Turner Clears His Biggest Hurdle.

An emotional Andy Turner yesterday reflected on a career that was looking down and out until Friday night's gold medal in the 100 metres hurdles here at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona.

The 29-year-old Nottingham athlete, who took bronze at the same championships four years' ago in Gothenburg, has since been hampered by injuries and resulting poor performances, so much so that in 2008 he had his lottery funding removed by UK Sport, around £15 to £20K, a move that could have spelt the end for the former Notts County schoolboy footballer. Without the guarantee of the £15K  plus free medical cover Turner knew he had to succeed quickly, or not at all.

"It was a tough time for me," Turner recalled. "It wasn't just the removal of much-needed funding but also medical cover. I've always been very delicate and I needed regular treatment that was no longer paid for. I live in Sutton but train in Lea Valley and that means a 75-mile journey every day just to train around the M25 motorway, which costs money."

The bad news was broken to him by British athletics Head Coach Charles Van Commenee. "He told me, then it was confirmed by a formal letter and although I appealed I failed to overturn the decision," Turner explained. "It wasn't a nice feeling to know that there's been a loss of faith in me. I was dropped from the lottery funding because I was considered not good enough.

"My world championships last year in Berlin were ruined by niggling hamstring injuries, and it meant I spent the rest of the season chasing races in order to pay my bills. Then, after I'd run 13.30, I got my funding back in November, last year, which obviously made it easier for me to train harder."

Mark Lewis Francis and Christian Malcolm, who both won silver medals last week in the 100 and 200 metres respectively, also had their funding temporarily removed and it seems to have had the desired effect for all three athletes, although Turner insists his success on Friday night was because he has enjoyed a clear run of fitness for the first time in three years.

"I've always had belief in my ability but after losing the funding I needed to prove to myself that I could be world-class. It shows what I can do when I'm fit for a season. Now I believe I can go to the worlds and the Olympics in the next two years and challenge for medals."

Turner revealed how he shed a tear during his lap of honour and immediately afterwards when he received a telephone call. "I saw my parents cheering in the stands and that made me cry a little," he said. "Then Carmen, my three-year-old daughter, phoned me and said how proud she was of her Daddy. That also brought tears to my eyes. Even Charles (Van Commenee) gave me a hug when he saw me. It's been a tough couple of years but now I can look to the future with great belief."