LEEDS triathlete Gordon Benson is relishing his chance to play a crucial role in sweeping the all-conquering Brownlee brothers back onto the Olympic podium at Rio 2016.

The 22-year-old, a long-term friend and training partner of the London 2012 gold and silver medallists, will provided the supporting act in the three-man men's team which was confirmed in his home city earlier this month.

Halifax-born Benson insists he will take every pleasure in helping the Bingley Harriers secure more Olympic glory having benefited from team orders himself when claiming gold on the opening day of the inaugural European Games in Baku last year.

Benson said: "I was fortunate enough to be in the lead role in Baku and to have two athletes supporting me was great – I'm not convinced I could have won the gold medal without them.

"This time I'm going to Rio to aid Ali and Jonny. Being on the receiving end has given me the drive and motivation to do it and hopefully I can support them to go on and win gold and silver.

"My gold medal will be to get Ali and Jonny to the run as fresh as possible and in the best possible position for them – for me that will be like winning gold."

Benson will be expected to stick with the brothers during their swim and set a strong pace in the cycling leg in order to ensure they start the critical running leg well-placed to repeat their feat of London 2012.

But there will be no such team orders in the three-women team of Vicky Holland and former world champions Non Stanford and Helen Jenkins.

The 30-year-old Holland is a different proposition to the athlete who struggled to 26th position in her first Games in London, having clinched her first ITU World Series titles in Cape Town and Edmonton last year.

Holland said: "Four years ago I was in a very different position – I was part of the team in a supporting role for Helen but things have changed for me in the last two years.

"My move to Leeds has been the catalyst for things in my career and in Rio I've got far loftier ambitions than 26th place this time round."

British Olympic Association Chef de Mission Mark England said: "I would like to congratulate these six athletes on securing Olympic selection for Rio 2016 and welcome them all onto Team GB.

"At London 2012 we won our first medals in triathlon and since then we have gone from strength to strength as a nation.

"As Olympic medallists both Alistair and Jonny bring an incredible pedigree to the team and Gordon's European Games triumph in Baku last year means the men's team is very strong.

"Non, Vicky and Helen have all tasted World Championships success and I'm sure will go into the Games in great form and full of confidence."