04 December 2019

Rio 2016 relay medallist Eilidh Doyle thankful for Olympic funding in helping her return to the track after pregnancy

Britain's Eilidh Doyle has said that securing Olympic funding is "massive" in determining her future in the sport after the birth of her first child, due in January.

The Scottish runner announced her pregnancy on her instagram in August, admitting at the time: "I'm not retiring yet, I'm planning to get back."

The 32-year-old was a member of the British 4x400m relay team which won bronze at the Olympics in Rio in 2016 and has therefore been included in the relay funding category by British Athletics for Tokyo in 2020.

She was thankful for the funding in order to take the pressure off, saying: "I don't have to worry about how am I going to get money, balance training with a job or what if I'm injured, paying for treatment or surgery or rehab every week."

Doyle, who also ran at London 2012, says competing at a third Olympic Games would be "incredible", but admits her future is uncertain.

"There will be challenges but we've got a plan in place to get back racing again next year," she said. "That will all be 'what ifs', how the pregnancy goes and what happens when the baby is here, but it is nice to have the security to look ahead. It also helps with motivation and commitment."

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