Sports

Allegations of bias, inconsistency in Olympics yachting selections

Published

2 years ago

May 28, 2024

Yachting NZ is accused of mishandling its Olympic selections after one of its star crews was picked for the Paris Games, despite failing to meet the required performance standard.

Jo Aleh and Molly Meech, who paired up in the 49erFX class at the beginning of 2022, headlined the announcement of the New Zealand sailing team for the Games last month. With five previous Games appearances and three Olympic medals between them, the pair are the most experienced of the nine-strong team named thus far.

But according to Yachting NZ’s selection documents, the duo were not eligible to be considered for nomination, having failed to achieve a top 10 placing at one of the designated selection regattas. The selection was signed off by the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC).

Both organisations are adamant proper process was followed in the nomination and selection of the pair.

However, Yachting NZ’s apparent willingness to contort its criteria for Aleh and Meech, along with a perceived inconsistent application of the “emerging talent” clause, has led to several disputes over its handling of selections and allegations of bias.

Secret selection criteria leaked

Yachting NZ has long maintained a cloak of secrecy around how it selects its athletes for the Olympic Games. It is the only national body that does not publicly share its nomination criteria – contravening the NZOC’s nomination and selection regulation – and sailors wishing to be considered for the pinnacle event must agree to keep it confidential.

However, RNZ has obtained a copy of the selection documents.

New Zealand’s sailors must clear an even higher bar than the NZOC’s already lofty “top 16” criteria to be nominated for selection. Under its primary selection criteria, Yachting NZ selectors will only nominate athletes deemed capable of winning a medal.

To be eligible, sailors and crews must have, as a baseline, achieved a top 10 placing in at least one selection regatta, or have medalled at a world championships during that Olympic cycle.

There is a second pathway for sailors or crews that Yachting NZ selectors consider to be “emerging talent” and have the potential to medal at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. Under these criteria, sailors need to finish in the top 16 nations at one of the selection regattas to be eligible.

Aleh and former sailing partner Polly Powrie, affectionately known as Team Jolly, won gold in the women’s 470 in London and silver in Rio.

Meech was also a silver medallist in Rio, alongside teammate Alex Maloney in the 49erFX class. The popular duo went their separate ways following a disappointing 12th place finish in Tokyo.

Meech then linked up with Aleh at the beginning of 2022 to form Team Jolly 2.0.

Despite their credentials, the new pairing have produced mixed results on the international circuit.

In the first of two selection regattas, Aleh and Meech placed 34th at the European Championships in Portugal last year – well outside the top 10 benchmark – before recording a 12th at the World Championships earlier this year.

Prior to being named in the Games team last month, the duo had recorded just one top 10 result at a major international regatta in two-and-a-half seasons – a sixth placing at the 2023 world championships.

It is understood selectors relied heavily on this result, despite it not being an official selection regatta.

Under the criteria, selectors can also consider “a sailor or crew’s track record of success at past Olympic Games”. However, those familiar with the policy say these factors only come into play in final deliberations once sailors have met the underlying eligibility criteria.

RNZ has spoken with several past and present members of the NZL sailing team, who expressed concern about Yachting NZ’s handling of this year’s selections. None wanted to go on the record for fear of being seen to diminish Aleh and Meech.

All made a point of saying they would not have wanted to see the 49erFX pair left out of the Olympic team, but a recurring theme of the conversations was that Yachting NZ’s perceived inconsistent approach to its selections has created distrust in the system.

Aleh did not want to be drawn into the debate over the merits of her inclusion in the team, but told RNZ via text message that she is “very pro-selection, having had close friends impacted by selection policies in the past”.

“In terms of the YNZ policy we were happy to be selected and for us it was just a little step on the way to what we are trying to do in Paris. So our focus is very much on making sure we are doing everything we can over the next few months,” she wrote.

Since being named in the Olympic team, Aleh and Meech had a breakthrough result last month at French Olympic Week in Hyeres, claiming the bronze medal – a promising sign the pair are beginning to perfect their partnership.

But it is clear on anyone’s reading of the criteria that Yachting NZ have applied an extraordinary amount of discretion to include Aleh and Meech in the team.

In a brief statement provided to RNZ, Yachting NZ boss David Abercrombie said the organisation does not publicly comment on individual nominations, but all sailors and crews were selected in line with its policies. The nomination of athletes “follows a rigorous process led by an independent panel with a wealth of sailing expertise and experience”.

“All selections are made by an experienced selection panel. Decisions are evidence based and athletes nominated by [national sports organisations] are assessed by the NZOC selectors against the agreed nomination criteria and the NZOC selection policy,” she said in a statement.

Selection discretion: Pedigree vs potential

The discretion used to pick Aleh and Meech appears not to have been as readily available to others.

RNZ understands at least one sailor – kitefoiler Lukas Walton-Keim – has lodged a formal appeal with the Sports Tribunal over his non-nomination in the new Olympic class.

Walton-Keim is the partner of Olympic pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, who last weekend spoke out about the NZOC’s controversial “top 16” selection policy, arguing qualified athletes should not be denied entry to the Olympics.

It is understood Walton-Keim’s case will be heard this week, unless a resolution can be reached in the meantime.

All parties agree to confidentiality when a case is before the tribunal, but it is understood Walton-Keim is seeking nomination under the “emerging talent” clause.

Two athletes have been selected under this criteria – boardsailor Veerle ten Have in the women’s IQ foil, and Greta Pilkington, who is expected to be confirmed in Ilca 6 at an official announcement on Tuesday morning.

Ten Have finished 22nd and 21st overall at her two selection events, but was easily inside the top 16 nations for both events.

Pilkington had a shaky start to her campaign, recording 53rd and 44th placings in the first two selection events earlier this year, before pulling it out of the bag in the final event in Hyeres last month. There the 20 year-old finished 16th, and 14th nation.

It is expected Walton-Keim’s case will focus on the inconsistent application of the “emerging talent” clause.

Walton-Keim finished 28th, 17th, and 27th at his three selection regattas. His 17th placing at the European Championships last year put him inside the top 16 nations.

While not official selection regattas, the 28 year-old is also tracking strongly at recent events. He finished 11th at French Olympic Week in Hyeres, or ninth nation, and 17th at the Formula Kite world championships (15th nation) earlier this week.

Following the event, Walton-Keim posted on Instagram: “I’m not sure what’s next, I’d like to do some more racing in 2024 … let’s see.”

‘Rigid’ with rules ‘when it suits them’

One former international sailor said the governing body’s flexibility is at odds with its “rigid” approach in the past to not only Olympic nomination, but also funding decisions and selection to its “Fast Track” development programme.

“YNZ will follow the rules to the absolute letter when it suits them. We’re always being told, ‘Well, the policy is very clear,’ but then when they want to get someone in the team, suddenly there is all this grey area,” they said.

Abercrombie did not directly address questions related to whether he has concerns about perceptions of bias and growing distrust in the system. But in a statement, he said Yachting NZ’s policies are “transparent and available to every athlete throughout their campaigns”.

The long-serving chief executive of the organisation also said the current policy was “developed after an athlete-led review following the Tokyo Olympic Games” and athletes will continue to be involved in refining the policy for future cycles.

Nicol also ignored questions about whether the NZOC had any concerns about Yachting NZ’s handling of selections.

“While we are not able to comment on individual cases, we do understand how tough it is for athletes that may not have been nominated by their sport for selection to an NZ Team.”

It is not the first time questions have been raised about Yachting NZ’s approach to selections for pinnacle events. In 2016 Sara Winther (laser radial) and Natalia Kosinska (RS:X) took cases to the Sports Tribunal over their non-nomination for the Rio Games.

While the tribunal ultimately ruled in favour of Yachting NZ, the then-chair of the arbitration body Sir Bruce Robertson was highly critical of the sport’s handling of selections.

“I have concerns about the inadequacy of communication by YNZ to both athletes. While the selection policy is drafted to provide huge discretion to YNZ, this does not obviate its obligations to abide by the rules of natural justice and to ensure basic fairness in its implementation,” Sir Bruce wrote in his decision.

Source: RNZ

Sports

Centre Barrett returns for All Blacks against Scotland

Published

1 week ago

November 6, 2026

News Staff

Jordie Barrett will start for the All Blacks in their opening game of the November Nations Championship campaign against Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday.

The 29-year-old centre is one of five changes from the All Blacks’ last game, a 43-21 win over Australia on October 17.

Ethan de Groot starts at loosehead while front-rowers Asafos Aumua and Christian Lio-Willie as well as back-rower Anton Segner come into the matchday 23 on the bench.

Barrett’s older brother Beauden is at full-back with Damian McKenzie at fly-half to create a threatening playmaking spine.

“Scotland are a quality side,” All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said.

“They are very well coached and have built a lot of depth over recent years.

“They play a very similar brand of footy to us and we know we’ll need to be at our best on Saturday.

“Murrayfield is an iconic place to play so it will be a special occasion to kick off our northern tour,” the former Australia boss added, with Scotland having never beaten the All Blacks.

After facing Scotland, three-time World Cup winners New Zealand face Wales and England before a match to decide a final standing in the opening edition of the Nations Championship.

Team 15-1: Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby; Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard; Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Tupou Vaa’i; Fabian Holland, Scott Barrett; Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor (capt), Ethan de Groot

Replacements: Asafo Amumua, George Bower, Pasilio Tosi, Christian Lio-Willie, Anton Segner, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane

The game kicks off at 2.10pm local time (Sunday 3.10am NZT).

– AFP

Latest News

Kohli in the runs as India thrash New Zealand in first ODI

Published

1 week ago

November 5, 2026

News Staff

Virat Kohli smashed his 80th half-century in one-day internationals and took a screamer of a catch to help India thrash New Zealand by five wickets in the rain-hit series opener in Auckland on Wednesday.

A day before his 38th birthday, Kohli underlined his enduring class with a knock of 74 in 51 balls at Eden Park as India chased down 143 on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after repeated rain showers interrupted their reply.

Talisman Kohli eventually holed out to deep square leg off the bowling of Jacob Duffy and exited waving his bat for the Indian fans who dominated the crowd.

Only five days after piling up 259 for seven in the fourth T20 match, New Zealand were bundled out for a paltry 185 in 40.2 overs after losing the toss to India captain Shubman Gill.

“I think we were very good with the bowling,” said Gill. “Overall a very good team performance.”

Pace duo Arshdeep Singh (4-70) and Gurnoor Brar (3-44) took seven wickets between them, rattling through New Zealand’s top order as the home batters repeatedly succumbed to short-pitched bowling.

Fast-bowling all-rounder Anshul Kamboj was impressive in his second ODI, taking two wickets and conceding a miserly 22 runs from his 10 overs to be man of the match.

“The way both of them bowled tonight was really magnificent to watch,” Gill said of Kamboj and Brar.

Kohli delivered Kamboj his first wicket with a brilliant, diving slips catch, plucking a one-hander above the grass to remove all-rounder Nathan Smith for one.

Tim Seifert opened the batting for New Zealand, replacing the concussed Devon Conway, and top-scored for the hosts with 38 in his first ODI in over 18 months.

The five-match series moves to Wellington on Saturday. – Reuters

Sports

Fonua-Blake scores winner as Tonga beats Samoa

Published

2 weeks ago

November 2, 2026

News Staff

Tongan powerhouse forward Addin Fonua-Blake scored the winner as the Tonga 13 pipped Toa Samoa 20-18 in their final pool match at the Rugby League World Cup in Sydney on Sunday night.

His try saw Tonga regain their lead in the tough, physical battle after Samoa had led 18-14 seven minutes from the end.

The big forward managed to break the Samoans’ defensive line with ball in hand, and was in the clear to score what would be the winner in the game.

The Tongans managed to survive the late Samoan fight-back in the last four minutes of the game, with winger Sualauvi Fa’alogo stepping on the sideline as he dived to score a late try that was cancelled; and fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow passing the ball forward after a mid-air catch close to the Tongan line.

The result meant both Pacific Island teams are into the semifinals next weekend, with Tonga topping the combined Pool B and C, set to face New Zealand, while Samoa meets Australia.

That also marks the first time both teams have made the final four at a world cup, with Samoa getting into the semis in two consecutive world meets, having made the final in 2022.

And in another history-making moment, the two men’s team will join their women counterparts Fetū Samoa and the Fiji Bulikula in the semifinals, making it four Pacific island teams playing off for the finals across the men and women’s competition.

Fonua-Blake’s fellow co-captain Jason Taumalolo thanked divine intervention and paid tribute to the fans post-match.

“First and foremost I would like to thank the man above for bringing everyone here not just as a celebration of Samoa and Tonga but the game of rugby league,” Taumalolo said.

“From the Tongan point of view, to see the red flags, Samoan flags, this is probably the best game I have been a part of and truly blessed.

“We knew tonight was gonna be a physical game and it was going to be a tough one from the start.”

He said Tonga was a bit slow off the mark, and Samoa “being the electrifying team they have been in the last two games” came out and put points on the board and made it a contest to the last minute.

“Big shout to the Samoan boys for tonight and it was a very tough game. Thank you to all the MMT fans tonight and thank you so much to the Toa Samoa fans for making tonight special.”

Taumalolo said they will reset and move on to New Zealand next weekend.

“Obviously the Kiwis and Australia are the benchmark,” he said.

“Tonight was a tough one and we have a short turnaround, the boys will get some recovery; celebrate tonight with our families and all our countrymen that came out here to support us.”

Samoan co-captain Junior Paulo congratulated Tonga and thanked the fans also for their support.

“First of all I thank all of our fans on both sides. Toa Samoans am sorry we didn’t get the job done, but at the end of the day this is what it’s all about, making both nations’ people proud,” he said.

“It was one of the games where you were looking forward to [it] before the tournament started and at the end of the day big credit to the Tongan boys for turning up tonight.

“We knew it was going to be a tough one but all blessings to both nations.”

Samoa scored four tries to Tonga’s three but the difference was Tonga’s Isaiya Katoa, who kicked all conversions and a penalty to seal the deal.

Samoan kickers Harris Channel-Tavita and Ronald Volkman only managed to successfully convert one try each.

Physical battle

The first half of 40 minutes turned out as everyone expected, a torrid and physical battle, which featured big hits across the field.

Tonga laid the challenge with their Sipi Tau, before Toa Samoa responded with the Sivi Tau in front of the packed-out 29,400-plus crowd at the CommBank Stadium, Sydney.

Amongst the fans was All Black captain Ardie Savea, who is originally from Samoa.

Isaiya Katoa kicked off the battle and Tonga came close twice in the first 17 minutes.

Former New Zealand Kiwi Dallin Watene-Zelezniak stepped on the sideline as he planted the ball across the line in the right corner, before his wing partner Jojo Fifita lost the ball over the line in the left corner.

Two minutes later dummy half Salesi Foketi knocked on over the line as Tonga went on attack again.

But their consistent pressure gave them the opening try in the 27th minute when centre Robert Toia got an offload from Haumole Olakau’atu and stepped inside Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Sualauvi Faalogo to run around behind the posts. Katoa kicked the conversion as the men in red led 6-0.

In the 35th minute Katoa kicked a penalty from inside the 20-metre zone and pushed Tonga to an 8-0 lead.

However, Samoa got one try back in the 38th minute when veteran winger Brian To’o got the loose ball near the Tongan line and dived over, to reduce the scoreline as Tonga led 8-4 at halftime.

Both sides showed brutal power and physicality upfront, with thunderous hits and tackles, raising cheers from fans.

Tonga had co-captains Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo leading them upfront with Foketi, Olakau’atu, Siua Wong, Tyson Frizell, Stefano Utoikamanu, Taniela Paseka, Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima supporting them.

Toa Samoa were led by Junior Paulo, with Benaiah Ioelu, Connelly Lemuelu, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua and Spencer Leniu ably supporting the territorial gains through the middle of the field.

Riley Jade, 7, and Kayden, 11, painting the town red on Halloween to support Tonga at the Rugby League World Cup.

RNZ/ Karoline Tuckey

Close second half

Tonga started the second spell where they had left off at the end of the first, as To’ia was tackled short near the line after their first set of six.

To’ia, who turned down the offer from the Kangaroos to play for them, got to the loose ball after Watene-Zelezniak had caught the high ball from a Katoa bomb near the corner, and tapped it back into the field.

The men from the ‘Friendly Islands’ got the first points in the second 40 in the 47th minute through Jojo Fifita. That came from a scrum near the Samoan 10-metre line, with Katoa combining with veteran Tuimoala Lolohea, who sent a cut-out pass to Fifita, for the winger to run in and score. Katoa’s conversion saw them extend their lead to 14-4.

Samoa got their second try, via To’o again for his second, in the 52nd minute, following a Luai bomb which Critchon collected mid-air and passed it on to Tavita, whose overhead back pass found the unmarked To’o out wide, to stroll in and score.

That try inspired the Samoans into action again with Tabuai-Fidow scoring from a Fa’alogo pass, following another high bomb from Luai that caught the Tongan defence napping – that try reducing the scoreline to 14-12 in favour of Tonga.

But Samoa claimed the lead in the 68th minute after replacement Ronald Volkman rolled over Tongan tacklers on the line to plant the ball, with his conversion giving Samoa an 18-14 lead.

Fonua-Blake got Tonga back in the lead, with Katoa adding the extra two points, with seven minutes remaining.

Samoa attacked twice more, with Fa’alogo stepping on the sideline before scoring in the corner and Tabuai-Fidow passing the ball forward from an aerial catch, but Tonga held on to win the clash.

Mulitalo’s semifinal ban

Meanwhile, Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo will miss the semifinal clash against Tonga after being hit with a grade 2 careless high tackle charge.

Mulitalo was sent off in the 52nd minute of Saturday’s clash against Fiji after a high tackle on Ronald Philitoga.

The Fijian winger left the field and was ruled out of the rest of the match.

Should Mulitalo enter an early guilty plea he will miss New Zealand’s semi-final but if he fights the charge and is found guilty at the judiciary he will be banned for two games.

Rugby League World Cup media said a two-game ban would rule Mulitalo out of the World Cup final should the Kiwis make it through.

Fiji halfback Brandon Wakeham has also been charged, getting a grade 2 striking offence after he threw a punch at Mulitalo after the high shot on Philitoga.

Wakeham’s tournament is already over as Fiji won’t play in the semis, but he is facing a one-game ban should he plead guilty.

rnz