Cash crisis could kill Sean's Olympic dream

The public perception of Baldock leading a glamorous lifestyle and earning a healthy salary is a misconception that couldn't be further from the truth.

Despite his array of glittering achievements including three World Championship call-ups, the prize money in the sport is so poor outside of the elite grand prix races that the 26-year-old is struggling to make ends meet.

He receives a token gesture of support from the lottery -around 2,000 - which in real terms is tantamount to a drop in the ocean; he has to rely on the generosity of his parents to subsidise his training.

If Baldock is to fulfil his undoubted potential at the sport's blue riband event in Athens next summer he desperately requires extra cash in order to undertake proper winter preparatory work.

Manager Ray Warner, a former producer for ITV Sport, is trying to help the finest athlete Hastings has ever produced. He has written to 180 local businesses, but - aside from a well-received 250 donation from Dyer Commercials - he has met a muted response. In an impassioned plea, he said: "It's not often Hastings has an athlete going to the Olympics. But he can't even afford to get his own flat doing the job he loves. At the moment his training options are being restricted. He can't afford to do warm weather training like many of his rivals. You can't really train properly over here with the English weather and it could make the difference between turning up and competing or challenging for medals.

"If we can get 50 grand it will enable him to live and train like a professional athlete - that's what I'm aiming for. I really think it could make all the difference but we need to generate funds as quickly as possible. He attends all these school events and things like that but still he doesn't get the support he deserves. He's very talented and he's certainly the most talented athlete to come out of Hastings or East Sussex. And if he does well and Hastings gets a mention then it can only be good for the town."

Any donations, no matter the size, would be appreciated. Cheques should be made payable to Baldock's agency - "Warner Management Consultants Ltd". He is currently backed by Eastbourne company Bourne Motors.