Citing systemic problems within the national sport organization, some of Canada’s top bobsleigh and skeleton athletes are calling for the resignation of key program staff.
The letter signed by more than 60 athletes was sent Monday to the Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) Board of Directors, calling for the resignation of President Sarah Storey and High Performance Director Chris Le Bihan.
The decision comes two weeks after the close of the Beijing Olympics, where Justin Kripps guided the Canadian four-man to a bronze medal and teammate Christine de Bruin won bronze in the monobob.
The letter cites culture, safety, transparency and governance issues, saying staff make arbitrary decisions on issues such as team selection based on bias and show little regard for athlete safety.
For example, the Canadian skeleton team competed in the test event at the Beijing Olympics last fall without a coach present, resulting in numerous bruises on this unfamiliar track.
Development team athletes say they had no access to medical care during a camp in Whistler, B.C., even for a bobsled athlete who was thrown from his bobsleigh.
Several skeleton athletes recently revealed to The Canadian Press that they are almost entirely self-funded.
Mirela Rahneva, who finished fifth in skeleton in Beijing, estimated her Olympic season cost her around $30,000.
The letter states that “systemic issues within BCS have negatively impacted the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton and have become increasingly problematic. Many athletes have suffered physically, mentally, emotionally and financially due to the organization’s failure to address these systemic issues, and the future of both sports is in jeopardy under the current administrative regime.”
“Athletes believe that immediate resignation […] is necessary to evolve the culture of this organization towards a safe, united and functional model, centered on the athlete, and from which to develop future world and Olympic champions. »
The group of more than 60 signatories includes current and retired athletes who have competed since 2014.