Kiriasis was asked to change roles from driving coach to track performance analyst.GETTY IMAGES
The Jamaican women's Winter Olympics bobsleigh debut is "under threat after their coach quit and threatened to take the team's sled," according to Anna Thompson of the BBC. German Sandra Kiriasis, an ex-Olympic champion, claims she was "forced out when her role was changed, and that she is legally responsible for the sled." Kiriasis wants payment for it but the Jamaica Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation declined and is "disputing she owns the sled." She said, "I've never known such disappointment in this sport, in my life." Kiriasis said that she had to quit after refusing to change roles from driving coach to track performance analyst, "which would have given her no access to the athletes." The sled "situation remains unresolved," with the JBSF denying its team will have to pull out of the event. Kiriasis: "The athletes have told me they don't understand why this has happened as they have no problem with me and we have a good relationship" (BBC, 2/14). REUTERS' Mitch Phillips reported JBSF President Christian Stokes said, "The lady was a hugely destructive force on the team. Now that she is off the team, synergy is much better, tension is down and athletes are now able to focus in a much healthier environment" (REUTERS, 2/14).
