Miley out of top squad and loses funding

Hannah Miley has been dropped from British Swimming’s world-class performance squad, dealing a huge blow to her hopes of reaching a fourth and final Olympics at Tokyo 2020.

The 29-year-old, who loses her Lottery funding, was the biggest name missing from the 54-strongsquad list which is headed by Olympic champion Adam Peaty and Scotland’s European gold medallist Duncan Scott.

British Swimming chiefs defended axeing Gairloch’s Miley less than two months after the Scot claimed European Championship bronze in Glasgow. Her Stirling-based rival Aimee Wilmott, who pipped her to the Commonwealth Games 400m medley gold in April, also lost out.

A British Swimming spokesperson said: “This time last year, Hannah, Aimee Wilmott and Andrew Willis were all put on reviews post-commonwealth Games and given half-year funding. That was reviewed after Gold Coast and now they are no longer fundedswimmers.wehave a maximum number of places from UK Sport and we have three less than last year on the programme.”

Nine Scots were included, with teenage prospects Cassie Wild, Keanna Macinnes and Katie Robertson

earning spots for the first time.

Miley had admitted she would review whether to continue her career at the season’s end. But, following August’s Europeans at Tollcross Pool, British Swimming’s performance director Chris Spice urged Miley to continue in the sport at a relatively veteran age.

“She is just a machine,” he said. “And one of the leaders in the team. She offers so much to everyone else, not just performance, I hope she keeps going.”

Meanwhile, Britain’s double Olympic silver medallist Jazz Carlin is taking a complete break from swimming after injury and illness.

Carlin, who won silver medals in the 400 metre and 800m freestyle events at Rio in 2016, will no longer be considered for funding.

The 28-year-old has struggled for form in both pool and open water swimming since her Olympic success, but is expected to return to the sport.

“Jazz Carlin is taking time out at the moment to get ready for the season after a difficult year with illness and injury,” British Swimming said in a statement.

Carlin withdrew from last week’s 10km World Cup in China due to illness.

0 Hannah Miley: ‘Machine’