What led to the British Olympic Team controversy? Everything about the qualification criteria that caused an uproar explained

On Friday, July 5, the announcement of the British Olympic Team caused a major controversy, as several athletes who had qualified for the Paris Olympics were left off the list. This happened due to a specific rule in the UK Athletics selection criteria that many have deemed unfair.

According to the rules set by World Athletics, there are two ways to qualify for track and field events at the Olympic Games. An athlete can either directly meet the qualification standard set for their required sport or qualify through their World Rankings.

On the other hand, UK Athletics has a different policy for sending athletes to the Games. Under this policy, the association sets their own qualification mark for each event, and disregards an athlete's World Rankings if they fail to meet this mark. The UKA’s qualification standard is typically lower than the Olympic standard, but is decided based on the potential for a top-eight finish.

It is this particular rule that has stirred major controversy for athletes and fans alike, as multiple Brits who would have made it to the Paris Olympics based on their World Rankings were denied the opportunity by the association.

On the women’s end this included shot put athlete Amelia Campbell, discus thrower Jade Lally, hammer thrower Anna Purchase, and 5000m runner Hannah Nuttal. On the men's side, victims of the UKA’s policy were hammer throwers Kenneth Ikeji and Jake Norris, steeplechaser Phil Norman, and 110m hurdler Joshua Zeller.

Athletes lash out at UKA’s British Olympic Team criteria

After being left off the British Olympic Team that was named on Friday, multiple athletes have spoken out against UK Athletics and their policy regarding selection for the Games.

Phil Norman, who won the British Championship in early July and broke a championship record that had stood since 1990, missed out on UKA’s qualification mark by just 0.15s. Taking to social media, Norman wrote:

"I battled every step of the way this year on and off the track and successfully qualified for my second Olympic games. However, due to UKA policy I was not selected and my invite to the Olympic Games will be declined.’

"I fought tooth and nail with help of legal counsel and the UKA athletes commission to appeal this decision but unfortunately my appeal was rejected due to 0.15s over 3,000m. In the eyes of the UKA I am not good enough. Physically I am in the shape and form of my life. But mentally and emotionally I have nothing left to give.”

Discus thrower Jade Lally, who is ranked 29th in the world, also spoke out about the selection policy, after failing to be named in the British Olympic Team:

"I have to retire because of British athletics,” Lally told the Telegraph. "I'm proud to be British, but I'm ashamed to represent British Athletics. If you are a British athlete, and have already missed out on a championship, I would 100 per cent encourage anybody to switch to another country if that is an option. I feel like I have wasted a career trying to prove a federation wrong.”

Multiple athletes, including Norman, Lally and shot put athlete Amelia Campbell are considering retiring from their respective sports after failing to make the British Olympic Team.

UKA defends their selection criteria

While athletes and fans continue their uproar against the UKA’s selection criteria for the British Olympic Team, the federation stands firm in their decision. In a statement made by a UK Athletics spokesperson, the association defended their decision, saying:

"UKA's view is that those athletes should only be selected on similar principles to those selected through the direct qualification standards, i.e., those who are capable of making top eight in their event.”

"In selecting teams there will always be a line with some people unfortunately on the wrong side of it, and we do understand the disappointment of those who fall into this category.”

With this, the UK will be sending a contingent of 64 athletes to the Paris Olympics, its smallest squad in two decades. Highlighting the British Olympic Team will be the likes of Josh Kerr, Keely Hodgkinson and Jake Wightman, amongst others.