Less than two weeks away from the Paris Games’ opening ceremony, Sammie Maxwell, New Zealand’s under-23 women’s cross country world champion in mountain biking, faces uncertainty regarding her Olympic participation. The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) board holds the key to her presence at the starting line.
Initially overlooked by Cycling NZ due to concerns over her health, particularly related to her past struggles with disordered eating, Maxwell successfully appealed this decision to the Sports Tribunal. The tribunal criticized Cycling NZ for what it deemed a “serious breach of natural justice” in their handling of Maxwell’s nomination.
Cycling NZ’s nomination criteria, which includes provisions about athletes’ mental and physical readiness to compete at the highest level, was overridden by the tribunal’s decision to directly nominate Maxwell for Olympic selection.
Now, the NZOC board faces the crucial decision of whether Maxwell will ultimately compete in Paris. Maxwell, who withdrew from a World Cup event earlier this year citing personal challenges, awaits the final verdict that will determine her Olympic journey.
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