Volleyball: Robin upbeat despite cuts

Robin MIEDZYBRODZKI launches his beach season in Shanghai this week determined to show that funding cuts will not leave his 2012 Olympic dream high and dry.

The Edinburgh player had his funding cut last year after UK Sport drastically reduced the British volleyball budget.

Miedzybrodzki, who trained full-time in Bath, has had to get a job but has refused to let the situation get him down.

This week he plays on the world tour event in China with England's Tom Lord after scraping funds together.

"The funding situation is still not ideal," he said. "However, Tom and I have managed to get some support through the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes programme and also through a personal sponsor.

"I have taken a job with Network Rail on their graduate training programme. They took me on with the idea that they would support my campaign towards 2012 and offer me the flexibility that I need."