An error of Olympic order

This year the Olympics were in China, and the U.S. did well. Though Swimming was the category that got all the attention, one story about the Olympics has just never gotten mainstream media attention. And it’s been ongoing since 2004.

USA Cycling has been involved in a major lawsuit since 2004, when it failed to include Sue Haywood on the mountain biking team. The reason she was left out, a clerical mistake that changed the ranking of Haywood. Let me say that again, a clerical equivalent of a typo dashed the Olympic dreams of an American athlete.

It all came about because there was only 1 spot on the cycling team for a woman mountain biker. That was a choice between Haywood and Mary McConneloug. Both of these women were qualified and were neck and neck in the ranking. But Haywood won, according to U.S. ranking systems.

But the position was to be determined by the International Cycling Union. USA Cycling had to submit Haywood’s races and failed to include one race. This took 15 points off of her total and thus eliminated her from the team.

Of all the reasons for an athlete to not perform in the Olympics this is the most pitiful I can imagine. It smacks of inefficiency and idiocy, in my opinion. And it was the motivation of Haywood to ask for an apology, which never came. USA Cycling couldn’t even say I’m sorry – and they were blatantly wrong.

Haywood thus sued. But lest you think this was all about money keep in mind that USA Cycling refused to apologize for their mistake, and failed to come to a settlement though they went to 2 separate mediations before going to trial.

The result of this was that Sue Haywood won her case and has been awarded $319,000 which USA Cycling is considering appealing.

But why would they appeal. They acted in an irresponsible manner, dashed the dreams of an athlete – the ultimate dream of any athlete. They were the sole cause of the hard work and years of training of Haywood to be unfulfilled in the last minutes of achieving her dream. They effectively did the crime, and should now “do the time”.

Sue Haywood says this is not about money. I see her point and agree. Because it seems that the only thing that can get the attention of USA Cycling is money. And when we are speaking of the Olympics and dreams, money is petty and leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

Maybe that’s why we haven’t heard about the case before. And hopefully USA Cycling, and all the Olympic teams for the US, will never give us reason to hear such a story again.