FOR every athlete whose Olympic dream comes true, there are always many more who do not make it to the pinnacle of sport.

When it is due to a lack of ability to compete with the world’s best, that disappointment has to be taken on the chin.

But that is clearly not the case with Scott Carpenter.

Scott, from Sedgefield, is unquestionably one of our finest water polo players.

He has been Britain’s leading goalscorer five seasons in a row and the only player from this country deemed good enough to play in a major European league.

Despite all of that, he has not been included in the Olympic squad announced yesterday because of a dispute with the sport’s governing body over funding.

Scott now believes his only option is to apply for Australian citizenship and pursue his sporting dreams on the other side of the world.

We have followed Scott’s achievements from the grass roots of his sport, which made him a finalist in our Local Heroes Awards.

The Olympics should be about the best athletes from each country battling for medals on the greatest stage in sport.

It seems to us a crying shame that Scott Carpenter is unable to represent his country after years of dedication.

And it is especially heartbreaking that his ommission is due to a row that appears to have more to do with politics and red tape than sport.