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This week saw the the final few days of the coronial inquest into the death of olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore. Olivia's Mum Nienke and her step dad Chris Middleton spoke to Susie Ferguson from their Christchurch home.
The inquest into the death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore came to an emotional conclusion today when Podmore's family addressed the court for the final time. The young athlete died in a suspected suicide in August 2021. Nearly four years on, her family finally feel they have answers. Dana Johannsen has been in court spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.
The inquest into the death of Olivia Podmore came to an emotional conclusion on Wednesday when Podmore's family addressed the court. Olivia Podmore's mum Nienke Middleton spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
In today's episode, the Green party responds to New Zealand First's proposed new legislation to define the term "woman" in law as "an adult human biological female", Te Pati Maori MPs have again refused to attend a privileges hearing over their haka protest in Parliament, during the first reading of the Treaty Principles bill, the inquest into the death of Olivia Podmore came to an emotional conclusion on Wednesday when Podmore's family addressed the court, residents in Wellington's southern suburbs say they've been inundated by an explosion of millipedes invading their streets and houses, and we cross the Tasman to get the latest from Kerry-Anne Walsh.
A coronial inquest into the death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore has resumed in Christchurch today following a lengthy adjournment. The young athlete died in a suspected suicide in August 2021 - less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympic Games. An independent expert told the court he believed the trauma of Ms Podmore's early experiences in the Cycling NZ programme resurfaced when she missed selection for the Tokyo Games. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.
The protracted coronial inquest into the death of Olympic sprint cyclist Olivia Podmore will resume today following an abrupt halt to the proceedings last year. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
A coroner's inquest has shed light on the years of bullying Podmore endured, and how conditions did not improve for her, despite an independent review.
High Performance Sport NZ boss Raelene Castle has given an emotional statement to the family of Olivia Podmore at an inquest into the death of the elite cyclist. Ms Castle told the family of the young athlete that "everything we do at HPSNZ is about trying to make sure that we don't find ourselves in this situation again". The senior sports leader was giving evidence before the Coroner's Court in Hamilton on the steps taken by the government agency in the wake of the 24 year-old's death in August 2021. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen was in court and spoke to Lisa Owen.
A health practitioner who worked with Olivia Podmore has accepted it was "inappropriate" not to take notes from their sessions during her time in the Cycling NZ programme. An inquest into the suspected suicide of the young Olympic cyclist heard today that the practitioner could not produce any records from his sessions with Podmore. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen was in court and spoke to Lisa Owen.
The head of High Performance Sport NZ was warned in 2018 of concerns an athlete would lose their life, if the environment in Cycling NZ was not fixed. The warning came from a senior doctor who had worked closely with athletes in the Cycling New Zealand programme. It's the latest testimony at the inquest into the death of elite cyclist Olivia Podmore. The doctor told the Coroner's Court in Hamilton today that she met with former High Performance Sport NZ boss Michael Scott in June 2018 after reports surfaced in the media about the "toxic culture" at Cycling NZ. Reporter Dana Johannsen has been at court and spoke to Lisa Owen. A warning this story discusses suicide.
On today's episode, from today, those caught displaying gang insignia in public will be liable for a $5000 fine or up to six months imprisonment, Workers at the Kinleith Mill are fearing for the future of their industry after being told 230 could lose their jobs, US President-elect Donald Trump has picked former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO, Linda McMahon, as his nominee for education secretary, and the inquest into the death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore has heard how the former head of Cycling NZ told her he saw no value in pursuing claims she was bullied by her teammates.
The inquest into the death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore has heard how the former head of Cycling NZ told her he saw no value in pursuing claims she was bullied by her teammates. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Corin Dann.
Further details of Olivia Podmore's mistreatment within the Cycling NZ programme have been revealed at an inquest into the 24 year-old's death today. Evidence of a series of serious bullying incidents, including one that occurred immediately prior to Podmore taking the startline at the Rio Olympic Games, was heard by the coroner's court today. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.
The inquest into the suspected suicide of Olivia Podmore has heard that the athlete was relentlessly berated by her former coach. Reporter Lucy Xia has more
Sports commentator Sam Ackerman discusses the inquest into the death of Olivia Podmore after an emotional first day.
The inquest for Rio Olympian cyclist Olivia Podmore has got off to an emotional start. Coroner Luella Dunn today opened an inquest into the August 2021 death of the elite sprint cyclist. Ms Podmore died in a suspected suicide the day after the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.
An inquest the death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore has heard emotional testimonies about how she was bullied by team-mates. The 24-year-old died in a suspected suicide in 2021. The first to give evidence was Jessica Massey, a former campaigns manager at Cycling New Zealand. Lucy Xia has more.
Three years on from her shock death, a coronial inquest for Olympic sprint cyclist Olivia Podmore is set to get underway in Hamilton on Monday. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Corin Dann.
On August 9 2021, the day after the Tokyo Olympics ended, cyclist Olivia Podmore died in a suspected suicide. Podmore had represented New Zealand in the 2016 Olympics, but was not selected five years later. Her death sparked shock throughout the close knit cycling community and wider sporting network, and the culture at Cycling NZ was eventually investigated. Now, over three years later, a coronial inquiry into Podmore's death is due to begin today. NZ Herald reporter Tom Dillane has been covering the story for the last three years, and joins us today on The Front Page to discuss Olivia Podmore's life, career, and her tragic death. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsSound Engineer/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Ethan Sills Suicide and depression help services: If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111. For counselling and support: Lifeline: http://www.lifeline.co.nz, call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) Suicide Crisis Helpline: www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline, or call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) Youth services: Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234 What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm) Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7) Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737 Aoake te Rā (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call 0800 000 053 For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service. The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts - click here for informationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Parliament has given the green light to a new independent sport integrity commission focussed on athlete wellbeing and protection. MPs voted unanimously on Wednesday backing the creation of the Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission, which will be operational from next year as an independent crown entity. The Commission has a big remit. It will will develop the country's first ever Integrity Code - a kind of rule book for sport, and investigate any breaches of that code. It will also be a complaint and dispute resolution service, and will incorporate Drug Free Sport New Zealand and become the country's national anti-doping organisation. Sports Minister Grant Robertson says a central focus of the Commission will be on the wellbeing of participants and ensuring they have better support and protections to safely raise integrity matters. There have been a series of damning reviews into some of the country's elite sporting environments and bodies. One of the most significant was Cycling New Zealand and its treatment of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore, who died just over two years ago. Susie speaks with the chairperson of the Establishment Board, Auckland barrister Don Mackinnon and Olivia Podmore's mother, Nienke Middleton.
A group of top athletes is taking an employment case against High Performance Sport - why?
Greater focus on athlete welfare should mean more success on the international sporting stage. That's the hope from High Performance Sport New Zealand boss Raelene Castle. In May, an investigation following the suspected suicide of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore suggested cycling's high performance model was broken and needed a complete overhaul. In response High Performance Sport NZ has unveiled a 10-point action plan for cycling and the wider high performance sports community. Sports editor Stephen Hewson reports.
Champion Olympic rower Eric Murray backs an action plan aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of high-performance athletes. The plan released yesterday by Cycling New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand, promises greater transparency about key processes. The report made more than 90 recommendations, including various wellbeing initiatives, and the appointment of a Women's Health Lead. It follows the death last year of cyclist Olivia Podmore, who was a close friend of Murray's. Murray spoke to Corin Dann.
Eric Murray: Former rower on HPSNZ action plan on athlete well-being after Olivia Podmore deathSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
High Performance Sport has released an action plan following a critical independent inquiry finding the organisation's high performance model is broken and needs to be "reimagined". Commissioned after the suspected suicide of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore in August last year, the findings and recommendations of the 104-page report were released in May. Kathryn speaks with Stuff's National Correspondent specialising in sport Dana Johannsen.
Sport NZ's getting an independent government funded integrity body, after a slew of recent reports showing athlete welfare was over looked or not taken seriously enough. Drug Free Sport NZ and some of Sport NZ's role ..including its complaints and mediation service will be absorbed into the new organisation. It follows damming reports into high performance cycling after the death of Olivia Podmore. And another critical review of the culture surrounding the Back Ferns after player Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate said treatment from the coach contributed to her mental breakdown. Sport Minister Grant Robertson is promising the new organisation will have some chops.
Cycling NZ prioritised ‘Medals over wellbeing’ and is in a desperate need for culture change - according to a report in response to the death of Olivia Podmore. It’s the second inquiry into Cycling NZ in just four years - according to Olivia’s mother her death was preventable according to her mother. High Performance Sport CEO Raelene Castle discusses the findings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cycling New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand are apologising for "unresolved trauma" and vowing to do better after the release of another damning report into cycling's high performance culture. 104 pages of findings and recommendations have been released in a scathing report - commissioned by the two organisations after the suspected suicide of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore nine months ago. The report comes in the wake of a separate review into cycling in 2018 - which discovered similar issues relating to athlete welfare and wellbeing. Clay Wilson reports.
Cycling New Zealand chairperson Phil Holden wants athletes traumatised by its high performance programme to come forward. This follows the latest investigation which has found the organisation failed to act on recommendations from a review four years ago that warned the programme had a culture of bullying and poor behaviour. The report was commissioned by Cycling New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand after the suspected suicide of cyclist Olivia Podmore last year. Holden spoke to Susie Ferguson.
There are hopes this will be the last investigation into Cycling New Zealand.A long-awaited inquiry into the organisation, which follows the death of Olivia Podmore last year, found its high-performance system prioritises medals over wellbeing.It's also found athletes have a fear of reprisals for raising issues with coaches and management.High Performance New Zealand Chief Executive Raelene Castle told Mike Hosking they want to be able to support athletes.She says there needs to be a balance between having people on podiums, and athletes being safe and healthy.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Was Wellington mayor Andy Foster right to pull the pin on plans to light up a Wellington landmark in Palestinian colours, after a warning he might upset Israel? The big Emissions Reduction Plan – not many specifics, a lot more consultation – has the plan fallen flat? A report into High Performance Sport has recommended the approach needs to be changed to people first – not medals first – after the suspected suicide of Olivia Podmore. But aren't medals what we want our athletes to win? Ramraiders have stepped it up a notch and stolen a digger to burst into a BP. This is getting ridiculous, isn't it? How do we stop it? Is Melania Trump right to be upset that she's the only First Lady who was never on the cover of Vogue? Jack Tame and Trish Sherson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Huddle. LISTEN ABOVE
The findings of the Cycling New Zealand and High Performance Sport inquiry have been released, following the death of Olivia Podmore last August. The report found that there is an inherent tension between well-being and the pursuit of medal success, and recommends cyclists be treated as "people first, athletes second". Issues have also been raised around women's health and male networks in the coaching realm. Olympic gold medallist rower Eric Murray was a close friend of Olivia Podmore. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE
LISTEN | After the tragic passing of Olivia Podmore in late 2021, award winning sports journalist Dylan Cleaver breaks down his scathing review of the Cycling NZ/ High Performance NZ report released yesterday.
Is the long-term damage that can be caused by a win-at-all-cost approach to sport really worth it? This is the question that a lot of us will be asking today with the release of the findings from a review into high-performance sports by Cycling New Zealand. It's the review that came about after cyclist Olivia Podmore – whose parents both live here in Christchurch – died last August in a suspected suicide. Olivia was a very talented athlete. She represented New Zealand at the Rio Olympics but was gutted when she wasn't selected to compete at the Tokyo games. And even before the release of the Cycling New Zealand report, it became apparent that she'd been caught up in all sorts of internal politics within the sport – which happens so often, doesn't it? Someone takes on a sport, loves it, realises they're pretty good at it, others realise they're pretty good at it, but then things go pear-shaped – and not always because of what happens on the race track, or in the pool, on the field or on the running track. Internal politics can ruin so many things. I remember when Olivia died last year that I didn't really want to talk about it on the show, for a couple of reasons. The first reason was that I just wanted to do my bit towards respecting her family's privacy at such a traumatic time. The second reason was that I only realised after Olivia died that I'd met her father before and that he was someone who'd really made an impression on me. Our family's had an involvement with rowing. Our twin boys took up the sport quite late in the piece – becoming novice rowers just last year, when they were in Year 12, rowing for Cashmere High School. They had a pretty successful first year in the sport. And I remember one day, in particular, when they powered their way to winning a gold medal at the South Island champs. They're twins and they row together in the double. And I remember how we were all over the moon but there was one parent there, in particular, who just seemed to really understand how we were feeling, seeing our kids go across the finish line first. This guy was the partner of one of the Cashmere parents, whose daughter was involved in the rowing programme. It's quite hard to explain, but I remember getting the sense at the time that this guy really understood why we were so excited and so proud of the boys. And that's why I suppose I was a bit embarrassed when I eventually discovered who he was and what a sporting star his daughter had been. And that I only realised this after she had died. But it also clicked with me as to why he was so in tune with how we were feeling that day when the boys won gold on Lake Ruataniwha, in Twizel. It was because he'd seen his daughter win time and time again. He'd seen her compete at the Olympics. And he knew what went into getting to that point. And it's the path athletes take to ‘getting to that point' – getting to compete at the highest level – that's what the focus is on now in light of Olivia Podmore's death Her mum Nienke told the NZ Herald over the weekend that the priority given to performance and winning medals over everything else made her sad. "I'm just really sad, because Liv is the cost of this." And who wouldn't be. I can think back, and it wasn't that long ago when people were saying that Australia had it all over New Zealand in sport because the Aussies were more mongrel than we were. The Aussies wanted to win at all cost, and that's why they won things. I remember listening to Muray Deaker on the radio banging on about New Zealand sending athletes to the Olympics to compete, when what it should be doing is sending them to the Olympics to win. ‘We're not hungry enough'. He'd say. ‘Why's the Government pouring all this money into sport if it doesn't expect them to win?' Win, win, win. And it was within that environment that the whole high-performance sport thing developed here in New Zealand. Which, in a way, was wonderful for people like Olivia Pod...
All aboard the Sportstalk train for the 16th May 2022 On the show… - Ant Strachan – Former All Black – On the Super Rugby playoff picture with two weeks to go - Super Rugby, Olivia Podmore and Warriors Talkback LISTEN ABOVE
A sports sociologist says too often athletes with concerns are bullied or silenced.The findings of an enquiry into Cycling New Zealand will be released this afternoon.It follows the suspected suicide of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore last August.Waikato University's Holly Thorpe told Mike Hosking athletes need to feel safe about speaking up.“The abuses of power from coaches and athletes, often there's a gendered element to that.”Thorpe says athletes need to feel they can speak up when there are issues.“We don't very often hear the voices of those who have concerns and vulnerabilities, because too often there's a culture of bullying and silencing.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Olivia Podmore was just 24 when she tragically died in August last year. A star on the cycling track, Olivia, or as she was known to her family and friends, Liv, would compete at the highest level representing New Zealand in the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2018 Commonwealth games. Cycling New Zealand launched an independent inquiry following Olivia’s death and those findings are due to be publicly released at 2:00pm on Monday. To tell her story and what more needs to be done to support young athletes, Liv's mother Nienke Middleton spoke to Tova on Monday morning. Middleton believes that if the initial findings in a report done in 2018 were implemented correctly across Cycling NZ, Olivia would never have taken her own life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In August last year one of Erics best friends took her own life. Olivia Podmore was just 24. Her and Eric had spent the weekend in Queenstown then returned home to Cambridge together, visitng her mum on the way. He was the last person to see her alive and one of the first people to find her after she lost her battle with mental illness. Her final Instagram post detailed her frustrations with high perfornace sport in New Zealand. In this bite size clip taken from Erics podcast conversation we chat openly about mental health, their friendship, their final weekend together and his thoughts now with the benefit of 9 months of hindsight. Its not an easy listen! But talk about this stuff can lead to change, and change is what we need. If you find any of this triggering here are some numbers you can use for help: Text HELP to 4357 Or call 0800 LIFELINE (0800 54 33 54)
This is part one of my very first ever two part podcast. Eric came over and we just yarned for over two hours so I decided to split it in two. I do need to include a warning here- towards the end we get into a fairly intense discussion about mental health and depression, and in particular the suicide of his good friend Olivia Podmore last year. If you find any of this triggering, here are some numbers you can call to reach out: Text HELP to 4357 Or call 0800 LIFELINE (0800 54 33 54) Thanks a million to my pals at Em's Power Cookies for powering this episode. Check them out at Powercookies.com
Eric Murray is one of the greatest New Zealand Olympians of all time. Hamish Bond and him won 2 gold medals for their rowing and were unbeaten for 69 consecutive races which is mindblowing. In this wide ranging conversation we cover so much ground- rowing, running, his reasons for going on Dancing with the stars, his relationship with marajuana, Celebrity Treasure Island, charity boxing, mental health, divorce, the tragic death of his friend Olivia Podmore, raising an autistic child and much much more. This is possibly my favourite conversation I've done since I launched this podcast...that may be because Eric turned up with a 6 pack and a bottle of wine (which we consumed every last drop of). But also because for such a well known sporting legend, he is so unfiltered and honest about everything! know you guys will ove this one and I can't wait to share it. PS: Eric asked me to ask YOU to text "ERIC" to 3333 to keep him on DWTS (even though he is terrible haha)
This episode covers the serious issue of suicide in elite sport. We're joined by Holly Thorpe to discuss her recent article in The Conversation, 'The price of gold — what high-performance sport in NZ must learn from the Olivia Podmore tragedy'. Holly highlights the costs of elite sport culture, mental health, and the urgent need for institutional change to better protect the well-being of athletes. She makes the case that sociological critique can only get us so far when faced by a tragedy such as this one. Next steps include ongoing dialogue with other disciplines, members of the elite sport community, and the wider public. We offer our sincere condolences to the Podmore family, her friends, team-mates, coaches and others who knew Olivia, as well anyone at all who has been impacted by news of her death. If this discussion raises issues for you, or if you're concerned about anyone you know, please contact Lifeline in Australia or Aotearoa/New Zealand, or their equivalents around the world depending on where you are listening.
Sam surveys the impact of the lockdown across sporting codes, including provincial level, rugby and basketball and internationally, the Paralympic team, the All Blacks and Black Caps whose travel plans have come under extra scrutiny. Also Sam talks to Susie about the independent inquiry launched following the sudden death of cyclist Olivia Podmore.
The wellbeing of athletes in elite sport is increasingly coming into question with calls this morning for an independent commission into all sport.Francesca Rudkin spoke to former New Zealand track cyclist Tim Gudsell about why this change needs to happen.LISTEN ABOVE
Sam discusses the sudden death of cyclist Olivia Podmore and the important conversations about mental health and support for athletes that have come from that. He also looks ahead to the second Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park tomorrow.
Sports Phycologist Gary Hermansson on Eric Murray (close friend of Olivia Podmore) calling for people to take Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka speaking out about mental health more seriously.LISTEN ABOVE
Cycling New Zealand says it's deeply saddened by the death of Rio Olympic cyclist, Olivia Podmore, and denies it failed her. The 24-year-old sprint cyclist died suddenly in Cambridge yesterday. She'd earlier posted an emotional message, which has since been deleted, on social media talking about the pressures of high performance sport. It comes after a damning report into the national cycling body in 2018, which spoke of a toxic culture, bullying, a lack of accountability and effective leadership. Chief executive of Cycling New Zealand Jacques Landry came into the role after the report.