GOLD medal winning high jumper Dalton Grant has voiced concerns that Waltham Forest talent is being wasted in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Mr Grant, who represented Britain in international competitions for more than 15 years, has backed the campaign to keep Waltham Forest College Swimming Pool open, and is calling for better opportunities for local athletes.

The college pool is due to close in summer 2009, and the Friends of the Pool (FotP) are planning to work with Mr Grant to push for a long-term solution to the borough's shortage of training facilities.

Mr Grant said: "The Olympics could give the next generation something to look forward to and should leave a long-lasting legacy.

"But there's a lack of coaching expertise and facilities aren't up to scratch."

He added that property developers were set to do better out of the Games than disadvantaged teenagers.

Mr Grant said: "We don't want to close the only 30m pool in Waltham Forest without replacing it - we need more pools, not fewer.

"And why are we not putting money into maintaining our facilities?"

He said elite athletes in east London were not being given the support to train for the 2012 Olympic Games, and feared that an opportunity was being missed.

Mr Grant called on Waltham Forest Council to make use of his experience, enthusiasm and abilities as a coach.

"I'm passionate about putting something back into the community. I can go into the baddest estates and relate to people because this is where I'm from.

"We're talking about changing the mindsets if young people that are quite lazy, and think that success is getting on Big Brother," he added.

Dalton Grant, 41, was originally from Hackney but moved to Walthamstow as a teenager. He won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 1993 European Indoor Championships, along with three silver medals in international contests.