A 'culture of verbal abuse' against women, athletes say

The New Zealand track cycling team is well known internationally for its booze culture - but less well known is what insiders say is a culture of verbal abuse against some women cyclists by a few male riders.

"Liz [Williams] has regularly been called 'slut' and 'whore' and verbally abused by some of these guys," said her mother, Patricia Williams. "It is like there is a culture in there that, unless a female rider has a husband or boyfriend or protector in the team or close by, they are fair game."

Liz Williams' problems within the track team date back several years and it was in 2001 when she fell foul of another rider, Hayden Godfrey. She was pushed to the floor before Godfrey pressed on her back, injuring it.

Godfrey officially apologised to her for that and was also stood down from a training camp for three weeks.

However, Mrs Williams said Godfrey and some other male cyclists never forgot it.

"That is where the 'slut' and the 'whore' abuse comes from. They had it in for her and they never let her forget it," said Mrs Williams.

At the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, while some of the team were watching the gymnastics on television, Liz mentioned she knew one of the gymnasts, said her mother. "Liz said he [Godfrey] said: 'Shut up, you slut, who the **** cares what you ******* think, you whore."'

The Williams family is quick to point out that it is a minority of male track cyclists involved in what they call the "culture of verbal abuse".

Many, like top cyclist Greg Henderson, she described as supportive and helpful.

In a newspaper article last month in which Williams was quoted as saying Ryan and Gudsell's treatment was "unfair", Godfrey is also quoted as saying that Williams had previously over-reacted to ribbing from team-mates. He said Williams, in his opinion, may have brought things on herself. He said he believed she wanted attention and had once hyperventilated so much after failing to place that medical assistance had to be called.

"This has caused a real pain in the arse for the team," he told the newspaper.

"I think it's really unfortunate cycling's been dragged through the mud."

However, the family says the behaviour has not been confined to Liz. Along with the drinking culture of the New Zealand track cycling team, a culture had also grown up among a few male cyclists of intimidation and verbal abuse towards some women riders.

Mrs Williams was at pains to emphasise that some male cyclists did not indulge in the verbal abuse and were supportive - but a minority made life highly unpleasant for some. "Some girls can handle it and others can't and there have been plenty of examples of women not handling it but cycling is now closing ranks and not talking," she said.

The family said that most of the abuse was verbal and was particularly hard on those they felt were lucky to have been selected or those who showed weakness or vulnerability.

The New Zealand team is well known for its partying but this drinking culture did not help and a lack of leadership had also let matters occasionally get out of hand.

One New Zealand female Commonwealth and Olympic Games rider echoed the Williams' contentions.

"I am amazed it has taken so long to come out and that people are finally starting to take notice," said the rider, who did not want to be named.

"There is definitely a culture of abuse, or I would call it 'almost abuse'," she said, emphasising she was not talking about Marc Ryan or Tim Gudsell, but about other male riders whom she would not name.

"It's not physical or sexual, usually, but it is cruel and it is verbal. It was there when I joined the track team and it was there when I left.

"I used to call it a 'Lord of the Flies culture'," she said, adding that it was what happens when a group of young males get together.

"Individually, they are fine. But in a group they have no respect, they do not know how to behave with women, they are hormonally driven and treat women like objects. They are a bit like a school gang. They made my life a misery for two years."

"I raised the subject with Terry Gyde (now head coach of the track team) at the time but he just waved it away."

However, another recent New Zealand rider, Katrie Laike, said she had never been abused and never felt threatened within the track team.

"I was at the Moscow World Cup last year and I was the only woman there. I have never been abused and I haven't seen anyone else. I was so upset at all these allegations that I emailed Mike Flynn and told him that I had never felt threatened.

"I know many of these guys, I train with them and race with them overseas - sometimes they give you a bit of talk but you just give it back to them." Katrie Laike is coached by Colin Ryan, father of Marc Ryan.

The Williams family also feel that Gudsell and Ryan were responding to the men's pursuit team winning bronze at Melbourne when they were expected to do better. "The pursuit team are their [Cycling NZ] golden boys," Mrs Williams said, "while Liz is just an amateur."