Boost for top athletes

In the wake of our disappointing London Olympic campaign, sports were warned not to cry poor.

But Seven News can reveal our athletes are getting more money, to help lift us from tenth on the medal tally, back in to the top five at Rio in 2016.

And, to hold on to the number one spot at the Commonwealth Games next year.

The Commonwealth Games Association has teamed up with the Australian Sports Commission, to increase Direct Athlete Support payments next year by three million dollars, up to eleven point four million.

The money goes to athletes earning less than 60-thousand dollars a year.

And diver Annabelle Smith is among 750 Australians who'll be eligible, up from 600 currently.

“It’s massive” said Smith. “it really does make a difference in helping you know, to achieve maximum performance.”

The payments range from six to 25-thousand dollars.

For the first time, athletes ranked outside the world top ten, but in the Commonwealth top three, will be eligible.

There's also a new category for emerging athletes.

The funding boost was recommended in the Winning Edge strategy released post-London to move our system from world class to world's best.

It also called for an overhaul of the way sports are funded, to be announced tomorrow.