18 June 2015

British Athletics today named Margaret Adeoye (coach: Linford Christie) as captain to the Great Britain & Northern Ireland team for the sixth edition of the European Athletics Team Championships in Cheboksary, Russia.

Adeoye, a bronze medallist in the 4x400metres relay at the 2013 World Championships, was selected by British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black and will lead a 46-strong team at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium on 20-21 June.

Adeoye, who is a member of both the 4×100 and 4×400 relay squads, as well as running in the individual 400m said: “I had a missed call from Neil last week and thought what have I done?  I wasn’t going to call back in case I was in trouble.  But after about 10 minutes I gave in and called him. I was shocked when he told me he wanted me to be the captain, I think my heart stopped for a second.

At first I asked him, ‘What me, are you sure you have the right number?’, but after it sank in I felt huge pride and very privileged to have been asked to be the team captain.”

And Adeoye knows just how much a team captain’s speech can inspire athletes, indeed she says the speech given by Christine Ohuruogu at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow “changed me as an athlete.”

“Christine just blew me away with her speech, so that was the first thing I thought about after getting off the phone to Neil.  I’m just going to be myself, but it’s whether I will be able to get it all out in front of all the other athletes – it’s a lot of people!”

British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “I was delighted to offer Margaret this captaincy.  The role of skipper at the European Team Championships is of vital importance, as you need a captain who can quickly unite the team and allow us to challenge for as many points as possible.  Mags is a proven championship performer and I know we can rely on her to inspire and look out for her team-mates.”

Click here to see the GB & NI team squad.