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Simpson uses stats to try and get back funding

Jenny Simpson still hopes to be funded ahead of London 2012 © Getty Images

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UK Athletics has agreed to reconsider Jenny Simpson's case for Olympic funding just two weeks after miring the 800m runner's bid for London 2012 in financial uncertainty.

Simpson, the fastest GB athlete in the event in 2010 before suffering an injury setback this season, faces having to self-fund her training after being axed from the World Class Performance Programme last month - losing valuable medical and nutritional support as a result.

But the 27-year-old has compiled a dossier with statistical evidence to support her argument that she is still a viable medal prospect for Team GB, and UK Athletics chief Charles van Commenee has now agreed to re-evaluate her case.

"He has agreed to take my case back to the panel of judges for reassessment," Simpson told The Times. "This time he will include the original notes from the first meeting, my letter of 'notice of appeal' and the annotations I sent him in response to his letter.

"This is great news for me as it means I could still receive some support leading into the Olympics. The clear facts that I presented to Charles will help my case for reinstatement."

As an example of her statistical evidence, Simpson noted: "I pointed out the ages of all finalists from the last two Olympic Games and two World Championships. Twenty out of 32 finalists were aged 28 or above.

"One of the reasons for this is that, by that age, they are physiologically developed enough to withstand the strength endurance needed to cope with three rounds of world-class 800 metres running."

Jenny Meadows, Marilyn Okoro and Emma Jackson are the female 800m competitors who currently receive funding from UK Athletics, although Simpson has also achieved the Olympic qualifying standard after running 1m 59.59s late this season after returning to fitness.

Even if her appeal is unsuccessful, Simpson insists she will not give up on her Olympic dream.

"This funding situation has made me stronger and even more determined to be in that Olympic final," she said. "My plan leading into the Olympics will not change drastically, but my support system will have to."

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