ADAM GEMILI wants to show he is not the “forgotten man” of athletics after suffering brutal funding cuts.
But the GB sprinter is concerned about the future of track-and-field, claiming the London 2012 legacy is being wasted.
The likeable runner heads into the 100m at the Müller Anniversary Games in London this weekend in the “best shape of his life” – despite tweaking his hamstring in a bungled baton exchange at the World Relays in May.
Yet the 25-year-old has been unhappy British Athletics chiefs changed his pay packet for training last winter.
It was claimed he did not deserve ‘Olympic podium’ funding and was instead downgraded to a relay runner status.
While he is not denied access to any medical or physiotherapist support, it’s the reputational damage he is not seen as one of our leading men.
Gemili told SunSport: “There’s a short memory in track-and-field.
“Even some of my own comrades, maybe not the other athletes, but the people in charge of the sport have maybe forgotten that.
“I had a few conversations about funding and whether I’m a relay athlete now.
“Well, I’ve to go out there and show them that, listen, you don’t know what you are talking about. I can still go out there and challenge for the medals.”
Gemili was fourth in the 200m at the Rio 2016 Olympics and won 4x100m relay world gold at the 2017 London championships.
The former footballer refuses to name those in charge who made the decisions last November and will only make that public after he retires.
The Londoner said: “People don’t believe I can win medals in an individual event, which is someone’s opinion. I disagree.
“There are some athletes in the past who have been kicked off funding and gone on to the Olympic Games.
“I pleaded my case. I feel like it was a bit unfair.
“It’s about proving those people wrong. I’ll go out there and show them I’m not the forgotten man, someone who has all this potential and didn’t live up to it.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t individually performed where I need to be. There have been a lot of injuries which I did plead my case about.
“No matter what I run during the season, when I get to the champs I can deliver. It doesn’t want matter shape I am.”
Gemili was there on Super Saturday when Britain enjoyed its best ever day of athletics – three gold medals won within a few hours.
Organisers sold the Olympics to the British public on a dream there would be a tangible legacy.
Yet Gemili believes more should be invested into grassroots athletics to unearth the next generation of superstars.
He said: “Unfortunately, since London 2012, track-and-field hasn’t really kicked on in the UK as well as I thought it would.
“I thought we’d have massive participation numbers, the grass-roots support would be fantastic.
“There’s a lot more to be done. There’s no help transiting from that grassroots level.
“Fund new coaches, younger coaches. Give athletes more opportunities to be part of athletics clubs.
“It’s that investment into the sport, that new injection of life.
“If we don’t have the participation numbers then we won’t see the next Mo Farah, Jess Ennis, Greg Rutherford, Dina Asher-Smith or KJT.
“At the elite level we are judged on medals. That’s how we get our funding. So it’s our job to go and perform.
“As young athletes, young kids, they need to be able to give the opportunities to go out there, win, lose, make mistakes, learn from it.”
Tickets for the Müller Anniversary Games are on sale at www.theticketfactory.com/british-athletics
Source: Athletics - thesun.co.uk
