The Olympics is “no place for inexperienced athletes”, says the sporting body refusing to nominate a young Australian bobsleigh team already qualified for the Winter Games.
Despite meeting international selection criteria, pilot Breanna Walker and brakewomen Ashleigh Werner and Mikayla Dunn haven’t been nominated for the two-woman bobsleigh event at next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea.
The team has the support of the Australian Olympic Committee but requires approval from national body Sliding Sports Australia.
SSA cites safety concerns and the women’s failure to meet AOC-approved performance criteria for denying the team an Olympics debut.
Among the physical standards requirements set a year ago, female athletes had to prove they could either squat 100kg, power clean 80kg or jump 2.5m from a standing start.
Three-time Olympian Jana Pittman, who competed in bobsleigh at the 2014 Winter Games, reportedly labelled the snub as “complete and utter madness”.
But acting SSA chief executive and former Olympic bobsleigher Adrian Di Piazza said that “no matter how brave and willing they might be”, the Olympics was no place for inexperienced athletes in a dangerous sport.
He added the international bobsleigh federation was yet to permit the team to compete in a top-tier world cup race.
“We are very proud of the skill development and performances of our women’s bobsleigh squad (but) it’s worth remembering the women have only just completed their first full season of competition,” Di Piazza told AAP.
“At a time when other sporting administrations are developing concussion protocols and other procedures to protect their athletes, an Olympic track is no place for inexperienced athletes – who have not met the minimal physical standards – required to test their mettle.”
The AOC said the bobsleigh team deserved a Games nomination.
“The AOC believed there was a strong case for the inclusion of a women’s bobsleigh team on developmental grounds,” spokesman Strath Gordon said.
Australia was one of only 12 nations permitted to send a two-woman bobsleigh team to PyeongChang but its quota position will be reallocated if no team is nominated.
Meanwhile, five athletes have been added to Australia’s team for PyeongChang.
The addition of Anton Grimus (ski cross), James Matheson (moguls), Harry Laidlaw (alpine ski), Aimee Watson and Casey Wright (cross-country ski) will take the country’s contingent to 50.
