British Fencing's Future Has Never Looked 'So Bleak,' CEO Says

UK Sport removed its funding for British Fencing in Dec. '16.GETTY IMAGES

British Fencing CEO Georgina Usher said that the future of British fencing has never looked "so bleak" after it emerged that a crowdfunding bid has raised just £170 ($225), according to Katie Falkingham of the BBC. The sport was one of five to have UK Sport funding removed in Dec. '16. It received £4.2M for the Rio Olympics. Usher said that the sport "may not be represented in Team GB at Tokyo 2020 as a result." Usher: "Our chances of qualifying for the Olympics has been massively impacted. Our athletes have got the ability to get there, but are worrying about how they are going to afford competitions." The sport launched a crowdfunding campaign in June to fund athletes' progression toward the Tokyo Olympics, but it has "so far failed to have the desired effect" (BBC, 7/14).