Rounding off our spotlight series ahead of the Madrid 2025 European Athletics Team Championships 1st Division from 27–29 June, we turn to Great Britain — a nation firmly established in the topflight, but with a track record full of ups and downs.
Over the past decade, Great Britain have developed a reputation as serial fifth placers, finishing fifth in three of the last five editions. But they’ve also experienced the highs of the podium — most notably when they claimed a memorable silver on home soil in Gateshead back in 2013.
A podium finish in Madrid would mark their first since Silesia 2021 — and with a young squad eager to prove themselves, Great Britain & Northern Ireland will be hoping to shake off their fifth-place habit and re-assert themselves among the elite.
Flashback to 2023
At Silesia 2023, Great Britain & Northern Ireland finished fifth in the First Division, scoring 341 points in a solid but unspectacular campaign. In an unusual display for a nation of their calibre, they recorded no individual event wins across the three-day competition.
The highlights came from Scott Lincoln, who threw a season’s best of 21.10m for second in the shot put, and Bianca Williams, who clocked 22.75 in the 200m — also a season’s best — to secure another runner-up finish.
Despite the absence of victories, it was a typically well-rounded effort from Great Britain, with steady scoring across events and reliable relay performances. Fifth place extended their consistent presence in the top flight.
Track Record
- Gateshead 2013, England (2nd Place – Super League)
Great Britain’s most memorable performance in recent history came on home soil in Gateshead in 2013, where they originally finished third but were later elevated to second place following the points reallocation due to Russian doping violations. Their total of 341 points placed them just behind Germany in the final reallocated standings.
Highlights from that weekend included dominant victories in both the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, clocking 38.39 and 3:05.37 respectively — both event-leading marks. Mo Farah secured maximum points in the 5000m, while Eilidh Child delivered a personal best of 54.42 to win the 400m hurdles.
- Lille 2017, France (4th Place – Super League)
At Lille 2017, Great Britain & Northern Ireland fielded a largely developmental squad yet still delivered a strong showing, placing fourth in the Super League with 269 points. Just five points shy of a podium finish behind hosts France, it was a solid result during a transitional phase for the team.
Among the standout performances were Eilidh Doyle, who stormed to victory in the 400m hurdles with a season’s best of 54.60, and Dan Bramble, who took top honours in the long jump with a leap of 8.00m, equalling his season’s best.
There was also a breakthrough win for Dwayne Cowan, who impressed on his senior GB debut. A former semi-professional footballer, Cowan clocked a personal best of 45.46 to win the 400m and underline his seamless transition to the track — securing valuable maximum points for the team.
- Silesia 2021, Poland (3rd Place – Super League)
At Silesia 2021, Great Britain & Northern Ireland returned to the podium for the first time since 2013, finishing third in the Super League with 174 points.
It was the women’s team who led the charge, delivering all four of the squad’s victories on day one. Ellie Baker impressed in the 800m, Lina Nielsen claimed the 400m hurdles on her senior debut, Revee Walcott-Nolan took a confident win in the 3000m, and the women’s 4x100m relay capped off a dominant start.
While the men’s side struggled to match that momentum across the weekend, the strong opening ensured Great Britain held on for a well-earned bronze — their first top-three finish in eight years.
Five to watch
- Jazmin Sawyers – Women’s Long Jump
Long the cornerstone of Great Britain’s success in the horizontal jumps. The European indoor champion from Istanbul 2023, she made history with a 7.00m leap — a national indoor record that still stands today.
A two-time Olympic finalist and double European outdoor medallist, Sawyers brings championship experience and reliability to every team outing. A regular on the Diamond League circuit, she arrives in Madrid as one of Britain’s strongest and most decorated competitors.
- Lina Nielsen – Women’s 400m Hurdles
Lina Nielsen was a standout performer on GB & NI’s day-one charge at Silesia 2021, where she won the 400m hurdles in 55.59, delivering Britain’s first seven-point score of the event.
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A consistent performer since then, Nielsen holds the national record (54.43) and earned a bronze medals as part of the GB 4x400m relay squad at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and Paris Olympics. With European medals and World Championship experience, Nielsen looks set to shine in Madrid.
- Scott Lincoln – Men’s Shot Put
A ten-time British champion and Commonwealth bronze medallist, Scott Lincoln remains a cornerstone of Great Britain’s throwing squad.
He finished second in the shot put at the 2023 European Team Championships and heads to Madrid in strong form, having thrown a season’s best of 21.09m in Kladno earlier this month — his second-best mark ever.
- Abigail Ives – Women’s 800m
Abigail Ives makes her senior international debut in Madrid at the age of 21 — and arrives as one of Britain’s most exciting middle-distance prospects. She broke the two-minute barrier earlier this month with a personal best of 1:59.49 in Belfast, becoming one of the fastest British women ever at U23 level.
A former European U20 silver medallist, Ives has shown steady progression through the ranks and recently claimed the British University Championships title over 800m. With confidence high and nothing to lose, she could play a key role in Britain’s middle-distance campaign.
- Alastair Chalmers – Men’s 400m Hurdles
Alastair Chalmers heads to Madrid in the best form of his career, having clocked a personal best of 48.30 earlier this month at Weltklasse Rehlingen in Germany.
A five-time British champion and Commonwealth bronze medallist, he also helped Great Britain to bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, setting the tone with a strong opening leg. Chalmers has recently stated he feels ready to compete with Europe’s elite — and arrives in Madrid with a point to prove.