The 28-year-old got her season off to a winning start by running a fine opening leg in the final of the women’s 4x400m event in the Bahamas as her team crossed the line behind the USA and Jamaica to clinch their podium place – and qualification for next year’s Olympics.

Child enjoyed some time off the track following a stunning 2014 in which she won her maiden European 400m hurdles title, a bronze medal won in the 4x400m relay at the World Indoor Championships and a nomination for European athlete of the year as well as her silver success in Glasgow.

Competing without world champion Christine Ohuruogu, Child inspired her team-mates Anyika Onuora, Kelly Massey and Seren Bundy-Davies to a second place finish behind the Jamaicans in the semi-final before Bundy-Davies completed a fine job in the final to hold off France’s Floria Guei in a time of 3:26.38 to take third place.

It was Child’s ninth medal in individual and relay events at a major championships and afterwards she said, “‘It just takes such a lot of weight off our shoulders now and it means we can really focus on building this team and be ready for Rio next year. It is a great start to what we hope will be a brilliant season for all of us and we’re just so happy.” The 28-year-old got her season off to a winning start by running a fine opening leg in the final of the women’s 4x400m event in the Bahamas as her team crossed the line behind the USA and Jamaica to clinch their podium place – and qualification for next year’s Olympics.

Child enjoyed some time off the track following a stunning 2014 in which she won her maiden European 400m hurdles title, a bronze medal won in the 4x400m relay at the World Indoor Championships and a nomination for European athlete of the year as well as her silver success in Glasgow.

Competing without world champion Christine Ohuruogu, Child inspired her team-mates Anyika Onuora, Kelly Massey and Seren Bundy-Davies to a second place finish behind the Jamaicans in the semi-final before Bundy-Davies completed a fine job in the final to hold off France’s Floria Guei in a time of 3:26.38 to take third place.

It was Child’s ninth medal in individual and relay events at a major championships and afterwards she said, “‘It just takes such a lot of weight off our shoulders now and it means we can really focus on building this team and be ready for Rio next year. It is a great start to what we hope will be a brilliant season for all of us and we’re just so happy.”