James Dasaolu is certain he can still make an impact on the international athletics stage despite losing his National Lottery funding.
The Croydon Harriers athlete could only run 10.16 seconds in the 100m semi-finals at the Olympic Games in Rio last summer.
He was also dropped from the Olympic relay team, despite helping them win European gold in July.
Dai Greene and 2008 Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu also suffered from funding cuts by British Athletics, but Dasaolu is determined to prove the powers that be wrong.
The 29-year-old said: “As an athlete you know it’s always a possibility that you’ll lose your funding if you don’t do as well as you want but I was still disappointed.
“Me and my team have not considered appealing the decision. The decision is what the decision is.
“My only goal is to take the cuts on the chin and knuckle down and do my best to prove the selectors wrong.
“There are ways of getting through a lack of funding. It doesn’t make life easier as I have to cover my own medical expenses for example but I believe I can still accomplish my dream.
“If you look at Andy Turner, he had one of his best years after having his funding cut and that gives me belief too.”
Former 110m hurdler Turner saw his £12,000 grant cut in 2008. However, he went on to achieve gold in the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and then a World Championship bronze in 2011.
In an effort to rediscover the form that saw him run 9.91 in 2013, the second fastest time by a British athlete behind Linford Christie, Dasaolu has joined forces with UK Athletics coach Lloyd Cowan, and set his sights on the 2017 World Championships in London.
He said: “I’ve changed my coach and I’m training in London again which has given me the extra motivation for making it to the World Championships in London next summer.”
The Croydon-born sprinter also spoke of his disappointment at how Rio ended for him.
He said: “I had a little niggle during the Olympics which meant I could not do as well as I wanted and I was taken out of the relay squad because of this. I felt I had a lot more to give in Rio.”
But Dasaolu insisted the lack of funding would bring the best out of him.
Featured image courtesy of Nuffin Long TV Athletics via YouTube, with thanks
