10 November 2008

UK Athletics has today unveiled the performance criteria for disabled athletes in the first 12 month cycle leading towards the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

As with non-disabled athletes, National Lottery funds will be targeted towards supporting a smaller number of athletes deemed capable of success in London.

This absolute focus on London is crucial for the UK Athletics World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) for potential 2012 Paralympic athletes because there will be no opportunity for athletes to prove themselves on the international stage until the IPC World Championships in 2011.

Thus, UK Athletics will take into account how the events will move on in the coming three years and who has a realistic chance of making finals at the 2012 Paralympics. As part of this more focussed approach, UK Athletics will also appoint of a new Head Coach for Paralympics, who will work with a specific remit for disability athletics. The appointee is expected to be in post for the start of 2009. 

The overall number of disabled athletes supported by the UK Athletics World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) has been cut from the previous year of 42 to 33.

There is also greater clarity in the funding levels, including a band of funding for Talent level athletes as well as Podium and Development. This brings disabled athletes in line with non-disabled athletes on the UK Athletics World Class Performance Programme (WCPP).

The funding levels work as follows:

• Podium A level: gold medallist at 2008 Paralympic Games and has demonstrated potential to win gold at 2011 IPC World Championships and/or 2012 Paralympic Games

• Podium B: silver or bronze medallist at 2008 Paralympic Games and has demonstrated potential to progress to gold at 2011 IPC World Championships

• Podium C: silver or bronze medallist at 2008 Paralympic Games and has demonstrated potential to medal again at 2011 IPC World Championships OR
  

         Potential medallist at one of the next major Championships in this cycle, with

         strong competition skills and located in the best environment to improve

• Development D: Potential medallists at major championships for whom exposure to the WCPP could enable them to progress to Podium level within two years

• Development (Talent confirmation): Athletes identified to have all the characteristics to make progression to becoming a Podium athlete a realistic possibility

• Talent: Athletes deemed to have the ‘raw talent’ necessary to progress onto Podium level with the assistance of foundation training in each of the “Five Rings” areas on this level of the programme  

For a full explanation of the Paralympic Performance Matrix and criteria, click the link below.

UK Athletics Paralympic Performance Matrix

Funded athletes

PODIUM
Mickey Bushell; Libby Clegg; Daniel Greaves; Sophie Hancock; Katrina Hart; Ian Jones; Chris Martin; John McFall; Stephen Miller; Kim Minett; Ben Rushgrove; Hazel Simpson; Nathan Stephens; David Weir; Daniel West; Claire Williams; Shelly Woods

DEVELOPENT
Brian Alldis; Martin Crutchley; Katherine Deal;David Devine; Thomas Green; Jenny McLoughlin; Kieron Murphy; Daniel Nobbs; Gemma Prescott; Bethany Woodward

TALENT
Ola Abidogun; Hollie Arnold; Jonathon Adams; Hannah Cockcroft; Mark Hellard; Paul Willis