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Post by musicalmom on Aug 28, 2009 16:26:08 GMT -8
Thanks Lori. I hadn't seen the last 2 articles. Have been trying to catch up in the office yesterday and today as I really got behind.
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Post by musicalmom on Sept 2, 2009 9:05:15 GMT -8
Overland fumes after being `robbed' of Olympic team berth TheStar.com -
Olympics - Overland fumes after being `robbed' of Olympic team berth Veteran speed skater passed over for teenager
September 02, 2009 Randy Starkman SPORTS REPORTER
Olympic silver medallist Amanda Overland feels "robbed" by last week's decision to leave her off the short track speed-skating team for the 2010 Winter Games.
The 28-year-old from Kitchener, who appeared a strong contender for the discretionary position on the women's team, was passed over in favour of 19-year-old Valerie Maltais.
"I feel robbed, to be totally honest. I really do," said Overland yesterday. "They chose a 19-year-old girl with no experience. ... It seems like the most utterly ridiculous choice. I'm sorry but I have to say it that way and if you print it that way, I don't have a problem with it."
Overland, who missed last season because of hip surgery but was making a strong comeback, has two Olympics and five world championships under her belt. Maltais, of La Baie, Que., competed in her first full senior season last year and won a world championship bronze.
"It's not because of the person they chose," said Overland. "It's her experience. I really don't think putting her in an Olympics for experience makes sense. It seems crazy. ... The kicker is that she's going to skate a 1,500 (metres at the Olympics) and I beat her in that distance fair and square (at the trials). That's what kills me right now. I'm just dying a little bit inside."
The Olympic trials last month in Vancouver were weighted on results in the 500 metres and 1,000 metres. Yves Hamelin, program director for the short track team, said Maltais was fifth overall at those distances at the trials while Overland was eighth. He said the high performance committee felt Maltais deserved the spot, though he can appreciate how hard it's hit Overland.
"I can understand the feeling she has at the moment," said Hamelin.
Overland is also reeling from the recent news that her mother's cancer has spread. Her mother, Linda Penner, is battling lung cancer.
I can only wholehardedly agree with Amanda. I do believe she was "robbed" and I question the committee's choice. Musical Mom
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Sept 2, 2009 14:55:02 GMT -8
It does seem surprising that she was passed over, and I can only imagine how crushing this must be for Amanda. There IS that ambiguous statement posted upthread about replacements for injury or 'poor performance'. Might she still earn her way onto the team?
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Post by musicalmom on Sept 2, 2009 16:45:42 GMT -8
Good question Lori...who knows...I find it kind of disconcerting that after all the trials and hype about picking the Olympic team, they still have a clause that seems to allow them to overturn their choice. Then I believe one of the other women skaters appealed her lack of selection to the committee already..Haven't heard results from that.
In the U.s. stuff I've read, they state that the Olympic Trials will select the top 10 skaters, but the Olympic team will be finalized at the world cup...seems a little different..
So disappointed that we won't have a live feed for the trials..due to NBC owning the rights but deciding not to cover it...kind of selfish it seems.
Do we know who from the boards will be there? Bet well get some good feedback from them. Of course they're not supposed to take unauthorized video either. What if someone took a few minutes with their phone or digital camera...what would happen then? Just wondering. Musical Mom
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Post by Ruff on Sept 4, 2009 11:25:40 GMT -8
I understand that girlfriend is disappointed and probably a little out of sorts with her mother's being sick but she is old enough to know that you keep those kinds of feelings between friends and family. She sounds bitter as hell, along with the girl doing the appeal.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Sept 4, 2009 15:09:43 GMT -8
Well, hello there Ruff. Bitter? Now why would you think that? Oh, yeah, maybe it's the 'I feel robbed', an 'utterly ridiculous choice', and 'it seems crazy' statements... Of course she's bitter. Airing it in the media? Never the preferred course of action IMO - not as graceful as a stiff upper lip - but far better than keeping a stiff upper lip while searching Facebook for Tonya Harding... From everything I've ever heard about Amanda, she's very well-liked and considering the other stresses in her life right now, I hope she gets a bit of a 'pass' on this.
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ruff
Member
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Post by ruff on Sept 10, 2009 20:18:08 GMT -8
Yeah, everybody's nice when things are cool but it all amounts to nothing when you cry and moan like this when you're mad. And frankly, she's d*mn near 30. It's like, come oooon.
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