Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee headline British Triathlon podium team for 2018

While the elder Brownlee took 2017 off from Olympic distance triathlon to focus on the longer Ironman races – winning his first effort over the distance at the North American Championships.

He did make one foray back to the World Triathlon Series, winning his home event in Leeds, but had to take the rest of the season off after undergoing hip surgery in August.

Younger brother Jonathan finished sixth in the World Series, with his season also being interrupted by injuries.

The duo were both named in the Team England squad for next year's Commonwealth Games, however, alongside fellow podium squad athletes Vicky Holland and Jess Learmonth.

New names on the podium potential squad include Kate Waugh and Olivia Mathias, with British Triathlon performance director Brendan Purcell excited by the additions.

"We're pleased to add some new names to the World Class Performance Squads alongside some of the sport's most successful athletes," said Purcell.

"We absolutely rely on UK Sport Lottery Funding to get our Olympic and Paralympic athletes to start lines ready to race, so this is an opportunity to say thank you to everyone who buys a Lottery ticket as we prepare for a big year ahead with the Commonwealth Games, a home European Championships in Glasgow, the ITU World Championships on the Gold Coast, and Olympic qualification starting."

Also on the podium programme are Helen Jenkins, Non Stanford and Jodie Stimpson, with Rio Olympian Gordon Benson only making the podium potential squad.

Sportsbeat 2017