Nick Kyrgios pulls out of Rio 2016 after row with Australian Olympic Committee

Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of Rio 2016, accusing the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) of "unfair and unjust treatment" and "unwarranted attacks".

Kyrgios, 21, joins compatriot Bernard Tomic in withdrawing from the Games.

AOC chef de mission Kitty Chiller had said the pair were "on watch" because of their behaviour.

The world number 19 said he had pulled out with "a heavy heart" as the "AOC has chosen to publicly and privately disparage me".

In a statement on his official website, he added: "AOC's unfair and unjust treatment of me over the last four weeks, as well as the organisation's crystal clear position on whether they want me to be a part of the Australian Olympic team, has solidified my final decision."

Kyrgios received a code violation for shouting at a ball boy and was fined for an audible obscenity during his third-round defeat by Richard Gasquet at the French Open.

He was given a suspended 28-day ban and fined by the Association of Tennis Professionals last year for making lewd remarks about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend during a match.

Tennis Australia president Steve Healy said: "We understand Nick's decision and totally support him and his right to make it. But we are very disappointed that he has been put in this position."

In a statement on the AOC's official website, Chiller said: "At this point, Nick Kyrgios, or any other tennis athlete, has not been nominated for selection on the Australian Olympic team.

"In regard to selection every athlete in contention is treated equally and fairly."

http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/36442098

Australian swimming great Kieren Perkins says Nick Kyrgios would be too great a distraction to have at the Rio Olympics

OLYMPIC legend Kieren Perkins has joined the push for tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios to be snubbed from Australia’s team for Rio.

When asked whether Kyrgios should be chosen for the August Games, Perkins replied “not with the sort of behaviour he is producing at the moment’’.

“There are more than 300 athletes going to Rio and you just cannot afford to have one who becomes a distraction to officials who have a lot of things to look after,’’ Perkins said.

“There is also the fact that if you let someone like Kyrgios get away with stuff, what sort of message does that send to the other athletes. You don’t want double standards.’’

The sensitive issue of whether Kyrgios goes to Rio is likely to land in the lap of the Australian Olympic Committee’s board who will vote on the matter if Kygrios’ nomination is rejected by the team executive.

Tennis Australia have flagged their intention to nominate Kyrgios in the belief his behaviour in on the improve but those claims have been shot down by his first round blow-up with experienced umpire Carlos Ramos in the French Open when he was given a code violation for shouting at a ball boy.

Perkins, the dual Olympic 1500m champion and one of Australia’s most respected sporting voices, senses that the post-2012 London Games push for improved behaviour counts against Kyrgios’ cause.

“If he was willing and able to create an environment where the sort of behaviour he has at the moment was not going to happen at the Olympics then he might have been a chance,’’ he said..

“But from what I have seen it is not the sort of representation we are looking for at the Olympics.

“At the (Olympic fundraiser in Brisbane) on Saturday we heard Ian Thorpe, James Tomkins, Susie (O’Neill) and Nat (Cook) on stage talking about the responsibility that comes with being an inspiration to the country and how representing Australia at the Olympics is the embodiment of all the good things sports stand for.

“It does not mean we are all perfect. When you are starting from the standpoint of where Kygios’ behaviour is at the moment it is pretty obvious it does not really fit.’’

Perkins was unsure which way the AOC would vote on the issue but added “if he misbehaves again I don’t think they will take him’’.

The AOC executive may also have to rule on shooter Michael Diamond, who has had his gun licence suspended as he faces charges of driving with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit, as well as being in possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.

Diamond is now considered a highly unlikely starter for what would have been his seventh Games. Even if he was chosen by Shooting Australia, it is likely the AOC would block his selection.

His selection was already under question due to an appeal by 17-year-old Mitchell Iles over his omission from the original squad.

The appeal will be held soon in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/olympics-2016/australian-swimming-great-kieren-perkins-says-nick-kyrgios-would-be-too-great-a-distraction-to-have-at-the-rio-olympics/news-story/581d254409da314280ace32f4d8332ee

Rio 2016: Raelene Boyle rails against Nick Kyrgios and is no fan of tennis at the Olympics

FORMER track queen Raelene Boyle has urged Australia not to pick Nick Kyrgios in its Rio tennis team, believing his antics cheapen Olympic medals.

While Bernard Tomic has withdrawn from Games contention, Kyrgios intends to go and last week put up a bizarre Facebook post asking his fans whether he deserved to be chosen.

The Tennis Australia board met in Melbourne on Monday, where Kyrgios’ selection was discussed.

If, as expected, TA endorses Kyrgios’ nomination, the Australia Olympic Committee will next month either ratify his selection for the August Games or refuse to pick him on behavioural grounds.

Tennis Australia officials, never renowned for their courage in behavioural crackdowns, have started to rally behind Kyrgios, claiming his behaviour has improved over the past four months.

But Boyle, who won three silver medals in three Olympics, believes he is not worthy of selection.

“Kyrgios can’t go, it would be embarrassing if he went,’’ she said.

“I also believe tennis should not be at the Games.

“He just does not seem to have the morals. He manages himself very poorly. I am surprised that his management group and the people around him don’t seem to be doing anything.

“Someone should be saying to him “c’mon mate, just concentrate on the tennis and represent your country with pride’.

“You just don’t need people from around the world saying ‘that Australian guy, my god.’

“I am not saying I was perfect. I had a few run-ins. But I was not rude and I did not disrespect my competitors.’’

Boyle echoes the growing opinion that tennis does not belong at the Games.

“The sad thing in these guys cheapen the medals for everyone else. And I am talking about people whose lives have been based around winning those medals,” she said.

“The trouble is that the Olympics is not the pinnacle of these guys sport. It is just a novelty of finding out what the Olympics are about rather than having worked hard and trying to get there.’’

Kyrgios’ Olympic selection is far from a formality with chef de mission Kitty Chiller deeply concerned by his behaviour, not the least being several potshots at her on social media including one which referred to her as “that Kitty Chiller.’’

Chiller has been on a two-year crusade around Australia urging Rio bound athletes to behave responsibly and she has said that after standards flagged at the last Games in London, behaviour is as important as medals in Rio.

“I’ve said all along it’s not just about winning on the court, it’s how you go about it,’’ Chiller said.

“If he thinks going along to the Olympic Games is wholly about winning — sure, we want everyone to win — but it’s about behaviour on and off the court.’’


http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/olympics-2016/rio-2016-raelene-boyle-rails-against--nick-kyrgios-and-is-no-fan-of-tennis-at-the-olympics/news-story/217ce5b1ed2c13494a4eb860ca16e4bc

Andy Murray defends Nick Kyrgios over ongoing feud with Australian Olympic Committee

WORLD No.2 Andy Murray has defended Nick Kyrgios amid criticism of the tennis star from the Australian Olympic Committee.

The AOC’s chef de mission, Kitty Chiller, has threatened to snub Kyrgios for this year’s Rio Olympics over his behaviour, but Murray can’t see what all the fuss is about.

“I know him away from the court and he is a good guy,” Murray told the UK Daily Mail.

“He is funny, polite, he makes fun of himself, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. And I think he does seem to be learning all of the time.

“Every week just now he’s doing well. He’s playing matches, he’s travelling more, he’s playing more events. So I hope for him that he is there (at the Rio Olympics).

“I don’t really understand it, but I guess because tennis players are some of the more famous ones, everything that they do gets seen, on a daily basis almost. But I think Nick’s behaved pretty good this year.”

Those comments echo the thoughts of Tennis Australia president Steve Healy, who has given Kyrgios his full backing.

“It’s unfortunate that he’s been included unfairly in recent discussion on player behaviour that has not involved him,” Healy said.

“His performances this year have been markedly improved and it’s obvious he’s showing more maturity.”

On Friday, Chiller fired a verbal volley Kyrgios’ way over a tweet in which he called out the team boss.

“We have had nothing official except for some ill-advised, shall I say, comments about me and what it means to be an Olympian,” Chiller said of the tweet.

“I think some of Nick’s comments in social media have shown that maybe he doesn’t understand what it means to be an Australian Olympian.

“It is not just about winning on the court - it’s about how you go about it.”

“And if he doesn’t understand that ... I’ve said all along it’s not just about winning on the court, it’s how you go about it. If he thinks going along to the Olympic Games is wholly about winning — sure, we want everyone to win — but it’s about behaviour on and off the court.

“As with any athlete. There are a couple of athletes on notice. Nick has just come off a suspended sentence from his International Tennis Federation. Any athlete that has just had a disciplinary action from their international federation is on watch.”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/tennis/andy-murray-defends-nick-kyrgios-over-ongoing-feud-with-australian-olympic-committee/news-story/c1dc44473eaa16f701744686e79cb765

Nick Kyrgios hits back at Australian Olympics team chief Kitty Chiller, asks fans if he should go to Rio

Backed by Tennis Australia, Nick Kyrgios has reignited a war of words with Kitty Chiller ahead of the Rio Olympics by launching a fresh social media attack.

Instead of treading carefully after again being warned about his behaviour by the Australian Olympic team boss, Kyrgios took to Twitter to respond before launching a Facebook poll on whether he should go to Rio.

Chiller set the scene for fireworks in the wake of Bernard Tomic's Rio withdrawal on Friday when she claimed Kyrgios did not understand what it meant to be an Australian Olympian.

TA poured more fuel on the fire when it later released a statement backing world number 20 Kyrgios as the country's brightest chance of an Olympic tennis medal at Rio.

However, Kyrgios upped the ante with his social media response.

He took exception to Chiller's claim that he was coming off an ITF suspension.

Kyrgios received a fine and suspended ban last August for his crude "girlfriend" sledge of Stan Wawrinka.

"Coming out of suspension? What on earth are you talking about? I was never under a suspension ??????" he tweeted, before later deleting the post.

He stirred the pot further with his Facebook poll that asked followers whether he should go to Rio or should stay out of the Olympics.

"If you think the Australian Olympic tennis team would be better without me then comment on this photo ... BUT if you were the selector and you would want me out there battling for a medal LIKE and SHARE this picture."

The fans answered his question emphatically, with Kyrgios receiving 861 comments but 6,800 likes and more than 800 shares.

Tennis Australia comes out in support of Kyrgios

TA made clear where their loyalties lay following Chiller's comments on Friday.

"Since the disciplinary action taken against Nick last year, he's made a concerted effort to improve his performance and behaviour, and full credit to him," TA president Steve Healy said.

"It's unfortunate that he's been included unfairly in recent discussions on player behaviour that have not involved him."

Chiller would not speculate on whether world number 22 Tomic had beaten selectors to the punch by ruling himself out of the Rio Games on Friday.

But she made it clear what she thought of Kyrgios, saying she would be appalled if anyone repeated his antics at an Olympics.

Tomic and Kyrgios were placed on notice by Chiller last week after a raft of behavioural issues on and off the court.

Kyrgios made light of it via social media, referring to the team boss as "that Kitty Chiller", and all but dared selectors to overlook him for Rio.

"I think some of Nick's comments in social media have shown that maybe he doesn't understand what it means to be an Australian Olympian," Chiller said on Friday.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-14/nick-kyrgios-reignites-rio-war-of-words-with-chef-de-mission/7414536

Australia will win a record 18 gold medals at Rio Olympic Games, says sports data research organisation


AUSTRALIA will win a record 18 gold medals and finish fourth on the medal tally at the Rio Olympics, according to the latest predictions of an internationally respected sports data research organisation.

And should Russia be barred from competing in the athletics meet following last year’s drug scandal, Australia could leapfrog them into third place.

US-owned company Gracenote, a leading provider of entertainment and sports data to major corporations and sporting organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport, has Australia below only the US, China and Russia on its most recent “Virtual Medal Table”, with a predicted total medal count of 41 that includes 13 silver and 10 bronze.

Australia’s record gold medal haul is the 17 won in Athens in 2004.

The predicted 18 gold medals come mainly from swimming, with eight, then two each to rowing and sailing and one each to track cycling, BMX cycling, slalom canoe, shooting, men’s hockey and women’s rugby sevens.

In the pool world champions Mitch Larkin and Emily Seebohm are tipped to win two gold medals each in the 200m and 100m backstroke, with individual golds going to Cameron McEvoy and Cate Campbell in the men’s and women’s 100m freestyle, and Bronte Campbell in the 50m freestyle. The women’s 4x100m freestyle relay is also favoured for gold.

The other athletes tipped for gold are Jessica Fox (slalom canoe), Caroline Buchanan (BMX), Men’s Four and Kim Brennan (rowing), Warren Potent (shooting), Tom Burton and the pairing of Matt Belcher and Will Ryan (sailing), and the men’s team pursuit (cycling).

Australia’s only projected medal in track and field at present is a silver to walker Jared Tallent, although defending 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson – now ranked 12th in her event by Gracenote analysts – is expected to move into contention as she continues to produce improved performances after injury.

Australia’s world No.1 golfer Jason Day is tipped to win silver behind the USA’s Jordan Spieth.

Speaking from his base in the Netherlands, Gracepoint’s Head of Analysis, Sport, Simon Gleave, said the projections were based on extensive data collected over a four-year period between Olympics.

“We take into account all competitions of world class, such as world championships and world cups, for all 306 Olympic medal events over the four years,” he said.

“We weight them on two criteria, how recent they are, and the strength of the competition.

“We look at the top eight in each event and then through calculations using a set algorithm, we come up with a projected ranking.

“In events such as swimming and athletics we are able to take results of events through the Olympic qualifying period and, using the best time recorded, hold a virtual race to come up with the most likely winners.

Of course when it comes to actual Olympic competition anything can happen, but we calculate the projected results based on all the information available.”

With some countries still to hold their Olympic selections, the predictions will be continually updated but, as it now stands, Australia sits four gold medals behind Russia and only one ahead of fifth placed Great Britain with Germany a further two behind.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/olympic-games/australia-will-win-a-record-18-gold-medals-at-rio-olympic-games-says-sports-data-research-organisation/news-story/c93081a6c1b351074fee7e63ac9712fb

Time for another update. Tennis looking shaky as ever for Aus

Nick Kyrgios calls Australian Olympic chief's bluff over Rio snub threat

Nick Kyrgios has hit back at Kitty Chiller, all but daring Australia’s Olympic team boss to overlook he and team-mate Bernard Tomic for the Rio Games.

Australian Olympic Committee chef de mission Chiller put the pair on notice last week after a raft of behavioural issues on and off the court.

Chiller spoke out in the wake of Tomic facing up to a match point in Madrid holding his racquet the wrong way – which came just days before the world No22 withdrew just eight minutes into his opening round match in Rome.

But after cruising to an easy first-round win over local wildcard Salvatore Caruso in Rome, Kyrgios returned serve over a possible Games snub.

“I mean, if you don’t want to pick me or Bernard, you know, there are plenty of others you can pick to represent your country as well,” Kyrgios said on Monday. “If you don’t want two of the best players in Australia to represent your country, so be it.”

Chiller described Tomic’s behaviour as “appalling” after the 23-year-old – when questioned about his match-point antics – said he didn’t care because he was worth $10 million.

Kyrgios admitted behaviour would be a factor in the pair’s selection, but defended Tomic’s actions.

“Yeah, for sure I think, you know, the behaviour has to be monitored going into the Olympics, representing your country,” Kyrgios said.

“But, you know at the same time I think, with Bernard’s case with that match point – I mean, its not easy playing Fabio [Fognini] on clay. It’s Bernard’s least preferred surface.

“I’m sure he competed nearly every other point in the match. I don’t really know what he was doing, but that one point he gets scorched for when he probably tried his heart out the rest of the match.”

While Tomic’s Italian Open campaign lasted less than 10 minutes due to illness, Kyrgios took care of Caruso 6-1, 6-2 to set up a second round clash against big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic.

The win continues Kyrgios’s strong clay court form, but he remains wary of the challenge awaiting him in round two.

“I’m confident going forward, but, at the same time, Raonic’s got one of the best serves in the world,” Kyrgios said. “If he’s having a lights-out day when he does everything, you can’t really do too much.

Raonic recorded a tough 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win over Italian Marco Cecchinato in the first round, while France’s world No7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has withdrawn from the tournament with a thigh muscle injury.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/may/10/nick-kyrgios-calls-australian-olympic-chiefs-bluff-over-rio-snub-threat

Rio Olympics 2016: Analyst predicts Australia to shine in Rio, toppling Great Britain

A number cruncher is predicting a return to the glory days for Australia at the Rio Olympics, tipping a fourth-place finish on the overall medal tally.
Simon Gleave has been working the Olympic numbers for four years, putting them through a data-processing program as the head of analysis for US-based Gracenote, a sports and entertainment data provider.
Gleave is picking the US to top the table with 42 gold and 102 medals overall, with China second with 31 gold and 78 overall - the same order as London four years ago.


He has predicted Russia to finish third with 22, followed by Australia with 18, one ahead of Great Britain.

That would be a massive improvement on Australia's 10th-place finish in London and match the placing in Athens in 2004 and Sydney in 2000, when the host country also finished fourth. Australia's best gold medal haul is 17 in Athens in 2004.
It's one behind Australia's best-ever finish of third, back at the 1956 Games in Melbourne.
Australian Olympic officials are more circumspect, eyeing a fifth-place finish.
Gleave listed a number of break-out athletes including American swimmer Michael Phelps, who would collect five more gold medals and a bronze, bringing his overall total to 28 with a career gold-medal haul of 23.
"In terms of medal-count and order, it's going to be close to what we have," said Gleave, who in 2012 - using a less sophisticated program - predicted within four medals the results of 16 of the top 20 teams.
Gleave will issue updates again in June, July and August, just days before the August 5 opening.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/rio-olympics-2016-analyst-predicts-australia-to-shine-in-rio-toppling-great-britain-20160427-gog7n5.html

Why no love for swimming? This group getting sent over is probably the strongest we've had since Sydney/Athens