Team England – Wrestling announcement
Team England’s wrestlers for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games were confirmed today by Commonwealth Games England.
Leon Rattigan and Oleksandr Madyarchyk, two of England’s four medallists from four years ago, are in the team along with Delhi 2010 competitors Michael Grundy and Philip Roberts.
There are Team England debuts for among others Team GB London 2012 Olympian and recent European bronze medallist Olga Butkevych (28), British Junior and Senior champion Sophie Edwards (18), four-time English and twice-British schoolboy/junior champion George Ramm (17), double European silver medallist Yana Rattigan (27) and British freestyle champion Chloe Spiteri (24).
Team England Chef de Mission Jan Paterson said: “I am pleased to welcome a very talented squad of wrestlers to Team England who collectively have impressed in both domestic and European competition recently.
“With just six weeks to go until the Games get underway in Glasgow this is a very exciting time and I would like to congratulate everyone on achieving selection.”
Refering to Leon and Yana Rattigan, Jan said “Both have recovered from serious injuries to make the team and are committed to becoming the first husband and wife team both to win wrestling medals for England!”
Olga Butkevych (58kgs) stated: “We have a good team with a lot of experience and I’m really looking forward to getting on the mat and hopefully contributing to the success of the England Team.”
Leon Rattigan (97kgs) stated “After getting injured earlier in the year, the Glasgow Games have become my focus and motivation to get fit. I’m really excited to be part of the England team and think the Scottish people will make this a fabulous games.”
Yana Rattigan (48kgs) said: “It is an honour to be part of Team England and I can’t wait for the Games to start. I really want to do well for my team. It should be a great Games!”
George Ramm (61kgs) said “This is my first Games and being selected for my Team England is a real privilege. Being the same environment as great athletes from around the world will be a fantastic experience and a great learning curve.”
England’s wrestling Team Leader Shaun Morley said: “The team will have a distinct mixture of youth and experience, containing five members of the team that competed in Delhi four years ago, two returning medallists and eight athletes who will be competing in a multi-sport games for the first time.
“Uniquely, the team also contains a brother and sister from Wigan, (Sarah and Michael Grundy) and a married couple, Leon and Yana Rattigan from Manchester, who are both excellent medal hopes, Leon having won the bronze medallist in Delhi 2010 and Yana is the European Silver medallist at her weight class.
The team in full is as follows:
| Name | Event | Trains | Lived/From |
| Olga Butkevych | Women’s 58kg | Manchester | Zaporizhia, Ukraine |
| Chinu Chinu | Men’s 125kg | Oldbury | Ludhiana, India |
| Sophie Edwards | Women’s 75kg | Manchester | Warrington |
| Michael Grundy | Men’s 74kg | Wigan | Billinge |
| Sarah Grundy | Women’s 58kg | Wigan | Wigan |
| Oleksandr Madyarchyk | Men’s 61kg | Sale | Khust, Ukraine |
| Louisa Porogovksa | Women’s 55kg | Bolton | Preston |
| George Ramm | Men’s 61kg | Bolton | Bolton |
| Leon Rattigan | Men’s 97kg | Manchester | Bristol |
| Yana Rattigan | Women’s 48kg | Manchester | Khmelnitsky, Ukraine |
| Philip Roberts | Men’s 65kg | Wigan/Aspull | Bolton |
| Chloe Spiteri | Women’s 63kg | London | Leytonstone |
| Omar Tafail | Men’s 57kg | Birmingham | London |
