THE CORNISH community has rallied behind St Austell 800m runner and Olympic hopeful Jemma Simpson after UK Athletics took away her funding.

While the 27-year-old, who grew up in St Stephen, says she will appeal against the sport's governing body's decision to cut her Lottery-based funding because of injury, people have been showing their support for her.

Miss Simpson said the news ahead of the Olympic Games in London next year was "devastating".

She ran in the semi-finals of the 2007 and 2009 World Championships, and competed at the Beijing Olympics.

Disappointed

St Austell town councillor Jill Trewhella has been a long-term supporter of Miss Simpson. She said: "I was disappointed to hear that her funding had been pulled.

"Although she has competed before, to run in the 2012 Olympic Games in your own country is something different when you have got not just Cornwall but Britain supporting you.

"Dame Kelly Holmes came back from major injury and won double Olympic gold, which shows you cannot rule people out because of an injury."

Cornwall councillor Alex Folkes, on his blog Lanson Boy, suggested that Cornwall Council could use some of the £150,000 it had for the Olympic torch procession through the county for supporting Miss Simpson instead.

He wrote that although "delighted" the Olympic torch would begin its procession from Land's End, he pondered if it was the best use of the money.

He said: "We know that the one thing most likely to inspire young people in Cornwall to take up sport is seeing British athletes doing well and winning medals. It's even better if they are athletes from local towns and villages."

A Cornwall Council spokesman echoed Mr Folkes's support for the athlete but explained the torch event would be primarily funded by leader Alec Robertson's contingency budget.

"While we certainly wish Jemma well, funding for elite level athletes is provided by UK Sport. It is not the council's role to provide sponsorship for individual sports persons," said the spokesman.

"We already provide support for the Cornwall Sports Partnership which works with a range of sports organisations and individuals across Cornwall, inspiring people of all ages to get involved in sport."

Miss Simpson recently visited Cornwall College St Austell. Russell Lawrance, head of A levels and director of sport, said: "Jemma was an inspirational speaker at our A-level centre opening, with many students in awe of her achievements.

"We hope that, despite this setback, she will continue to follow her dreams and make it to the Olympics next summer."

Maximum

She recently also went back to her old school, Mount Charles, to meet potential athletic stars of the future. There, too, they support her.

Speaking to the Cornish Guardian, Miss Simpson said: "I have dedicated my life to this sport and have always applied maximum effort so to be dropped at the final hurdle is something that you do not want to hear."

She has competed for UK Athletics since the age of 16, with her first full international appearance at the age of 22.

She added: "Despite this devastating blow, I will rise from this.

"It will make me even more determined and I will do everything in my power to be in that Olympic final.

"I do my best to put Cornwall on the map and will still do my best to represent Cornwall and the UK at the Olympic Games no matter what my situation."

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