir (Andy Young) who is aiming to become double European Champion in the 1500m and 3000m, defending European champion Richard Kilty (Michael Khmel) and world number one Andrew Pozzi (Benke Blomkvist), plus Olympic medallists Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Caan), Asha Philip (Steve Fudge) and Eilidh Doyle (Malcolm Arnold).

“It’s an absolute honour to be chosen as Captain of such a strong team heading out to Belgrade,” said Bryant, whose fifth-place in Amsterdam last year was the highest finish by a Brit in the decathlon at the European Athletics Championships since 1986.

“It’s my first time captaining the senior championship team and is a real step up from being World Junior captain back in 2010.  I’ve personally had a great indoor season so far and to be given this role is the icing on the cake.  It is an absolutely massive year for British Athletics with London 2017 just around the corner, but our focus this weekend is very much on Belgrade.  I hope the team can continue to produce the fine performances we’ve already seen during the indoor season and enjoy a very successful championships.”

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “In many ways a Combined Eventer is the perfect athletics Captain.  They have experience across so many disciplines, both on the track and in the field.  Ashley has all the qualities required to lead this talented group of athletes to success in Belgrade and I am delighted he has accepted this role.”

British Athletics also announced that Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the team and will not travel to Belgrade on Wednesday morning.

The British Athletics team for the European Athletics Indoor Championships:

MEN:

60m:

Richard Kilty (Michael Khmel)

Andrew Robertson (Sam Robertson)

Theo Etienne (Ryan Freckleton)

800m:

Guy Learmonth (Henry Gray)

Kyle Langford (George Harrison)

1500m:

Tom Lancashire (Steve Cram)

3000m:

Nick Goolab (Craig Winrow)

60mH:

Andrew Pozzi (Benke Blomkvist)

David King (James Hillier)

David Omoregie (Benke Blomkvist)

High Jump:

Robbie Grabarz (Fuzz Caan)

Chris Kandu (Fuzz Caan)

Allan Smith (Bryan Roy)

Long Jump:

Dan Bramble (Frank Attoh)

Combined Events:

Ashley Bryant (Aston Moore)

Liam Ramsay (Mike Corden)

WOMEN:

60m:

Asha Philip (Steve Fudge)

400m:

Eilidh Doyle (Malcolm Arnold)

Laviai Nielsen (Frank Adams)

Lina Nielsen (Frank Adams)

800m:

Shelayna Oskan-Clarke (Jon Bigg)

1500m:

Laura Muir (Andy Young)

Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan-Nuttall)

Sarah McDonald (Bud Baldaro)

3000m:

Laura Muir (Andy Young)

Eilish McColgan (Liz McColgan-Nuttall)

Steph Twell (Mick Woods)

High Jump:

Morgan Lake (Aston Moore)

Long Jump:

Lorraine Ugen (Shawn Jackson)

Jazmin Sawyers (Kelly Sotherton)

Shot Put:

Rachel Wallader (Richard Woodhall)

4x400m:

Eilidh Doyle (Malcolm Arnold)

Laviai Nielsen (Frank Adams)

Lina Nielsen (Frank Adams)

Philippa Lowe (Debbie Keenlyside)

Mary Iheke (Frank Adams)