THE row over so-called ‘Plastic Brits’ made for an excellent atmosphere among the Great Britain team at the World Indoor Championships, held in Istanbul.

That is according to UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee who named American-born hurdler Tiffany Porter as team captain for the event.

As a result, one national newspaper reporter asked Porter if she knewa few lines from God Save the Queen, a move that was not popular with her team-mates and UKA officials.

Despite this, Porter still managed to win silver in the 60m hurdles as Britain claimed a record nine medals in total, with fellow ‘Plastic Brits’ Shara Proctor, Yamile Aldama, Shana Cox and Michael Bingham also making the podium.

Van Commenee said: “I must say I am very thankful because it created great team bonding. The team captain was attacked, she is very much respected within the team, so the team gets together.

“They fought like lions, no-one said anything else other than a few individuals in the press who stood up for the team captain, so altogether it had quite a positive effect on the team, and therefore for performance.”