This is interesting. Some countries are finding it hard to find someone to represent them in the Olympics but New Zealand must have an abundance of talents as it has rejected two marathoners despite these two clocking “A-standard times”.
But what exactly is “A-standard time”? Well, we don’t know but we might do a future post on it if we find out what it means. Hehe.
Anyways, the Sunday Star Times reports that one of those rejected by Athletics NZ, Liza Hunter-Galvan, has “engaged an American lawyer to fight her case to be in the New Zealand team for Beijing”.
Is this the first time, someone had to file a case to be included in an Olympic team?
Hunter-Galvan isn’t the only one frustrated with Athletics NZ. According to the Star-Times, marathoner Michael Aish, who’s also not picked has “had enough after a decade of frustration with Athletics NZ”.
From the Star-Times: Aish claims that Athletics NZ had been damaging his career by making him “jump through hoops” on the eve of big events. He claimed it had:
* Selected him for the 5000m at the 2003 world championships, then told him to switch to the 10,000m the day before the event on fitness grounds “but I hadn’t run a 10,000m all season”.* Was told four days before the Athens Olympics 10,000m to do a flat-out workout to prove his fitness: “I never recovered for the race.” (He had asked to stay at altitude before the event but was sent to a sea-level training camp tailored for field athletes when other distance athletes were allowed to remain at altitude.)
* Was asked to run another near- qualifying 10,000m before the 2007 world championships despite clocking just short of the New Zealand record; Aish claimed there were no races available but Athletics NZ were “so bent on getting their race in they hadn’t thought of it”.
Whoo. If these allegations are true, then some thing’s not right at Athletics NZ. Making someone compete in an event he’s not prepared for? That’s not cool. Wasting an athlete’s energy four days before a race? That’s not cool too.
Anyways, we will keep you posted on whether Hunter-Galvan can manage to overturn the decision against her. Because this blog is all about Olympians, we hope she will.
Outside reading:
Runner takes legal aim at NZ selectors
Don’t know if you did a follow up on this story but ANZ announced that Liza has been included on the NZ Olympic Team. As for your questions was this the first time an athlete has had to sue to get on an Olympic Team…no, 4 years ago, ANZ did the same thing to Liza and she had to go thru the same process to be included.
Hi Former San Antonian,
I wasn’t able to do a follow up post so thanks for the info. That’s good news for Liza and I’m glad ANZ reconsidered its decision. Good luck to her in Beijing.
Thanks again