Let Genevieve LaCaze run!

By Phoebe Lee
Australian Olympic hopeful Genevieve LaCaze may have her dreams of glory at the London Games dashed due to Athletics Australia’s tough selection stance.

LaCaze, a 22 year-old Brisbane girl, ran an A-standard Olympic Qualifying time of 9min 41.15 seconds in a 3000m race in Florida on Wednesday but has been refused a spot on the Olympic team as she missed the selection deadline by one day.

Not only did Genevieve qualify, but she bettered the qualifying standard by almost two seconds and is the only Australian contender for the 3000m steeplechase. Furthermore, while the AA selection deadline has passed, the nominated squad does not have to be submitted to the Australian Olympic Committee until 22 June.

While it is understandable that LaCaze did miss the deadline, it is unfathomable that Athletics Australia would take such a hard-line stance on not allowing a talented athlete to perform for our country on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Genevieve has petitioned Athletics Australia (AA) to reconsider her non-selection in the team along with three other Australian athletes. The selection committee will pass their findings to the AA board and LaCaze and the other athletes will have an opportunity to lodge official appeals on Tuesday if they are unhappy with the outcome.

The build-up to the London Olympics 2012 has seen us bombarded with inspirational stories, movies, music video clips and advertising campaigns all designed to build support, pride and morale for our countries. So where is the support from Athletics Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee for Genevieve LaCaze?

Genevieve’s friends and family have set up a Facebook group called ‘Send Genevieve LaCaze to London’ and the Twitter hashtag #LetLecazego is trending in support of Gen’s campaign to make it to the Olympics.

Australian’s have long been supporters of the ideal that everyone deserves a ‘fair go’ so let’s show our patriotic support now for Genevieve LeCaze and do what we can to let this amazing athlete have a chance of representing us at 2012 London Olympic Games.