It's funny because traditionally being with MTC was always seen as the only way to get into diamond leagues and run the circuit in Europe for Aussies.
Our current crop of junior athletes are proving that you can still run in big races, get contract with brands all without cooking yourself every season.
Who does MTC even have coming through that's under 21?
MTC may not be folding right now, but athletes are naturally choosing more sustainable options.
The group being axed / folding is Didiks Team Tempo. Not MTC. MTC and Bideu would survive the apocalypse.
Stewy is as sad sad sad story, far worse than this Laura Miur case recently.
He has been emotionally abused by Nic Bideu for years. He finally caved and quit the group this summer.
Nic then handed Stewy a $50k invoice (and threatened legal action if not paid) for years of training camp fees (staying at Nic’s houses in Spain and London).
Stewy got spooked and is now back training under the evil dictator as he can’t afford to pay him. The last 18 months Stewy seems to be injury ridden yet forced to compete. The same happened during Covid when Stewy clearly had respiratory issues and was forced to run Doha and Birmingham Diamond Leagues scraping 3:47-50 for 1500m!!
Australian Athletics or even world athletics need to get involved but Stewy like many before and sadly many to come live in constant fear of Nic Bideu.
He holds the keys to so many lucrative race entries overseas from here in Australia where it’s so hard to get out.
All those under Nic fear to leave him as they fear being black listed from overseas races.
It’s a very very serious situation which sadly because of the athletes fear, will keep being repeated.
NB is technically not even allowed to be an agent as he is bizzarly employed by the federation (as well as being a paid Nike coach?!)
His minion, Collis and ‘wife’ Sonia register most of the athletes via their agent license.
Rose Davies and Andrew Buchanan have the best of both worlds..
Nic to get them into races but they get coached by another (smarter) coach.
Although word on the street is their contracts are a fraction what they would/should earn if NB ever did any work and shopped them to the likes of adidas, On, Nike or Puma.
Ask the sprinter Mr Kennedy about his current deal that the magic man Nic got him. Only white guy in history to run 10.00 and not get paid a bean.
It's terrible to hear this still goes on and the Federation does nothing about it. Who is advocating for Stewy? Does anyone in AA gives a s&$t? All the other MTC runners just watch their mates get screwed?
Australian swimmers have a union (Australian Swimmers' Association) that negotiates on their behalf. Perhaps it's time that athletics' athletes had something similar. Certainly some needs to excise the cancer that is Nic Bideau.
It’s not NB’s fault that athletes reach their peak and then decline. If McSwain worked on his flexibility, power and athleticism more, his peak would have lasted longer. He worked on his engine, but neglected the body, chassis, and suspension.
Is anyone aware of a whistleblower or athlete welfare contact email for Athletics Australia which these concerns can be sent to?
I said this on the first page - go to Athletics Australia? Why.
Bideau has some odd "mafioistic" hold over Athletics Australia it seems - even though all he is an track and field agent and a coach. Think about how effing absurd that is for a second.
He's the ultimate example of a guy who created this narrative around himself as the most important and influential guy in the business and basically everyone believes him. Like I said, at some point you get past how ridiculous it is and you actually give the guy props for pulling it off.
Great idea, until you realise Athletics Australia will hand it over to the moral compasses of Genevieve Gregson, Collis, and Brian Roe (and don’t get me started on him). The truth is, these are the same stories we’ve been hearing for decades. Major newspapers have even published articles exposing the so called Melbourne track mafia.
It’s hard to understand how anyone with clarity or integrity could still associate with NB, especially those aware of the Cathy Freeman story. Athletics Australia and World Athletics are no better, given their long history of supporting these individuals. It’s like one big family tree of the worst, tracing all the way back to the likes of Andy Norman and Maurie Plant. This is exactly why most intelligent and principled people have walked away from the sport in Australia over the years.
Not that I've heard. But this weekend is typically NBs big pay day, as many of the MTC athletes are racing Melbourne Marathon Festival (Stewy included).
414: Stewy McSweyn | World Para Athletic Champs | Melbourne Marathon preview This weeks episode is sponsored by The Running Warehouse Ballarat Marathon The Running Warehouse Ballarat Marathon is back in April next year with f...
What kind of changes? I can't be effed listening to the podcast.
Essentially he's well aware that if doing the same thing isn't working, then you need to change up the training. He was completely burnt out after 2024 and considered throwing the towel in.
1500 is his favourite event but he knows his best in that is probably past him, so he's thinking 5/10/roads.
Hosts asked him specifically about changing the training group, Stewy mentioned maybe trying something like Utah with Fisher. Said something to the effect of 'we'll see what happens over the next few weeks'.
It felt to me that having him on was a show of support if s&%t is going down. But that might be reading too much into it.
What kind of changes? I can't be effed listening to the podcast.
Essentially he's well aware that if doing the same thing isn't working, then you need to change up the training. He was completely burnt out after 2024 and considered throwing the towel in.
1500 is his favourite event but he knows his best in that is probably past him, so he's thinking 5/10/roads.
Hosts asked him specifically about changing the training group, Stewy mentioned maybe trying something like Utah with Fisher. Said something to the effect of 'we'll see what happens over the next few weeks'.
It felt to me that having him on was a show of support if s&%t is going down. But that might be reading too much into it.
I think you might be reading too much into it. I think he was on the show because Nike requested a Nike athlete go on the show before Melbourne Marathon weekend. He was on the show "thanks to Nike".
I've probably listened to every single podcast/interview with Stewy since he's broken out on the pro scene and can confidently say that I don't think he's ever given a single inch when answering a question - He's the ultimate PR/Corporate man when it comes to any media appearance. Unfortunately I don't think Stewy will ever be "real" with us whilst he's a sponsored athlete, which is fair enough. Ultimately I hope he gets the right support with any issues he's dealing with behind closed doors and gets his body right.
Running so much more fun when Stewy's running well.
The only other option in Australia whilst still staying sponsored by Nike is moving to Cam Myers coach Telford and changing agents to Templeton It is unlikely that would practically be possible and he would likely face a challenging transition and getting into races domestically and on the diamond league if Bideau really tried to blacklist him.
So his option then becomes get a new agent overseas and train under one of the Nike Swoosh Club options in the US as there are not any big Nike groups in Europe he could easily access other than Laros's group.
It would be surprising to see him do any real changes as it would involve upheaving his whole life to live overseas most of the year and you'd have to have a lot of self belief you could get back to winning the national champs etc to a point Bideau couldn't influence your selections for national teams.
You have to wonder why Robbo and Rayner have not also considered moves given how good they have been and now being dusted in certain races.
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