Mica McNeill believes her team can win a medal despite ‘confusing’ funding cut
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Updated 04/10/2017 at 12:56 GMT
Mica McNeill, a British bobsleigh driver has said that she and her team have been “powered by the people” after reaching their target of £30,000 to be able to go to the Winter Olympics but she said she was “confused” by the decision to cut their funding.
Mica McNeill and Montell Douglas of Great Britain compete during the Women's Bobsleight first run of the BMW IBSF World Cup at Olympiabobbahn Igls on February 4, 2017 in Innsbruck, Austria.
Image credit: Getty Images
McNeill, 24, set up a page on GoFundMe so her and her team could raise the minimum amount of £30,000 that would be required for them to be able to go to the games in Pyeongchang.
This came after the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (BBSA) withdrew their funding for the women’s team but continued to fund three men’s crews.
Speaking to the BBC McNeill, who won the world junior championships last year, said that her team were “overwhelmed” by the donations and were determined to win a medal.
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Mica McNeill of Great Britain
Image credit: Getty Images
"We are powered by the people and it is them who will be pushing us down the track," said McNeill.
I truly believe we will win an Olympic medal, whether it is in this cycle or the next.
"I am committed to Pyeongchang and the next Winter Olympics in Beijing and I am prepared to do what it takes to get there.
"Knowing we have so much support behind us makes it all the more special."
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Mica McNeill of Great Britain
Image credit: Getty Images
However in the Guardian she stressed that she still wanted answers as to why her team’s funding was cut.
“I’ve asked why fund three men’s crews and no women’s and the answer I get is that the men are a medal focus,” McNeill said.
You can use that excuse on one sled or even two but the fact that it’s three and still calling it a medal focus is confusing for me. You don’t want to call it out as sexism but we found ourselves in this situation and to think that it could be a sexist decision, you don’t want to believe it.
“If we don’t compete it’s a massive setback for women in bobsleigh in general. It’s not a good look to be supporting only men’s teams. If young people aren’t able to see female role models how can we get girls involved in sport?
“It’s hard to get your head around how such a massive overspend could happen in a huge organisation, and for us to be punished for something outside of our control is really frustrating,”
McNeill also urged the public to continue to donate as any extra money will be allow the team to have a proper training period before the games.
“The £30,000 is the bare minimum that will get us to the Olympics,” McNeill continued.
“Bobsleigh is so expensive, you’ve got to freight the sled, travel around, get accommodation and pay track and race fees. If we can get any more than £30,000 that means we might be able to do the pre‑season and have the best chance that we can have at the Olympics.”
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