All three have achieved the UK Athletics 'A' qualifying standard during 2011 and they bring the total number of competitors officially selected to Team GB for London 2012 to 19 – including 11 sailors and five boxers.

The announcement leaves other female contenders such as Louise Damen, Susan Partridge, Liz Yelling – seeking a third successive Olympic appearance – and Jo Pavey, who ran 2hr 28min 42sec to finish ninth in New York last month in her second marathon chasing the one remaining place.

Radcliffe, whose time of 2hr 23min and 46sec at the Berlin Marathon – her second race of the year after returning following the birth of her second child – was comfortably inside the 'A' qualifying standard of 2:31.00, said she was "over the moon" to be selected.

The 37-year-old thus becomes the third British athletics competitor to be selected for five Olympic Games, following in the footsteps of Tessa Sanderson and Chris Maddocks, and she will be the first to compete in three marathons.

"To represent your country at a home Olympics is something special and I'm over the moon to be selected for Team GB," she said.

"I was pleased to get the qualifying time in Berlin earlier this year and my sole focus is getting in the right shape for London.

"I'm just fully concentrating on being fully prepared for next year."

Yamauchi, who finished sixth at the Beijing Games, became the second fastest British woman this year in running 2:27.24 at last month's Yokohama Marathon.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to have been selected," Yamauchi said.

"It's a dream come true.

"I've been working really hard for this and I'm so relieved to have been selected.

"It's going to be a fantastic Olympics and I'm going to give it 110 per cent from now on in order to prepare myself as best as I possibly can.

"I'm so grateful to all the people who have supported me in achieving selection for the Olympics."


Overall's (pictured) selection follows his excellent marathon debut in Berlin this year.

The 28-year-old met the 'A' standard when he finished fifth, in a time of 2:10.55.

The Londoner comes from a 5,000m background but successfully swapped the track for the roads during 2011.

"When I ran the qualifying time in Berlin in September I was hoping that would be enough to secure my selection and fortunately it has been," said Overall.

"The marathon course is really spectator friendly so I can imagine the home crowd will be absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere will be amazing."

The athletes were formally nominated to the BOA for selection to Team GB by UK Athletics, the National Governing Body for athletics in the UK.

A second round of Team GB marathon selections for the Olympic Games will take place following the London Marathon in April 2012.

Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said: "Achieving Team GB selection to five consecutive Olympic Games is a remarkable feat and Paula Radcliffe is a truly special British athlete.

"Competing at home in London brings an unprecedented platform for all Team GB athletes to demonstrate their talent and determination, and what could be more exciting than the prospect of winning an Olympic medal in front of a home crowd on the Mall?"

Charles van Commenee, Team GB athletics team leader and UK Athletics head coach said: "Scott's debut marathon performance bodes well for the future, while Mara, who was sixth at the Beijing Olympics and Paula, the marathon world record holder, are both on their way back to the high standards they set themselves previously.

"All three athletes now have the opportunity to prepare themselves in the most ideal way for the Games.

"I expect them to represent Team GB well in London."

Commenting on the BOA announcement, UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl said: "The route for the Olympic Marathon is set to take in some of London's most spectacular landmarks and, as with the London Marathon each year, is sure to draw huge crowds of supporters.

"The athletes selected today represent both the up and coming talent and experience within British athletics, with clear medal potential within this group.

"UK Sport is proud to have supported UK Athletics with over £25 million ($39 million/€29 million) of National Lottery, Exchequer and Team 2012 funding over the current Olympiad."

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