UK's Moscow medal hopes • [Eriksson's out, who's in?]

[Daisy]

Didn't Lewis Francis do the same thing?

[John G]

Jodie was giving priority to her education (didn' want to miss start of her final school year, just like Dix did in 2007. How'd he do in Beijing?

[mump boy]

If it had been me i would have gone but i'm not about to critizise anything Jodie and her team do, as they have done everything perfectly so far. I going to guess she knows what is best for her far better than any of us do.

She's a very smart girl

[dunedine]

I also think that Jodie Williams should have gone to Daegu since she would have earned a priceless excerience of a global championships environment, without any pressure placed on her to perform, that would serve her well in London next summer. Even as a mere relay member.

I don't think her studies were a real issue in the matter, she would have hardly missed a thing during the opening week of the school season, but whatever the grounds behind her decision it is fully respected.

MLF actually opted out of the Sydney Olympics to focus on winning the World U20s, Daisy, which he did, but in hindsight he must have regretted it most looking back on his career so far.

Hannah England and Lisa Dobriskey have got an edge over the others in the women's 1500m as they both already hold the A standard, current As will be coming in from April 1, but I think they're going to fill the two of the three places if fully fit.

Charlene Thomas, if over her injury woes, should be favourite to fill the third spot while I think Steph Twell should turn to the 5000 where things are more open - however, she should leave it up to late winter to assess her progress and make up her mind where to set her sights on thereon.

Last, I was also disappointed by the lack of top eight places in Daegu but for the British team to come out with seven individual medals was definitely a success, best haul since 1993. A positive message out of the whole picture is that Britain matched their medal target out of a team that slightly underperformed, without a single relay medal, meaning that they performed nearer the floor with a lot to spare on the ceiling of their potential.

At the end of the day, it's far easier to sort out your relays within a year than to put up new individual contenders and Crammie has got some good reasons to feel excited - first time I've heard him so in a long while.

[Daisy]

MLF actually opted out of the Sydney Olympics to focus on winning the World U20s, Daisy, which he did, but in hindsight he must have regretted it most looking back on his career so far.

Now I remember. I definitely thought it was a missed opportunity at the time. Also, think of Linsey MacDonald and Ade Mafe. Both made the Olympic finals very young and as it turned out that was their last opportunity. Would have been a shame if they had missed out because everyone anticipated they'd be even better.

[mump boy]

MLF actually opted out of the Sydney Olympics to focus on winning the World U20s, Daisy, which he did, but in hindsight he must have regretted it most looking back on his career so far.

Now I remember. I definitely thought it was a missed opportunity at the time. Also, think of Linsey MacDonald and Ade Mafe. Both made the Olympic finals very young and as it turned out that was their last opportunity. Would have been a shame if they had missed out because everyone anticipated they'd be even better.

But if they hadn't experieence such intense competition at such a young age they may have lasted longer. What did MLF lose out on by missing sydney ?? He went to Athens and won a gold medal. I don't know his lack of subsequent achievement would have been any different had he gone in 2000. In fact we may have seen a faster decline

[Daisy]

In fact we may have seen a faster decline

Possibly. The controlled experiment is hard to set up.

[PCSExponent]

Just my opinion - it's not competing that burns youngsters up.

[72]

goodness, can it be... I agree with Mump Boy on his last observation; we can never really draw convincing evidence about anything to do with an athletes potential future performances based upon precocity, but if an athlete's best was achieved at a very early stage in their career, and there are plenty to whom that applies all over the athletics world, surely,... thasts just life... such athletes may or may not have regrets, but don't we all ???

[mump boy]

Just my opinion - it's not competing that burns youngsters up.

Over training too early, too much competition and too much pressure all contribute to athletes not fullfilling their potential.

[dunedine]

Just my opinion - it's not competing that burns youngsters up.

Over training too early, too much competition and too much pressure all contribute to athletes not fullfilling their potential.

Also add in a likely earlier biological maturity and potential liability to certain injuries, either natural or training induced.

Therefore, I agree above that competing at a major championships doesn't result in the burn-up of any youngster.

[fourjz]

Please don't put Jodie Williams into medal contention yet.She's really young.She ran 11.17 once.Too much pressure from Great Britain and it's fans.

[mump boy]

Please don't put Jodie Williams into medal contention yet.She's really young.She ran 11.17 once.Too much pressure from Great Britain and it's fans.

I don't anyone is expecting a medal

[dunedine]

Jodie Williams isn't in a medal position, at least as things look now, but is definitely good enough to make a final, particularly in the 200m. From there on, especially at her age, none can really tell how much she can progress within the following 10 months, therefore nothing could be ruled out. Allyson Felix got an Olympic silver before she turned 19 so it turns on how good you are on the occasion.

[PCSExponent]

Over training too early, too much competition and too much pressure all contribute to athletes not fullfilling their potential.

What I meant was, it's not (IMO) the one or two or however many "important" competitions a(n) (young) athlete has during the year, it's the 12 sessions per week, 4-8 hrs a day, months on end, that put most pressure on the body. But yes, if some coaches will increase the work load in relation with the number of competitions (which they shouldn't), then you could say it's "too much competition".

Hope this made sense, I'm not feeling very clear today

[mump boy]

Over training too early, too much competition and too much pressure all contribute to athletes not fullfilling their potential.

What I meant was, it's not (IMO) the one or two or however many "important" competitions a(n) (young) athlete has during the year, it's the 12 sessions per week, 4-8 hrs a day, months on end, that put most pressure on the body. But yes, if some coaches will increase the work load in relation with the number of competitions (which they shouldn't), then you could say it's "too much competition".

Hope this made sense, I'm not feeling very clear today

i don't disagree with that in fact i know for a fact that it happens but i think psychological reasons are just as important as physical ones for burn out at a young age

[dunedine]

Let me tell you that Mara Yamauchi won the Berlin 10km in 32:19, her fastest time since 2006, so the battle for places in the British team really heats up following Claire Hallissey's Olympic A qualifier of 2h29:27 in Chicago.

Liz Yelling is also edging back into form with a 72:14 over the half marathon in windy conditions.

[PCSExponent]

And let's wait and see what Jo Pavey does in New York.

[mump boy]

I wish Hayley Yelling would run a marathon as well. Obv the drean trio would be Paula, Mara and Jo but i'd love her to get to 2012

[dunedine]

By the way, for those who would like to check out UKA selection policy and current qualifiers, you can take a look here:

http://athleticsstargate.wordpress.com/qualifying-standards-and-qualifiers-for-the-olympic-games-in-london-2012/

[dunedine]

According to a tweet by Dalton Grant a little earlier on, British high jumpers are to be axed from funding going into the Olympic season. Very harsh decision, if it is so, as the country has got four five pretty good jumpers that will have to make it the hard way now. An Olympic silver by Germaine Mason, a European bronze by Martyn Bernard and top eight places in so many champs around don't warrant such a decision.

[Flumpy]

Only 2 of them made it to Daegu, and both went out in Qualification.

No one jumped higher than 2.28 this year.

[dunedine]

Actually, Parsons jumped 2.31m indoors. Last year,though, Bernard was bronze medalist at the Europeans, had problems with injuries this term as I understand and further I think he's been working on some new things and they may have not bedded in yet. In my view, he's got definitely potential to hit heights like 2.34-2.35.

[peach77]

I think it's harsh on Bernard, who, yes, has had injury problems and has a proven record of performing well at championships. Mason hasn't done a thing since 2008 and should rightly go off funding and the rest just haven't performed when it matters- it's ok to say Parsons jumped 2.31 indoors, but a) that's not going to get you a medal at world level and b) it makes absolutely no difference if you don't replicate it at the championships.

Hopefully this will put fire in their bellies- there's amazing talent in our HJ rosta and it's one of those events in which it seems, time and again, it's just wasted...

[dunedine]

Yes, most likely a 2.31 jump won't get you a medal but it can be good enough for a top eight place and provides a very good platform to build towards heights like 2.33-2.34 the following season.

But I agree that the decision has been particularly harsh on Martyn Bernard, pretty poor call in my view on the part of van Commennee et al.

[bushop]

Plastic Brits are cashing in... but there's no Lottery money for the likes of Kelly
17th October 2011
Five athletes dubbed ‘plastic Brits’ by their critics will have their Olympic campaigns funded by the National Lottery while British-born contenders have been dropped 10 months from the Games...
Sentiment does not come into it for van Commenee. He coached Sotherton to her 2004 Olympic heptathlon bronze but told Radio 5 Live: ‘Personal feelings are not relevant. The main criterion needed is that they have a strong chance to make the top eight in the Olympic Games, and given the development of Kelly’s performances in the last couple of years it doesn’t appear she can.’

[dunedine]

There have been many controversial cases going either way in the making of the final funding lists for the Olympic season but Kelly Sotherton had unfortunately a very thin case to lay any claim on. I think it would have been a surprise if she had stayed on for one more season since she didn't make the world champs squad nor obtained any qualifying standard on the way.

The most striking cases of those overlooked were maybe the likes of Jemma Simpson, Martyn Bernard, Louise Hazell, Helen Clitheroe, Charlene Thomas and Barbara Parker while I cannot grasp this latest 'wrath' on the high jumpers, or even the male milers in the second place.

Further, several athletes named in the top tier would have better fitted into the relay group (Pickering, Strachan, Levine) so that there would have been more open places for athletes with more medal or top eight potential about them - the above mentioned plus Lawrence Okoye (only Development tier) or Jo Pavey.

Tiffany Porter has got an English mother, Shana Cox has British parents, Yamile Aldama is married to a Scot for ten years now and Shara Proctor comes from a country that is a British dependent territory, so all qualify well and have got far more grounds to merit a share in funding.

[peach77]

Why do people even vaguely "listen" to stories in the Daily Mail (or the Daily Fail as I prefer to call it)? That article is not even borderline racist. It's out and out xenophobia! There is no way Sotherton deserves funding this year (and she more or less agrees with that if you read her Tweets...) and the likes of Porter etc are proving to be absolutely world class and potential medallists/champions for 2012 and beyond. It's a "Look at our poor Brits who have served this country well"...pathetic!

[mump boy]

There are lots of things to complain about in this funding round but the fact that Kelly Sotherton isn't funded certainly isn't one of them

[72]

Remember that great "British" runner Malachi Davis, another funded athlete from the States who was "British" cos his mother was. Born in the USA and never came here until the Trials for the 2004 Olympics, so I read ;got his passport as a British athlete a few weeks before the event and announced by UKA as another of our "British" surprise competitors; I wonder where he is and how often he comes here.
So many naive twerps in the UK who cannot see naked financial and competitive oportunism by both the athletes in question and our beloved "medal mad" UKA; quite legal of course, but absolutely no moral different from the Quataris and Bahrainis of this world buying 'em in with their oil money. They have Brit citizenship...wowee!!!!!
The athletes referred to are so pleased to represent UK ... I wonder which of our so called Brits would be getting the financial, medical,travelling support in the their own countries assuming that they actually know which they are/were.will be.

Perhaps we could entertain the idea of athletes entering great competitions only as individuals with no nationality connections.

BTW,The Daily Mail is more relevant to peoples real views and concerns, despite its nationalistic viewpoint, than the so called "progressive" BBC / Grauniad/Mirror rubbish;

[PCSExponent]

Perhaps we could entertain the idea of athletes entering great competitions only as individuals with no nationality connections.

I realize why it can never happen, but in my utopian world, this would be no. 3 on the list after world peace and financial security for all. I don't know why people think it is funny

[shivfan]

Of course, it adds fuel to the Daily Mail diatribes when athletes such as Ofili tweet on July 4 that she wishes she was back in the US on that day, but adds that she's there in spirit....

[jjimbojames]

Of course, it adds fuel to the Daily Mail diatribes when athletes such as Ofili tweet on July 4 that she wishes she was back in the US on that day, but adds that she's there in spirit....

Why? It's a day of celebration that anyone living in that country buys into because of the sheer scale of it - and just because there isn't really a day to celebrate being British in the UK isn't a reason for Tiff O-P to not celebrate the day members of her family and friends will be celebrating. A few friends of mine studied in the USA on soccer scholarships having been born and bred in the UK until they were 18. Even now, they wish they were in the US with their university friends on that date, despite only living there for four years of their 30+, as their US friends are enjoying the day - it doesn't make them any less British

If the Daily Mail can't see that, they (and their readers) need to expand their horizons somewhat

[dunedine]

I totally agree on the concept and background of 4 July celebrations, I would like to experience it myself once, and your comments on Daily Mail and their pathetic 'campaign' against certain athletes that have switched allegiance to Britain, JimBo.

After all, Tiffany has lived her whole life in the States so has got every right to feel that way and express her feelings on the day.

But Daily Mail and their like will overlook her comments when she steps up to compete for Britain as it suits them the other way round.

[26mi235]

What about those plastic Swedes, those hurdlers; they are no more Swedish than Ofili is British...