Aussie 1500m champ w/qualifying time left off WC team

This is why I hate selection committees. Impossible to avoid politics and favoritism.

Predominantly Puma? Not at all. The Gregsons were dropped by nike - neither were performing well, and then there's GG. The remainder are nike, NB or adidas sponsored.

The U.S. sent more than 600 athletes to the 2021 Olympics. We can afford to send everyone who qualifies. Most countries cannot afford this, therefor selection committees.

At one point USATF allowed athletes to chase qualifying standards up until the deadline. This was good for the athlete, but bad for USATF becomes team rosters could not be finalized/announced until the qualifying period ended weeks later. This also meant, that 4th place athletes had to wait in limbo until the last minute without knowing whether they were on the team or not. USATF wants their Olympic Team selected by the end of the Trials so they mandated the end of the Trials was the deadline for meeting standards.

it’s more than you’d think. Any new contract under Nic tends to be Puma. Charlotte Purdue (Adidas) is likely an exception

Ryan Gregson

Gen Gregson

Georgia Griffith

Jordy Williamsz

Ellie Sanford

Thought about this a bit more today and it struck me that Bideau's email to Caldwell's coach was likely just as much a personal attempt to gain influence over Caldwell via getting her into meets in the US or Europe and having her travel with his group, as it was an official communication in his role with Athletics Australia. This is how he has poached athletes from other coaches in the past. As someone else said, it's probably unavoidable to have coaches on the selection committee with athletes competing for teams and some suggestion of a conflict of interest, but if AA can't avoid that situation then they sure as hell should make sure one of those coaches isn't Bideau, it should be someone with integrity.

Coaches I understand, but they should have to disclose if they have any incentives in relation to the athletes they coach making teams and if so AA would need to assess their involvement in the process. Athlete managers/agents on the other hand....the commercial conflict of interest is outrageous

I heard he tried the same thing with Jye Edwards and Rorey Hunter last year.

I think Pat Tiernan is also managed by NB and moved to Puma

Yes, when contract means debt

I’m not saying it’s more fair, I’m just pointing out that the selectors are trying to address an issue specific to the Australian context.
The selectors are obviously trying to encourage athletes to achieve the standard in the Australian season, before nationals, so that they can have an ideal preparation going into Worlds.

Here's some interesting insights too:

Peter Bromley (CEO of AA) was appointed the CEO role in April 2021, just before the selection rules were changed in Oct 2021. Peter has a son Nick, former comm games 800m runner who trained under NB. He also coaches a group in Sydney which steamed to the MTC training group, the groups name is/was STC (Sydney Track Club). If you look at NB linkedin page you'll will see a glowing review from Peter to Nick.

Take out of this what you will.

Well considering Georgia has been chasing fast times all season (which they consider not 'ideal preparation') and got selected, while Abbey didn't get selected while focusing on an ideal preparation - it seems like their flawed logic did not have it's desired effect almost instantaneously.

Track athletes....aren't you aware of Conflict of Interest (COI)? When your coach is also your manager is also the national team coach, there are at least 3 overt COI's. How can your coach always make the best decisions for you, when they are also your manager and there is mega bucks on the line? How can a federation like Australia Athletics actually pay coaches to then select teams? Track is such a weird world...athletes will pay their coach (so they are actually the employer), but then who is actually the boss?

Be better than what ANZ currently has in charge of their distance program.

Callum Davies

Jude Thomas

Patrick Tiernan (managed by Bidders)

Callum Davies
Jude Thomas
Patrick Tiernan (managed by Bidders)

Can we all agree that Nic Bideau should be nowhere near the governing body in the form of a leadership/coach/selector position?

This is the equivalent of a property developer obtaining a position on a local council so he can approve his own development permits. Dodgy asf.

Agreed 100%. As noted by others, I have yet to meet anyone in the sport of track and field who has positive things to say about him. Whatever you think of him as a coach, there is no way someone should be a National Event Lead for an NSO while acting as an agent for some of the athletes. It's the biggest conflict of interest imaginable (he stands to benefit financially from having his athletes selected vs other Australian athletes, and may be able to influence contract structure/bonuses to that effect)