Roberto Pavoni saddened by swimming funding decision
Last updated on .From the section Swimming
European Championship medallist Roberto Pavoni says he feels "disheartened" after losing his funding.
The 23-year-old from Brentwood has been dropped from British Swimming's performance programme for 2015.
"The fact that two European medals and three Commonwealth finals to my name this year alone is not enough to earn me some support is extremely disheartening," he said in a statement to BBC Essex.
British Swimming declined to comment.
But when the squads were announced last week, national performance director Chris Spice said the organisation had been forced to take some "very tough decisions" and highlighted the performances of some of the younger members of the British set-up.
Pavoni won European silver in the 400m medley and bronze in the 200m medley in Berlin this year, and is the national champion in both of those events, as well as the 200m butterfly.
| Pavoni's career highlights | |
|---|---|
| European Championships 2014 | 400m medley silver, 200m medley bronze |
| British Championships 2014 | 400m medley, 200m medley, 200m butterfly gold |
| European Junior Championships 2009 | 400m medley gold |
| European Junior Championships 2008 | 400m medley gold, 200m butterfly silver, 200m medley bronze |
He also reached the final in all three events at the Commonwealth Games but is yet to win a medal at World Championship or Olympic level.
After receiving central funding for 2014, he is not among the 64 athletes who will receive podium or podium-potential support next year.
"I am hugely disappointed to have lost my funding for next season," he said.
"Regardless of this setback, my focus remains 100% on continuing towards my goal of a medal at the 2016 Olympics.
"However, I am now in need of a sponsor to support me over the next couple of years.
"Financial aid is unfortunately a necessity in the sport, where I spend upwards of 30 hours a week training. It is a full-time job and this extends further than my time at the pool."
