DORSET Olympian Dan Hunter admitted he was "gutted" after UK Sport today cut Team GB's volleyball funding to zero.

Hunter and fellow Poole star Lucy Wicks both battled against the odds to reach London 2012, starring as the nation's under-funded indoor volleyball teams were taken to the public's hearts during the Games.

But UK Sport this afternoon confirmed indoor volleyball would receive no financial backing ahead of the Rio Games in four years' time, while beach volleyball, which featured fellow Poole athlete Zara Dampney in London, has been given just £400,000.

Hunter told the Daily Echo: “I couldn't believe they had gone from something to absolutely nothing.

“The whole buzz from the Olympics was a legacy. While I understand you have got to give money to sports that got medals, I don't understand how you can just throw out everybody else.
“I am absolutely gutted. I really don't know what to do if I am honest. We have got nothing - we haven't got a legacy from this Olympics now.”

Team GB's indoor volleyball stars fought their way to London 2012 despite a massive lack in funds since 2008.

Wicks and co had their funding slashed after Great Britain won the Games in 2005 and were forced to raise money themselves to keep their London dream alive. 

Although Hunter and the men's team failed to win a match during the Games, Wicks and her team-mates made history by claiming the nation's first ever win in Olympic volleyball when they saw off Algeria 3-2 in a five-set thriller at Earls Court.

Dampney and playing partner Shauna Mullin, meanwhile, also registered a victory at Horse Guards Parade when they beat Canada in three sets.

UK Sport also confirmed this afternoon that handball would receive no funding ahead of Rio 2016, with Bournemouth's John Pearce one of the Team GB squad affected by the decision.

Dorset shooter Peter Wilson, who won men's double trap gold in London, and his GB team-mates will benefit from a funding increase, however, after Sport UK confirmed £3m would be set aside for the sport.

Sturminster Newton's William Fox-Pitt and GB's eventing team have been handed nearly £18m to help boost their Rio preparations.

Olympic sailing has also been boosted by an increase in funds from nearly £23m to £24.5m over he next four years.