Ep 246 - The truth about athlete funding and selection with Marilyn Okoro

Send us Fan MailMarilyn Okoro's experience of being denied further funding to continue her athletics career really is a thing of shame. That's why Jody and David invite her onto the podcast to talk about her experience and uncover just how closed the system really is.Now a vocal advocate for athletes, Marilyn enjoyed success on the track finishing third in the 800 metres at the 2007 and 2008 IAAF World Athletics Final and bronze in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2007 World Champs.She is a holder of an Olympic bronze medal for the 4 x 400 metres relay after two teams that finished ahead of them in the 2008 Beijing Olympics were disqualified for doping and they were retrospectively handed the medal... EIGHT years later! (No prizes for guessing that one of the disqualified teams was Russia - the other was Belarussia).In this episode, Marilyn talks about her path into the sport and the issues she faced working with UK Athletics and a hierarchy who insisted she did things their way. This is a really eye-opening episode that gives you an insight into the way athletes are treated by the funding bodies who have the power to make or break careers based on sometimes quite oblique criteria.Enjoy!If you enjoyed this episode please SUBSCRIBE to get every episode delivered to you before everyone else.Join the conversation! Suggest future guests, wallow in your malaise or offer your unsolicited opinion on running issues or anything else over at the Bad Boy Running Podcast Facebook group, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/badboyrunningSend us your feedback and comments at [email protected] the Bad Boy Running Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/badboyrunningVisit the Bad Boy Running store for merchandise: https://store.badboyrunning.comJoin the Bad Boy Running Club here: https://club.badboyrunning.comAbout Bad Boy Running:The amazing world of running you didn't know existed, from a marathon club in San Quentin State Penitentiary to racing 350 miles, unaided with only 8% vision, to setting up a girl's running club in Afghanistan, reprobates David Hellard and Jody Raynsford bring you the world's most interesting running stories, its most incredible runners, presented by some of its worst.A funny, light-hearted look at running that's not afraid to laugh at itself and at you.Follow Bad Boy Running on social media:Website: Love the podcast and these videos? Buy us a beer! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/badboyrunning Join the Bad Boy Running Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/badboyrunningVisit the Bad Boy Running store for merchandise: https://store.badboyrunning.com Join the Bad Boy Running Club here: https://cl...