Runner says no to competing for GB in Australia over flight climate concerns

A promising teenage athlete has declined to represent Great Britain in a competition due to be held in Australia because she is concerned about the environmental impact of the associated travel.

FitzGerald has previously represented her country in meets held abroad, but travelled by coach and train from her home in Devon to Turin for the European Cross Country Championships last month.

Athletics Weekly reported that she took an overnight coach to Lille, before catching a train to Turin via Paris. She and her family took folding bikes to ride between stations to keep costs down.

British Athletics declined to comment.