Olympic distance and Ironman
I got sent a 220 magazine this week, it seems there is alot of discussion about drafting in ITU olympic dist races and also about the funding of world class performance plan athletes.
Ok here is the gig: While I maybe on the Long distance plan, I receive virtually nill funding, what I do recieve is my trips to World and European champs are paid for.
Whereas the Olympic dist funding, is very good, depending on what level you are on, but the funding is much better for these athletes(allthough only 6 senior athletes recieve funding). I undersatnd fully the reasons for this, the Lottery funding is primarily to gain Olympic medals. All great. And I am not complaining. My point is, it is very difficult to earn enough money to race fulltime weather it long dist or short dist. But shorely both distances have equally merits as sports. Anyway I could complain all day about not getting any lottery funding, so I'll move on.
My real point is, it's crazy to cut the funding to a sport that didn't achieve, how the hell is the sport supposed to try and win medals at the next olympics?? It will be down to shear hard work of that individual, and more likely be despite the system rather than because of the system.
Also who is to say which athletes are going to have the best chance of winning the olympics, maybe the guy or girl who is 26years old and just missed funding by 1or 2 places won't stick to there dream and keep training and surprise everyone and be the best in the world in a few years. It has happened and will happen again.
Here is what should happen:
There should be more money total, less individual funding, more performance centres, more athletes on the training schemes, accomodation should be free, coaching and training facilities should be free. And the only criteria to be on this scheme should be your ability to work hard, have one single aim(which is to be the best), and to keep improving.
I would not need any funding if; I was based at a performabce center, I had my equipment paid for, my training facilites paid for, accomodation paid for and food paid for and travel expenses to races.
The money I earn now, goes on food rent, servicing equipment and travel, we don't need money we need facilities and coaching.
If the government and the sport really wants to win medals, then they should fund these centers and fill them with athletes whose aim is to win medals/races and is purely performance related. I hear so many athletes, saying how they want to turn "Pro" or they are a "Pro triathlete". It's not about being a "Pro" it's about Elite performance, aiming to produce something outsatnding, not about wearing nice kit and looking cool!
I do not care about being a"PRO" I want to win races.
Oh I have rambled a bit, if you have read this I hope it makes sense!
I'll talk about drafting next time.
Thanks for reading.
Stephen
please have a look at my website: www.stephenbayliss.net click on the sponsors(make them happy!)
Ok here is the gig: While I maybe on the Long distance plan, I receive virtually nill funding, what I do recieve is my trips to World and European champs are paid for.
Whereas the Olympic dist funding, is very good, depending on what level you are on, but the funding is much better for these athletes(allthough only 6 senior athletes recieve funding). I undersatnd fully the reasons for this, the Lottery funding is primarily to gain Olympic medals. All great. And I am not complaining. My point is, it is very difficult to earn enough money to race fulltime weather it long dist or short dist. But shorely both distances have equally merits as sports. Anyway I could complain all day about not getting any lottery funding, so I'll move on.
My real point is, it's crazy to cut the funding to a sport that didn't achieve, how the hell is the sport supposed to try and win medals at the next olympics?? It will be down to shear hard work of that individual, and more likely be despite the system rather than because of the system.
Also who is to say which athletes are going to have the best chance of winning the olympics, maybe the guy or girl who is 26years old and just missed funding by 1or 2 places won't stick to there dream and keep training and surprise everyone and be the best in the world in a few years. It has happened and will happen again.
Here is what should happen:
There should be more money total, less individual funding, more performance centres, more athletes on the training schemes, accomodation should be free, coaching and training facilities should be free. And the only criteria to be on this scheme should be your ability to work hard, have one single aim(which is to be the best), and to keep improving.
I would not need any funding if; I was based at a performabce center, I had my equipment paid for, my training facilites paid for, accomodation paid for and food paid for and travel expenses to races.
The money I earn now, goes on food rent, servicing equipment and travel, we don't need money we need facilities and coaching.
If the government and the sport really wants to win medals, then they should fund these centers and fill them with athletes whose aim is to win medals/races and is purely performance related. I hear so many athletes, saying how they want to turn "Pro" or they are a "Pro triathlete". It's not about being a "Pro" it's about Elite performance, aiming to produce something outsatnding, not about wearing nice kit and looking cool!
I do not care about being a"PRO" I want to win races.
Oh I have rambled a bit, if you have read this I hope it makes sense!
I'll talk about drafting next time.
Thanks for reading.
Stephen
please have a look at my website: www.stephenbayliss.net click on the sponsors(make them happy!)
posted by Stephen at 5:41 AM
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