UK Athletics (UKA) have cut lottery funding for several of our well known sports stars, including marathon runner Paula Radcliffe.
Radcliffe has raced just once since 2009 and will drop out of the World Class Performance Programme, other senior names to be stripped of funding are: marathon runner Mara Yamauchi, sprinters Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis, hurdler Rhys Williams, middle distance runners Michael Rimmer, Steph Twell and Marilyn Okoro, plus 400m runner Nicola Sanders.
UKA performance director Neil Black said: “Being part of the World Class Performance Plan is a privilege and not a right and athletes selected will be expected to fulfil tough performance criteria.”
Conversely several younger athletes, who are seen as future medal winners, have been promoted to the top tiered funding group.
They include: Olympic high jump bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz, Paralympic 100m champion Jonnie Peacock, sprinter Adam Gemili and Paralympic discuss gold medallist Josie Pearson.
Finally it seems that after the success of the Olympics the UKA have realised that for far too long now they have been funding mediocrity and by ensuring several longstanding athletes have had their funding withdrawn for substandard performances, it sends a clear message to all athletes that if you don’t hit your target you’re out.
Also by rewarding those who did perform by upgrading their funding to the top tier it shows that the UKA have the perfect balance of carrot and stick, hopefully this method will mean improved performances from UK athletes at international competitions and meets, and that this new approach to funding will go some way to maintaining the standards we saw during the Olympics.
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