Olivia Podmore died of a suspected suicide in August 2021.
Photograph: Dianne Manson / RNZ Composite

This story discusses mental health and suicide. A list of helplines is available at the bottom of the page.

The inquest into her death heard that Olivia Podmore’s former coach refused to take the young cyclist to the starting line before their race at the Rio Olympic Games, telling her: “You don’t deserve to be here.”

Podmore’s treatment at his first Olympic Games was among a series of serious allegations of bullying revealed by the coach’s ex-wife Nicholle Bailey, who gave evidence in the Coroner’s Court in Hamilton on Tuesday.

Podmore, 24, died of a suspected suicide less than 24 hours after the closing ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021.

Bailey told the court another member of the NZ Cycling coaching staff was forced to take Podmore to race at the 2016 Olympic Games because her ex-husband refused to do so.

“All the Games (the coach) was texting him, saying he didn’t deserve to be there and that he should be grateful,” he said.

“He told me that as he was leaving the pits he whispered in his ear: ‘Don’t crash, don’t crash, just don’t crash.’

Podmore was involved in a crash in the keirin event at the Rio Olympics and returned the next day to take part in the sprint.

Olivia Podmore was photographed after escaping the keirin event at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Photograph: Photosport Ltd.

The previously unknown detail was met with an emotional response in the public gallery, with many viewers moved to tears.

Three weeks before the Rio Games, Podmore accidentally revealed that the coach had been having an affair with one of his teammates during a training camp in Bordeaux.

Both the coach and the athlete cannot be named due to restraining orders in effect.

On Tuesday, Bailey told the court he did not become aware of the “Bordeaux incident” until nearly two years later.

Nicholle Bailey, a friend of Olivia Podmore and the ex-wife of one of the NZ Cycling coaches, is giving evidence at the inquest into Podmore’s death.
Photograph: Mark Jephson / Things

After independently learning of her husband’s ongoing affair with an athlete, Bailey said she approached then Cycling NZ CEO Andrew Matheson about her concerns.

Bailey said Matheson had told him about the incident for some time but could do nothing unless Podmore was ready to make an official statement.

Meanwhile, Bailey contacted Podmore, who agreed to meet for coffee.

Bailey told the court that during that meeting, another athlete saw Podmore’s car parked at his home and the information was passed on to the coach.

“The bullying towards Olivia escalated after that,” Bailey said.

“(The coach) would berate Olivia in every aspect of her personal life. Who she was seeing and when she ate, the size of her hips, her haircut, how many men she had slept with and more. He was relentless.”

Asked by Podmore’s stepfather, Chris Middleton, how the young athlete felt about these comments, Bailey replied: “She felt very bad. You’re a young girl, you have the right to live a life. That would be like me being the same way.” “at work and my boss was investigating my personal life and using it against me every day, it’s not right.”

More than 25 witnesses are expected to testify in the investigation, which will last three weeks.
Photograph: Pool / RNZ, Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Bailey said other members of the track cycling team witnessed the bullying but said nothing about the treatment.

“They definitely saw it and heard it. They didn’t help. If it would have made their lives easier, they would have supported what was said (by the coach).

“He was ostracized and bullied by what (the coach) called the A team. They were definitely helping kick the dog when he was down.”

Bailey said her knowledge of Podmore’s mistreatment on the program came from witnessing her ex-husband discussing the young athlete at home among a “boys’ club” of other coaches and some medical professionals, information Podmore later revealed to her.

Bailey told the court that the athlete, with whom her ex-husband was having an affair, would reveal private information about Podmore through their friendship and pass it on to the coach.

The coach said the couple continued to victimize the young cyclist even after he left Cycling NZ in mid-2018.

After leaving the organization, the coach connected to another international program and continued to coach the athlete he was in a relationship with remotely. Bailey told the court the athlete occasionally flew to join the coach overseas for training blocks.

“(The coach’s) continued connection to CNZ through (the athlete) meant that slight bullying and prejudice continued despite his resignation.”

‘Men’s club’

Bailey also gave evidence that the young cyclist believed information he had told Cycling NZ health practitioners in confidence was being passed on to the coach.

Bailey said she was particularly disturbed by the approach of a health practitioner who she observed had a close relationship with her ex-husband and whose coaching and support staff formed part of a “boys’ club”.

He described Podmore’s open attitude towards the health practitioner as a “double-edged sword”.

“In a way, it brought awareness to the challenges she was facing. But I also recognize that this information regularly went further than it should have, leading to Olivia being ostracized, disparaged and bullied by coaches and teammates,” he said.

“(The practitioner) would tell (the coach) the secret discussions that took place during these sessions. (The coach) would tell the other members of the team, and all of these were used against Olivia in practice.”

Bailey said that in his opinion, the practitioner who underwent temporary name suppression “did not exercise within the professional boundaries of confidentiality and patient care.”

election war

The inquiry also heard on Tuesday from champion rower Eric Murray, who advised Podmore during the 2020 and 2021 seasons and backed him in his bid for Tokyo Olympic selection.

Murray and his partner Thea Lyle were the last people to see the young cyclist alive. The group had spent the weekend before Podmore’s death snowboarding in Queenstown. When they returned to Cambridge, Podmore dropped the couple off at their home, then returned to his flat, where he was found dead a short time later.

Murray told the court he believed the “turning point” for Podmore was during the Tokyo Olympics and that he missed selection.

He knew Podmore was upset about not being selected for the Games, but said he did not fully understand the extent of his pain.

Murray said the fact that Podmore was not selected for the Olympic Games despite being on the women’s sprint team made him question why she was included in the program.

“He was uncertain about whether he was a part of the program and what he was there for if they weren’t going to send him to these events once he was eligible,” Murray said.

“Usually people aren’t on the show to sh*t and giggle, they’re there to take part in the Olympics, world championships or Commonwealth Games.”

The inquest has been adjourned for three weeks and more than 25 witnesses are expected to testify.

Where to get help:

Need to talk? Call or text 1737 toll-free anytime for any reason to speak with a trained counselor.

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (7/24). This is a service for people who are considering suicide or are concerned about family or friends.

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (7/24) or SMS 4202

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (7/24)

Youth Line: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or text free 234 or email [email protected]

What’s up: Free advice for ages 5 to 19, online chat 7 days a week 11:00-22:30 or freephone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11:00-23:00 Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday between 09:00 – 20:00 or Monday to Friday between 09:00 – 17:00 text 832. Languages ​​spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.

Rural Support Foundation Helpline: 0800 787 254

Health Line: 0800 611 116

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

outline: 0800 688 5463 (18.00-21.00)

If it is an emergency and you think you or someone else is at risk, call 111.