Among the Medals - athlete testimonials
Being a sportsman or woman is not easy.
For many of us, a quick jog around the block after work is enough to tire us out – so how would you cope training up to four or five hours a day while trying to hold down a full or part time job? Add to that the possibility of having children or dependent relatives, taking time out to travel around the world for competitions, and finding the extra cash for specialist equipment. This is the dilemma facing athletes all over this country.
Alan Bircher, 24, is one of the World’s best, and Britain’s top, open water swimmer. Prior to the winter of 2005, 
open water swimming was not part of the Olympic programme and therefore received little support from UK Sport, the government organisation responsible for dishing out money to top athletes. He knows first hand how difficult it can be juggling training with full time employment;
“When I went to the 2004 World Championships in Dubai I wasn’t receiving any form of funding. I would work most weeks at a cinema, between 30-40 hours a week and try and swim 20 hours which meant I didn’t have any time for gym work. I came away from the Worlds with a silver medal, but I always think - what if I could have trained full time no work, could this have made the difference between second and being world champion?
“It’s a bit of an extreme example, but its like David Beckham or one of England’s best having to play football and work at a cinema along side it.”