Swallow insists her triathlon dream is still alive

By Tom Reynolds

JODIE Swallow has vowed to regain her National Lottery funding - after five years of injury hell.

BACK ON THE BIKE: Despite a setback at the Madrid leg of the World Championships Series, Jodie Swallow hasn't given up on fulfilling her promise

The 27-year-old triathlete rediscovered her form earlier this month, as she topped the podium at the Strathclyde Park Elite Triathlon, which doubled up as the British Championships.

Her success brought back memories of her displays between 2001 and 2003, when she enjoyed a breakthrough on the international stage, winning the London Triathlon and claiming silver at the World Cup in Athens.

But disaster struck in Olympic year as a string of injuries meant Swallow was a doubt for the Games, and despite earning a place in the squad, she failed to live up to her potential finishing 34th.

A stress fracture followed in late 2004, and a disillusioned Swallow took the whole of 2005 off - sacrificing her funding in the process - and an alarming dip in form then followed.

But after returning to action under new coach Livio Salvadore, Swallow is determined to finally fulfill her potential.  

However, she was dealt a blow this weekend when she had to withdraw from the Madrid stop on the Dextro Energy World Championship Series, where British team-mate Alastair Brownlee won the men's race, with a foot injury

"It's difficult for me at the minute because I am just doing everything I can possibly do to get myself back on the Lottery funding," said Swallow.

"It's all politics but for me at the minute I am just trying to get myself in to a position where they can't possibly not select me. I won the Nationals and that is a good step towards making sure people are noticing me.

"It's tough at the moment as I am self funded and need to be competing at almost all the events to try to get enough prize money to keep competing.

"Ideally I would have enough time to pick and choose and get some good rest between each race that I chose to compete in. However, I am just going from competition to competition every week, which is hard.

"It's a really busy time for me but it is what I have to do if I am going to get myself to London 2012.

"When I got back from Athens I was out of the sport for two years but I am really enjoying being back in it and I'm really determined to get to back to the Olympics."

And Swallow's chances of success in a summer that includes August's London Triathlon at Hyde Park - the same venue that will host the 2012 Olympic event - could be set for a boost after she was nominated for the British Airways Great Britons initiative, part of their sponsorship of London 2012.

Swallow has been shortlisted in a final eight by a BA judging panel - including Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis - with the public now voting to decide the winner via www.greatbritons.ba.com before the June 9th deadline.

"The offer of free flights would vastly reduce the pressures of failing to earn money in some races," she added.

"I would be in a better position to take measured risks and be more dynamic in my race decisions."