Former Richmond-based international marathon runner Mara Yamauchi was among the first wave of British athletes announced by the British Olympic Association on Monday to compete in this summer's Beijing Olympics.

Yamauchi, 34 and now living in Japan, was an automatic choice for the event along with Britain's world marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe and Liz Yelling.

Yamauchi said: "I am delighted to be selected for Team GB to run the marathon in Beijing. This will be my first Olympics and I am really looking forward to the challenge.

"My training has been going well so I hope I can perform at my very best and deliver something special on race day."