How about this for a story? Athletes who meet the standards for Olympic qualification have been denied entry by UK Athletics, who have imposed a series of higher requirements. If we were an all-conquering nation of athletes with talent oozing out of our ears this would make sense. But we aren’t. We have produced some great performances from people who have given their all (and established records and personal bests on their way to defeat) but they have left us with great memories rather than medals. These days this is what it’s all about.

My best performance in athletics was qualifying for a 2 Star certificate from the Amateur Athletics Association. That’s 2 out of a possible five. The previous year I had got one. But it had made me try harder for the second year, and I was planning on trying even harder for the next year.  They were discontinued and my interest in athletics fell away.

The moral of that story turned out to be that people are motivated by awards and that I am shallow. It was meant to be that I have no skill in athletics and am trying not to criticise individuals. However, it is undeniable that we have been soundly beaten in many events. It has not, in many of the cases, been that the athletes have failed, simply that other people have done better.  I can feel a song, and a title, coming on . . .

A breakfast fit for heroes

The reason UKA has these extra standards is that  ‘an athlete getting to the Olympics with little chance of qualifying from their heat or pool does not have a significant impact on inspiring the nation, and therefore does not merit public funding‘.

This is clearly nonsense, as they don’t know what will inspire the nation. I’ve been inspired by a 51-year-old skateboarder and a Nigerian cyclist, (including a story of German sportsmanship), and by a long-jumper who came fifth and has a full-time job. Yes, I’ve been inspired by some of the winning athletes, but a lot of them have left me wondering what happened to the Olympic spirit.

As I’ve said before, the losers are often the ones you remember. Apart from this one. Here’s a winner that will make you smile. She used to train at the athletic club with my kids, and went to college with one of them, so we like to see her doing well. Read to the bottom and look at her hairstyle.

There’s a petition here. I don’t usually hold with such things but now and again, I do. If you are in the UK, read it and please think about signing.

I needed some photos and wondered how to string three together in a series, as I have no photos of athletes.