by Stuart WeirI am always fascinated when British Athletics announces membership in the WCP program. I think it could be a huge factor in the success that British Athletics has had for most the last two decades.
Could something like this work in the US?
It would at least be worth the discussion. Thanks to Stuart Weir for rounding this all up!
Katerina Johnson-Thompson, photo by Diamond League AG
Keely Hodgkinson, photo by British Athletics
67 ATHLETES OFFERED MEMBERSHIP TO BRITISH ATHLETICS OLYMPIC WORLD CLASS PROGRAMME (WCP)
A group of 67 athletes have been offered membership to join the British Athletics Olympic World Class Programme* (WCP) for 2021/22.
The headlines are:
1 Andrew Butchart, CJ Ujah and Tom Bosworth cut entirely.
2 Reece Prescod and Zharnel Hughes downgraded to relay funding only.
3 No direct funding for any male 400m runners or 4x400m relay team.
4 Promoted to podium (the highest level of funding) Alex Bell, Keely Hodgkinson, Josh Kerr, Andrew Pozzi, Jemma Reekie, Jazmin Sawyers.
A new Confirmation level has been added to the World Class Programme. The Athlete Performance Awards (APAs) at this level are designed to support athletes in their first 1-2 years on the World Class Programme and provide a period through which the potential of the athlete is explored and confirmed. Among the first athletes to benefit from this level are European indoor finalist Ellie Baker and European U23 medallists’ Holly Mills and Thomas Randolph.
Jodie Williams, photo by British Athletics
Jodie Williams who got a medal in the European Indoors and reached the Olympic Final in her first year of running 400m seriously must rank as pretty unlucky not to make the Podium level. Having three female long-jumpers in the podium category seems odd. In the year that Martyn Rooney retired its poignant that there is not only no male individual 400 (flat or hurdles) runner on funding and that the 4 by 400 men have lost their relay funding.
Ellie Baker, photo by British Athetics
British Athletics Performance Director, Sara Symington, said: “As we start the Paris cycle, and longer-term Los Angeles 2028, we made a number of informed decisions in regard to the World Class Programme membership that aligns with our strategic priorities. We will work closely with the 67 athlete and coach pairings that we are offering membership to and will look to add support and value in their journey via their individual athlete plan (IAP).
“The selection process is robust and lengthy, and we use a lot of data which is complemented by the knowledge of our event leads to inform the decision-making process. We have given careful consideration to those athletes who meet the selection criteria and performance matrix which align to the future ambitions of the World Class Programme.
Andrew Pozzi, photo by British Athletics
“In relation to the men’s 4x400m relay athletes we are taking an approach which allows more flexibility and look to support the development of several athletes during this cycle. This support will be offered via camps and training opportunities to a cohort of eligible athletes so that we can build the team towards the longer-term targets of Paris and LA.”
SPORT: #Kent racewalker @TomBosworth will not receive funding from British Athletics for the coming year #kmfmnews https://t.co/1XCQVUFUDJ
— kmfm News (@kmfmnews) October 18, 2021
Among the athlete reaction on social media was: Tom Bosworth., on Podium funding last year but cut completely this year: “I’m so disappointed to be removed for the program after a season hampered by injury. The loss of financial and medical support will be huge. I want to thank those who’ve helped and supported me since 2015! We’re so lucky to have the WCP, so congratulations to all selected!”
Love this time of year, where you find out through a press release you haven’t got potential for another Olympic cycle🤣🙈 just another reminder that funding doesn’t define you!!😊 hugely grateful to my sponsor @hoka for believing in me to aim for more Championships 🙌ðŸ»ðŸƒðŸ½â€â™€ï¸ðŸ˜Š https://t.co/kCrRtjvdzn
— Jess Judd (@jessjuddxx) October 18, 2021
Jess Judd: “Love this time of year, where you find out through a press release you haven’t got potential for another Olympic cycle just another reminder that funding doesn’t define you!! hugely grateful to my sponsor for believing in me to aim for more Championships”.
The funniest comment was from triple-jumper, Naomi Ogbeta who got married and became Mrs Metzger last week: “me reading this and thinking who’s naomi metzger then realising that it is me!”
The British Athletics Olympic World Class Programme Athletes:
Olympic Podium (17):
Dina Asher-Smith
Alex Bell
Holly Bradshaw
Adam Gemili
Callum Hawkins
Keely Hodgkinson
Abigail Irozuru
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Josh Kerr
Nick Miller
Laura Muir
Andrew Pozzi
Jemma Reekie
Jazmin Sawyers
Lynsey Sharp
Lorraine Ugen
Jake Wightman
Olympic Podium Potential (26):
Elizabeth Bird
Emily Borthwick
Taylor Campbell
Harry Coppell
Melissa Courtney-Bryant
Oliver Dustin
Niamh Emerson
Tom Gale
Elliot Giles
Jake Heyward
Jessie Knight
Morgan Lake
Scott Lincoln
Eilish McColgan
Sophie McKinna
Naomi Metzger (née Ogbeta)
Lawrence Okoye
Aimee Pratt
Charlotte Purdue
Daniel Rowden
Marc Scott
Cindy Sember
Jessica Turner
Jamie Webb
Laura Weightman
Callum Wilkinson
Olympic Relays (16):
Kristal Awuah
Zoey Clark
Emily Diamond
Beth Dobbin
Zharnel Hughes
Richard Kilty
Imani-Lara Lansiquot
Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake
Daryll Neita
Ashleigh Nelson
Laviai Nielsen
Asha Philip
Ama Pipi
Reece Prescod
Jodie Williams
Nicole Yeargin
Olympic Confirmation Level (8):
Jeremiah Azu
Ellie Baker
Molly Caudery
Piers Copeland
Jona Efoloko
Jessica Mayho
Holly Mills
Thomas Randolph
*The WCP is UK Sport’s National Lottery funded initiative supporting the delivery of success at named milestone targets, namely outdoor track World and European Championships and Olympics Games. The WCP is split into levels reflecting the actual and potential performance levels of athletes: Podium, Podium Potential and Confirmation.
