Thompson Ready To Inspire As Named Captain Of The Novuna GB & NI Team At 2026 World Relays
by 1st May 2026
Lee Thompson (Sheffield & Dearne, John Henson) has been named team captain for the Novuna GB & NI team at the 2026 World Relays in Botswana.
Thompson made his Olympic debut at the 2021 Tokyo Games as part of the relay team and was on the quartet that finished sixth at the recent World Championships in Japan.
The 400m specialist works during the week as a Finance Business Partner at DFS and welcomes the balance his sprinting career brings.
The 29-year-old made his senior international debut back in 2018 at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham and helped the 4x400m team win bronze at the 2021 European Indoor Championships in Torun.
On being asked about being named captain, he says:
“I didn’t really believe it at first. I have been on a lot of teams in the past, and there have been some really great athletes who have been captains. For me it is a great honour, there are a lot of great athletes on this team – Olympic, World, Commonwealth, European medals to their names, so for me to lead that team to try and inspire that team in the team meeting, that means a lot.”
As per team captain tradition, Thompson will give a speech to the team on the penultimate night of the competition.
“I want to take a bit from team captains I have seen in the past, and what they have done to inspire the team. At the end of the day, I want everyone to feel like they can run through a brick wall after the meeting.
“That is what you want out of a team meeting, everyone to be hyped up to go out there and take on the world and bring home those diamonds that are in the medals.”
Six athletes will make their senior international debut, underlining UK Athletics’ commitment to developing future relay success. More than 13 selected athletes are either part of the UKA Futures programme or recent graduates, highlighting a strong pathway from junior success to senior championship teams. Unfortunately, two injuries to the team have been sustained, Harry Bradley (men’s 4x400m) has been ruled out, and Teddy Wilson (men’s 4x100m) has also withdrawn.
The Novuna GB & NI team will aim to qualify for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in both the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m events, 12 teams will secure places through a combination of heat finishes across two days of competition. The mixed 4x100m is the newest discipline on the World Relays programme. The top six teams will qualify for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this September, while 12 teams will earn spots for 2027 World Champs. The Novuna GB & NI team will aim to build on last year’s World Relays bronze-medal performance.
Watch live on the BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app
Saturday 2nd May (1255-1555 BST) BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l00586zc
Sunday 3rd May (1250-1555 BST) BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l00586zm
The Novuna Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the 2026 World Athletics Relays, Gaborone, Botswana (2-3 May):
4x100m
Women
Mabel Akande (Lincoln Wellington, Denise Timmins)*
Alyson Bell (Glasgow Jaguars, Anne Scott)
Success Eduan (Sale Harriers Manchester, Anita Richardson)
Desiree Henry (Enfield & Haringey, Steve Fudge)
Imani Lansiquot (Marco Airale)
Kissiwaa Mensah (Chelmsford, Prince Duwai)
Renee Regis (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Darren Braithwaite)*
Aleeya Sibbons (Newham & Essex Beagles, Colin Bovell)
Jasmine Wilkins (Thames Valley Harriers, Andy Paul)*
Nia Wedderburn-Goodison (Harrow)
Men
Jeremiah Azu (Cardiff, Helen James)
Jona Efoloko (Sale Harriers Manchester, Clarrence Callendar)
Romell Glave (Croydon Harriers, Michael Afilaka)
Zharnel Hughes (Shaftesbury Barnet, Glen Mills)
Elliot Jones (Leon Baptiste)*
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Newham and Essex Beagles, Michael Afilaka)
Jeriel Quainoo (Blackheath and Bromley, Lindford Christie)
Jody Smith (Thames Valley, Alex Currie)
Teddy Wilson (Shaftesbury Barnet, Marvin Rowe)*
Ethan Wiltshire (Newham & Essex Beagles, Leon Baptiste)*
4x400m
Women
Charlotte Henrich (Invicta East Kent, Nigel Stickings)*
Yemi Mary John (Woodford Green Essex Ladies, Alan James)
Poppy Malik (Harrow, Nick Dakin)
Emily Newnham (Shaftesbury Barnet, Nick Dakin)
Laviai Nielsen (Enfield & Harringey)
Lina Nielsen (Shaftesbury Barnet, Jack Green)
Louisa Stoney (Belgrave Harriers, Marvin Rowe)
Nicole Yeargin (Pitreavie, Gregory Sholars)
Men
Lewis Davey (Newham & Essex Beagles, Trevor Painter)
Seamus Derbyshire (City of Stoke, Alex O’Gorman)
Charlie Dobson (Colchester, Leon Baptiste)
Josh Faulds (Rugby & Northampton AC, James Wright)
Alex Haydock-Wilson (Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, Dai Greene)
Toby Harries (Brighton Phoenix, David Sadkin)
Jake Minshull (Coventry, James Wright)*
Lee Thompson (Sheffield & Dearne, John Henson)
Those with * will be making their senior international debut at these Championships.