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Otago Daily Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Olivia Podmore's mother 'shocked' by inquest findings
By Dana Johannsen of RNZ The mother of Olivia Podmore has told a coronial inquest she has been shocked by the information that has been revealed over the last six months of the protracted proceedings. The inquest into the sudden death of the young athlete in August 2021 came to an emotional conclusion on Wednesday when Podmore's family addressed the court. In her closing statement, Podmore's mum Nienke Middleton said it had been difficult to hear about her daughter's experiences in the Cycling NZ programme. Earlier in the inquest, the court heard evidence the young athlete experienced "relentless bullying" after inadvertently exposing an affair between a coach and another athlete at a training camp in Bordeaux in 2016. The incident was the central controversy examined in Mike Heron's 2018 inquiry into the sport, which made a raft of damning findings. A further independent inquiry was carried out after Podmore's death, which Coroner Louella Dunn has indicated will be ruled a suicide. But Middleton told the court it was only through the inquest process that she has learned the true extent of what the Olympic sprint cyclist experienced during her time under the care of Cycling NZ. "It's taken nearly four years to piece together the full story of what happened to my daughter. And now that we have, we are shocked. Shocked because Livi had asked so many people, particularly those in senior management, for help over the years," Middleton said. "People who knew what was happening tried to help, they were not listened to and they, in turn, didn't last long at Cycling NZ and High Performance Sport NZ." While Middleton knew her daughter had struggled at times at Cycling NZ, she said she had no inkling that Podmore had been in such psychological distress. "That day I had no idea why Livi took her own life. The first I heard that Livi had been having health struggles was from Raelene Castle and Jacques Landry in a television interview the next day. "We had no idea what had been going on. Nobody from Cycling NZ or High Performance Sport NZ thought it might be worth contacting me over the five years Livi was in Cambridge." Podmore's father, Philip, also took the opportunity to make a personal statement to the court. In his first public comments since the death of his daughter, Philip Podmore said it was his hope that no other family of a young athlete has to experience such a senseless tragedy. "After sitting through this inquest, we have learned a lot more about the struggles Olivia faced while being under the care of Cycling NZ. We hope Cycling NZ and High Performance [Sport NZ] can learn from this tragic event," a visibly emotional Philip Podmore said. "From what we have heard during the inquest, this could have been avoided." "We will always be proud of Liv and amazed at the courage she showed lasting as long as she did throughout all of this. We love her dearly and know she will live on in all the people that she positively influenced throughout her short life. We miss you so much, Liv Rose." Counsel for Cycling NZ, Paul David KC, acknowledged what Podmore experienced in the programme "should never have happened". David assured the court the sport has undergone a major cultural shift in the wake of Podmore's shock death. "The evidence before the inquest shows that cycling has responded to Olivia's death by doing all in its power to see that the training and competitive environment for the teams of athletes, coaches and support staff is positive and enjoyable." In a statement released at the conclusion of the hearing, High Performance Sport NZ chief executive Raelene Castle, acknowledged the emotional toll the process has taken on Podmore's friends and family. "We thank them for the integrity and grace with which they have conducted themselves throughout this inquest," Castle said. "Athlete wellbeing is one of three key focuses of the HPSNZ strategy and there has been significant work done by HPSNZ and the National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) over the last five years including more dedicated health providers, a focus on athlete wellbeing and voice mechanisms, supported with increased levels of investment. "The Inquest, and its ultimate findings, along with this ongoing work, are important factors to ensure athletes can thrive and succeed in the high performance environment, now and into the future." Where to get help: Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202 Samaritans: 0800 726 666 Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@ What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254 Healthline: 0800 611 116 Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053 If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
'We will always be proud of Liv': Olivia Podmore inquest comes to an emotional conclusion
Photo: Dianne Manson / Composite RNZ The mother of Olivia Podmore has told a coronial inquest she has been shocked by the information that has been revealed over the last six months of the protracted proceedings. The inquest into the sudden death of the young athlete in August 2021 came to an emotional conclusion on Wednesday when Podmore's family addressed the court. In her closing statement, Podmore's mum Nienke Middleton said it had been difficult to hear about her daughter's experiences in the Cycling NZ programme. Earlier in the inquest, the court heard evidence the young athlete experienced "relentless bullying" after inadvertently exposing an affair between a coach and another athlete at a training camp in Bordeaux in 2016. The incident was the central controversy examined in Mike Heron's 2018 inquiry into the sport, which made a raft of damning findings. A further independent inquiry was carried out after Podmore's death, which Coroner Louella Dunn has indicated will be ruled a suicide. But Middleton told the court it was only through the inquest process that she has learned the true extent of what the Olympic sprint cyclist experienced during her time under the care of Cycling NZ. "It's taken nearly four years to piece together the full story of what happened to my daughter. And now that we have, we are shocked. Shocked because Livi had asked so many people, particularly those in senior management, for help over the years," Middleton said. "People who knew what was happening tried to help, they were not listened to and they, in turn, didn't last long at Cycling NZ and High Performance Sport NZ." Elite sprint cyclist Olivia Podmore pictured with her mother, Nienke Middleton, at Christchurch Airport in August 2021. The Rio Olympian died in a suspected suicide at her Cambridge flat later that day. Photo: Supplied While Middleton knew her daughter had struggled at times at Cycling NZ, she said she had no inkling that Podmore had been in such psychological distress. "That day I had no idea why Livi took her own life. The first I heard that Livi had been having health struggles was from Raelene Castle and Jacques Landry in a television interview the next day. "We had no idea what had been going on. Nobody from Cycling NZ or High Performance Sport NZ thought it might be worth contacting me over the five years Livi was in Cambridge." Podmore's father, Philip, also took the opportunity to make a personal statement to the court. In his first public comments since the death of his daughter, Philip Podmore said it was his hope that no other family of a young athlete has to experience such a senseless tragedy. "After sitting through this inquest, we have learned a lot more about the struggles Olivia faced while being under the care of Cycling NZ. We hope Cycling NZ and High Performance [Sport NZ] can learn from this tragic event," a visibly emotional Philip Podmore said. "From what we have heard during the inquest, this could have been avoided." "We will always be proud of Liv and amazed at the courage she showed lasting as long as she did throughout all of this. We love her dearly and know she will live on in all the people that she positively influenced throughout her short life. We miss you so much, Liv Rose." Counsel for Cycling NZ, Paul David KC, acknowledged what Podmore experienced in the programme "should never have happened". David assured the court the sport has undergone a major cultural shift in the wake of Podmore's shock death. "The evidence before the inquest shows that cycling has responded to Olivia's death by doing all in its power to see that the training and competitive environment for the teams of athletes, coaches and support staff is positive and enjoyable." Elite cyclist Olivia Podmore died in August 2021 in a suspected suicide. Photo: Supplied In a statement released at the conclusion of the hearing, High Performance Sport NZ chief executive Raelene Castle, acknowledged the emotional toll the process has taken on Podmore's friends and family. "We thank them for the integrity and grace with which they have conducted themselves throughout this inquest," Castle said. "Athlete wellbeing is one of three key focuses of the HPSNZ strategy and there has been significant work done by HPSNZ and the National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) over the last five years including more dedicated health providers, a focus on athlete wellbeing and voice mechanisms, supported with increased levels of investment. "The Inquest, and its ultimate findings, along with this ongoing work, are important factors to ensure athletes can thrive and succeed in the high performance environment, now and into the future." If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Olivia Podmore inquest comes to emotional end
By Dana Johannsen The mother of Olivia Podmore has told a coronial inquest she has been shocked by the information that has been revealed over the last six months of the protracted proceedings. The inquest into the sudden death of the young athlete in August 2021 came to an emotional conclusion on Wednesday when Podmore's family addressed the court. In her closing statement, Podmore's mum Nienke Middleton said it had been difficult to hear about her daughter's experiences in the Cycling NZ programme. Earlier in the inquest, the court heard evidence the young athlete experienced "relentless bullying" after inadvertently exposing an affair between a coach and another athlete at a training camp in Bordeaux in 2016. The incident was the central controversy examined in Mike Heron's 2018 inquiry into the sport, which made a raft of damning findings. A further independent inquiry was carried out after Podmore's death, which Coroner Louella Dunn has indicated will be ruled a suicide. But Middleton told the court it was only through the inquest process that she has learned the true extent of what the Olympic sprint cyclist experienced during her time under the care of Cycling NZ. "It's taken nearly four years to piece together the full story of what happened to my daughter. And now that we have, we are shocked. Shocked because Livi had asked so many people, particularly those in senior management, for help over the years," Middleton said. "People who knew what was happening tried to help, they were not listened to and they, in turn, didn't last long at Cycling NZ and High Performance Sport NZ." While Middleton knew her daughter had struggled at times at Cycling NZ, she said she had no inkling that Podmore had been in such psychological distress. "That day I had no idea why Livi took her own life. The first I heard that Livi had been having health struggles was from Raelene Castle and Jacques Landry in a television interview the next day. "We had no idea what had been going on. Nobody from Cycling NZ or High Performance Sport NZ thought it might be worth contacting me over the five years Livi was in Cambridge." Podmore's father, Philip, also took the opportunity to make a personal statement to the court. In his first public comments since the death of his daughter, Philip Podmore said it was his hope that no other family of a young athlete has to experience such a senseless tragedy. "After sitting through this inquest, we have learned a lot more about the struggles Olivia faced while being under the care of Cycling NZ. We hope Cycling NZ and High Performance [Sport NZ] can learn from this tragic event," a visibly emotional Philip Podmore said. "From what we have heard during the inquest, this could have been avoided." "We will always be proud of Liv and amazed at the courage she showed lasting as long as she did throughout all of this. We love her dearly and know she will live on in all the people that she positively influenced throughout her short life. We miss you so much, Liv Rose." Counsel for Cycling NZ, Paul David KC, acknowledged what Podmore experienced in the programme "should never have happened". David assured the court the sport has undergone a major cultural shift in the wake of Podmore's shock death. "The evidence before the inquest shows that cycling has responded to Olivia's death by doing all in its power to see that the training and competitive environment for the teams of athletes, coaches and support staff is positive and enjoyable." In a statement released at the conclusion of the hearing, High Performance Sport NZ chief executive Raelene Castle, acknowledged the emotional toll the process has taken on Podmore's friends and family. "We thank them for the integrity and grace with which they have conducted themselves throughout this inquest," Castle said. "Athlete wellbeing is one of three key focuses of the HPSNZ strategy and there has been significant work done by HPSNZ and the National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) over the last five years including more dedicated health providers, a focus on athlete wellbeing and voice mechanisms, supported with increased levels of investment. "The Inquest, and its ultimate findings, along with this ongoing work, are important factors to ensure athletes can thrive and succeed in the high performance environment, now and into the future." Where to get help: Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202 Samaritans: 0800 726 666 Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@ What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254 Healthline: 0800 611 116 Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053 If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
1News
22-04-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Olympic cyclist Podmore 'suffered trauma' before sudden death
The coroner's inquest into Oliva Podmore's sudden death resumed in Christchurch today with a forensic psychologist saying the Olympic cyclist suffered 'trauma' before she died. Dr Erik Monasterio spoke of the emotional distress Podmore experienced following the release of the Heron Report in 2018. The report was commissioned after an incident before the Rio Olympics where Podmore uncovered an inappropriate athlete-coach relationship at a training camp in Bordeaux. Monasterio said Podmore's role as a whistleblower was a key factor. 'We know that people who are whistleblowers carry a considerable burden of distress, psychological and psychiatric problems thereafter,' he said. 'What has become clearer to me is just the extent and the severity of that trauma.' The coroner resumed the inquest today with an apology to Olivia Podmore's family for the four-month delay. (Source: 1News) Monasterio is acting as an independent expert witness and has read and listened to much of the evidence given during the three weeks of hearings already held in front of Coroner Louella Dunn. The coroner started the resumption of the inquest today with an apology to Podmore's family for the four-month delay in resuming the inquest brought about by issues of fairness and scheduling problems. More than 20 witnesses have given evidence to the hearing which is looking at the circumstances around Podmore's suspected suicide in August 2021. The hearing has now been transferred to Podmore's hometown of Christchurch from Hamilton to ease some of the burden on the family. When questioned by High Performance Sport NZ's counsel, Monasterio admitted there were limitations to his findings as he never had a chance to speak with Podmore. He was brought in as an expert following her death. Monasterio also acknowledged improvements have been made in the sport. 'It certainly has taken very positive steps to improve what was there before. Everything it can? I'm not sure.' The Inquest is due to be complete by Thursday.
Scoop
22-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Olivia Podmore Inquest: Whistleblowing 'Carried Quite A Burden' For Young Athlete
Olivia Podmore's experiences as a whistleblower was the "dominant feature" in her deteriorating mental state in the lead-up to her death, a forensic psychiatrist has told an inquest. The coronial inquest into the Olympic cyclist's sudden death in August 2021 resumed in Christchurch on Tuesday, following an abrupt halt to proceedings late last year. Before the hearing resumed, Coroner Louella Dunn took the opportunity to apologise to Podmore's family for the lengthy delay. Coroner Dunn explained an adjournment was granted after "hearing from High Performance Sport NZ, who sought further time to prepare to cross examine" the independent expert witness Dr Erik Monasterio. "I apologise for the delay and the disruption," she said. "It is proper that the system works fairly for all parties involved." In his evidence late last year, Dr Monasterio described shortcomings in some aspects of Cycling NZ and High Performance Sport NZ's handling of Podmore's care. He told the court there appeared to be a widespread lack of recognition among officials and medical staff about the impact being a whistleblower had on Podmore's well-being. Earlier in the inquest, the court heard Podmore experienced "relentless bullying" after inadvertently exposing an affair between a coach and another athlete in the programme at a training camp in Bordeaux in the lead up to the Rio Olympics. The scandal led to a major inquiry into Cycling NZ in 2018. "It's interesting that… this concept of her being a whistleblower isn't identified as a key issue, and the reason I say that is that the impact of whistleblowing is relatively well understood in science and in clinical practice, and it's very sad to say, that people who whistle blow don't do well," Dr Monasterio said in December. "She did not receive any assistance to try to come to terms and manage the impact of the whistleblowing, which carried quite a burden for her." Under cross examination on Tuesday, Dr Monasterio was challenged on why he zeroed in on Podmore's experiences during this tumultuous period from 2016-2018, some three years before her death, as to the cause of her ongoing distress. Stephanie Grieve KC, counsel for High Performance Sport NZ, asked Dr Monasterio why he did not place as much weight on the challenges Podmore experienced in her teenage years, including the separation of her parents. "In terms of this weighting, I'm putting to you that you've… singled out the cycling issues, but haven't weighted as much the personal issues," Grieve submitted. Dr Monasterio said Podmore's personal challenges were a contributing factor in her mental health challenges, but he believed the burden of what the talented young rider faced when she first entered the system was significant. "Look, all these factors are important, but the timing of events, to my mind, strongly support the proposition that the Bordeaux incident and Heron inquiry were very significant, that's why I've given them more weight," Dr Monasterio responded. "Then in evidence I heard the extent to which Olivia was allegedly bullied and excluded, and in my opinion for a young woman around the ages of 18-20 to meet that level of adversity, that's a very dominant feature." Dr Monasterio told the court he believed the trauma of this period resurfaced for Podmore after she missed selection for the Tokyo Olympics. The court heard last year that Podmore sought to appeal her non-selection for the 2021 Games, and believed her omission from the team was for political, rather than performance reasons. Dr Monasterio said while it was not for him to determine the fairness of the selection decision, he found Cycling NZ's evidence that the selection processes were correctly followed to be "compelling". However, he said Podmore's perception "would have been coloured by the experiences she had previously". "What happened in 2016 through to 2018 was there was a lot of distress, which reached a threshold of being psychologically traumatic for a young person. It would seem that Olivia was trying to come to terms with that," Dr Monasterio said. "Things seemed to improve in 2019, and then there is this reappearance of significant anxiety and distress in 2021, which is when we have this first manifestation of suicidal thoughts. "In my view there is a connection between those two events." Dr Monasterio acknowledged important steps have been taken by Cycling NZ to overhaul the culture of the programme in the wake of Podmore's death. He said it appeared the independent inquiry into Cycling NZ and High Performance Sport NZ - which was sparked by the shock death of the young athlete - was an "influential factor" in the two organisations addressing athlete welfare issues "in a more assertive way". "Certainly positive steps have been taken to improve what was there before," Dr Monasterio said. "I'm persuaded in hearing the evidence that substantial steps have been taken, and the two organisations have taken the matter in hand very seriously." Dr Monasterio's evidence will continue on Wednesday when he takes the stand for a third day. Where to get help: Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202 Samaritans: 0800 726 666 Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@ What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254 Healthline: 0800 611 116 Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155 OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053 If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
