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Black slams underperforming athletes

06/04/2006

Roger Black has criticised British athletes for failing to live up to expectations, despite the increased funding and improved facilities continually being made available for training.

In an attack bearing resemblances to that offered by American 400 metre legend Michael Johnson last month, Black, a former Olympic 400m silver medallist himself, questioned the attitude and desire of athletes in the UK.

He also pointed a finger directly at the nation's most unfulfilled talent in 100m sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis, who since winning the junior world championships five years ago has failed to make an impact on the senior stage.

"To make a living in my day, you had to win big medals. Now you can get a bit of lottery funding and do OK," Black, now an athletics correspondent for the BBC, said.

"Mark Lewis-Francis was made out to be far better than perhaps he is. He has the talent and ability, but if he was around in my day he would be penniless now."

And Black suggested that the increased funding in the sport has actually had a detrimental effect on the quality of athletes.

"The passion is there now, as it was in my day, but I had it much harder," he added. "I had to re-mortgage my house at one stage. I was injured and up to my eyeballs in debt. That doesn't happen now.

"I don't want anyone to go through what I did, but it wakes you up. You have to come back and you have to win."

Black, now 40, also won medals in European, Commonwealth and World championships between 1985 and 1997.

His comments come just days after UK Athletics confirmed it had agreed the most lucrative sponsorship deal outside football with insurer Norwich Union.

This deal will see an approximate £50 million made available to athletes in the UK between now and the London Olympic games in six years' time.

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