New Zealand mountain biker Sammie Maxwell successfully appealed her exclusion from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris after a tribunal determined that selectors relied on inaccurate medical information regarding her eating disorder to justify their decision.
Initially denied participation by Cycling New Zealand’s (CNZ) nominations panel, despite earning a quota spot, Maxwell faced allegations that she had not proven her fitness due to a long-standing eating disorder she has managed since age 15.
Maxwell contested the decision, and the New Zealand Sports Tribunal found that CNZ had excluded her based on outdated medical assessments.
The tribunal criticized Ryan Hollows, CNZ’s high performance director, for submitting a “biased” memorandum to the nominations panel that unduly influenced their verdict.
Highlighting the problematic notion that an athlete with an eating disorder must inherently exhibit mental or physical impairment, the tribunal cautioned that such reasoning could set a harmful precedent rather than promoting positive outcomes.
“I recognise that everyone involved in the process has a shared goal – to put my health and wellbeing first,” said Maxwell in a statement after winning her appeal.
“I didn’t always agree with how everyone thought that should look, but I am grateful to have so many people around me caring for me and looking out for my health.”