Radcliffe loses her funding

Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi both dropped from National Lottery funding.

Various other names there as well.

Seems a bit harsh but as they say, it's all about performance and I guess we know that Paula's not been at the top of her game for a while.

I dont know about harsh Mutters ... its a 'job' for both of them, it may be that both have indicated the end of a career and money would be better spent on the younger generation ... the legacy??

Yeah, I know, but I was just hoping that Paula would have one last hurrah and blow them all away at the next London mara or wherever. You're right though - she's not a realistic prospect for Rio, surely?

I wouldnt have thought she was a realistic hope for Rio but who knows ...  I'm not sure how old she is at the mo?

I'm not surprised she's lost her funding.

The paula era is over, a great legacy though.

Hardly harsh, a very pragmatic decision.

She is nearly 39 and is unlikely to do much in the future , certainly not by 2016. She has done well out of athletics and has had a good career. The end must come sometime.

Surely one of the main reasons for funding in the first place is to allow an athlete to be able to train full time, where otherwise that wouldn't be financially viable?

Whether or not Paula has had her day - IMO she has - she must be minted?

She seems relaxed enough about it: linkety link

"living expenses of up to £26,000" ????!?!?!?

What's that for? A family of four?

Paula said herself of twitter that she only ever had medical support, and she fully expected to lose that this year. Even with the medical support, even if she had been racing wouldn't have been a great investment - these operations can't come cheap! She has plenty of money and funding from sponsors, plus she could probably get a private medical sponsor if she needed one. She's not going to starve, where as there are a lot of athletes whose prospects at Rio could be greatly improved with even a low level of funding to give them medical support, allow them to race internationally etc... It was the right decision. I think cutting Marilyn Okoro and Michael Rimmer was far more controversial. Their problem is tactics, not injuries or talent, which could be cheaply and easily resolved with good coaching and some sports psychology to stop them getting so nervous and going out like they've been shot....