• London Olympics 2012

Aldama could captain Team GB at London 2012

Yamile Aldama won world indoor triple jump gold at the age of 39 © Getty Images

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Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah may be the faces of London 2012, but Yamile Aldama could lead Team GB in the Olympic Stadium this summer.

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee has admitted he is considering making the Cuba-born triple jumper captain of the British Olympic track and field team.

Aldama, who has competed for both Cuba and Sudan, carries a British passport having lived in London for 11 years after marrying a Scotsman. She has two children who were both born in Britain.

"She's certainly a candidate," said Van Commenee, who oversaw a record medal haul in Turkey.

Aldama, whose husband was jailed for drug trafficking, decided to remain in the UK, bringing up her first child alone, and had to wait the mandatory three years for a passport.

Having expressed her desire to represent Team GB at the 2004 Athens Olympics, she was was unable to secure a British passport on the grounds the Games were three months before the three-year cut-off point. She transferred her allegiance to Sudan in order to continue her athletics career.

Aldama finally secured British citizenship in February 2010, and after finishing fifth in last summer's World Championships, she won her first world title at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul at the age of 39.

"It's a wonderful story," Van Commenee said. "She has had to overcome so many difficulties. Winning a gold medal is one thing but overcoming the difficulties she has, the medal shines even more.

"She loves athletics. She has been a coach in a club in north London for years, teaching young children how to triple jump. Getting her first title in 39 years, it is quite a story and I have a lot of time and respect for her. She is a great example for other athletes in how she trains and she looks after herself and she supports others."

The Dutchman sparked controversy when he appointed American-born Tiffany Porter as GB team captain in Turkey. Porter, whose mother is English, went some way to silence her critics with a silver medal in the 60m hurdles, but the "Plastic Brit" row threatens to rumble on for some time.

Amid claims Porter did not know the words to the national anthem, Van Commenee defended his decision, claiming Porter's leadership skills were more important than her singing ability.

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