Either one of the privileges recently afforded to the female Gisborne athlete would be enough to annoy law-abiding citizens but in tandem they are virtually guaranteed to incite widespread disapproval.
For as well as being discharged without conviction on a drink-drive charge (and despite a breath-alcohol level of
twice the legal limit being recorded), this woman was granted permanent name suppression.
It seems that a fortuitous blend of sporting prowess and a history of tough times entitled her to preferential treatment the rest of us could only dream of. I'm always suspicious when there are multiple reasons offered to explain a single event because, in fact, as long as it's a compelling one, you really only need one good reason to justify an action.
Yet I counted a total of ten excuses in Athlete's drink-drive file: plea that got her off given to mitigate this woman's behaviour. These included: being Maori, coming from an underprivileged background, excelling in her field, undergoing a relationship breakup, experiencing emotional difficulties, growing up in a remote area, being offered a job playing overseas, being a contributing member of the community, being in a hurry and being - in the judge's view - "exceptional".
But really there's nothing exceptional or even positive about wanting to taint other sportswomen with the suggestion that they're the subject of this shameful little episode rather than the true perpetrator. Rather than take the blame for her own actions, this woman has escaped public opprobrium and simultaneously put other female athletes under suspicion.
