Spotlight on HPSNZ role in cycling’s toxic scene
contractors of HPSNZ which ‘‘may give rise to further action’’ will be referred back to chief executive Michael Scott.
Concerns over the dysfunctional culture of Cycling NZ’s elite programme and specific allegations related to Peden were raised during a review into the 2016 Olympic campaign. This review was led by HPSNZ, with Hamish Carter, Eddie Kohlhase and Paul Smith conducting the interviews. Despite the athletes being assured the process would be confidential, it is understood Peden was given access to the unedited transcripts of the interviews – an extraordinary breach of protocol that placed athletes in a vulnerable position.
Also, after being made aware during the review process of the athlete unrest and the toxic climate at Cycling NZ, there are concerns HPSNZ staff did not take effective steps to address the issues.
Scott said he was committed to finding out why his organisation had not acted decisively until now.
‘‘Athlete welfare has to be paramount, the high performance environment is all about pressure and intensity, but there is absolutely no place for bullying,’’ Scott said. ‘‘Our role is to get these athletes the best possible chance of success and I expect this organisation to treat with the utmost seriousness anything that may be a threat to athlete welfare.’’
Heron is to report back on the findings of his review no later than August 31. Cycling NZ chief executive Michael Scott
Rosie White had more need than most to put her feet up during her flights back to New Zealand for Football Ferns duty. The 24-year-old had surgery at the start of the year to fix stress fractures in bones in both her feet.
She returned to training last month and made her first start for the Chicago Red Stars in the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League last Sunday.
That recovery, plus the tight turnaround to get to Wellington ahead of the Ferns’ match against Japan tomorrow, meant she may have had a few reservations about returning to the national team setup. But last month’s announcement of a landmark new collective bargaining agreement, which earned the Ferns the same access to business-class travel as the All Whites, would have helped make her mind up.
‘‘It seems like it’s a small thing, but for girls that are travelling for 48 hours, 24 hours, and then have two days to prepare, it’s a big difference. It’s huge for us,’’ she said.
Being back in a Ferns camp marks a high point in a tough 2018 for White.
On January 28, not long after her surgery, her NWSL team, the Boston Breakers, folded, leaving her facing the prospect of doing her rehabilitation on her own, without a professional team.
But a couple of days later she was picked up by Chicago in what was called What: Football Ferns v Japan Where and when: Westpac Stadium, Wellington, tomorrow 3pm Odds: Japan $1.40, draw $4, New Zealand $6.50 the Dispersal Draft, whereby Breakers players were selected to join other NWSL teams.
‘‘It’s been an interesting year for me personally, being injured and my team in Boston folding, but I was picked up pretty quickly by Chicago, so I’ve been there for most of this year continuing my rehab and getting back on the field in the last month and getting back to playing,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s had its challenges and being injured is never fun, but it feels really good to be back and healthy and ready to go again.’’
In Chicago, White landed in a team featuring one of the world’s best players in Australian Sam Kerr.
She said she had got a lot of out playing with her, as well as seeing what she has done for the popularity of the women’s game across the Tasman.
‘‘Playing with Sam is amazing, she’s in the form of her life and it’s really fun to play with the best players in the world. Seeing the way Australia has taken strides in the last few years is inspiring and gives us a bit of a push to keep going.’’
Despite her age, White has already amassed 90 Ferns caps.
It was in Wellington, as a 15-year-old at the 2008 Under-17 Women’s World Cup, that she first showed her potential to a wider audience, scoring a hat-trick against Colombia in a 3-1 win.
‘‘That was the last time I played in Wellington, so there were great memories of 2008. Hopefully I can do that again,’’ she said.