Now, Kiwi cyclist Henderson pulls out of Delhi CWG citing ‘family fears’
September 24th, 2010 - 12:28 pm ICT by ANIMelbourne, Sep 24(ANI): New Zealand road cyclist Greg Henderson has pulled out of the Delhi Commonwealth Games, citing health and security fears.
Henderson, who won a gold medal in the points race at 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, is the first selected New Zealand athlete to withdraw from the October 3-14 Games.
The 33-year-old said that he took his decision after consulting with his wife Katie Mactier, a former Australian track cyclist.
“It’s about my family, it’s not just about Greg Henderson any more, I’ve got to think about my wife and little girl Charlie and they don’t want me going to the Commonwealth Games,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Henderson, as saying.
“There are just too many risks and in this situation the cons outweigh the pros. Who knows exactly what’s gone on there,”
“Realistically it’s probably going to be OK and the Games will go on, but where I am in my career, at the moment the negatives outweigh the pros,” he added.
Henderson is currently in Melbourne, where he will be competing in the Road Cycling World Championships next week.
Four of his teammates on the ProTour team Team Sky - Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard and Ben Swift - have already withdrawn from the Games.
Team Sky principal David Brailsford denied that the riders had been instructed to pull out, and said that that the decision had been left to the individuals.
“Given the situation they have found themselves in with the Commonwealth Games, nobody would blame the athletes for staying away, but there is no instruction from Team Sky on this issue,” Brailsford said. (ANI)
- New Zealand cyclist pulls out of CWG - Sep 24, 2010
- Four world class British cyclists pull out of Games - Sep 24, 2010
- CWG on track - amid criticism and cyclists pulling out (Afternoon Lead) - Sep 24, 2010
- As athletes begin arriving, CWG finally on track (Night Lead) - Sep 24, 2010
- Commonwealth Games finally on track, athletes begin arriving (Evening Lead) - Sep 24, 2010
- British diver Peter Waterfield pulls out of Delhi CWG citing 'family fears' - Sep 25, 2010
- New Zealand confirms participation in CWG - Sep 25, 2010
- Injury forces Kiwi tennis player out of Delhi Commonwealth Games - Oct 02, 2010
- Another New Zealand athlete pulls out of Games - Oct 01, 2010
- Olympic Committee will take final call: New Zealand PM - Sep 24, 2010
- Freshly unmasked swanky Kiwi athletes CWG village tower 'anything but unlivable' - Oct 02, 2010
- South Africa's world champion pulls out of CWG - Sep 28, 2010
- Kiwi golden girl almost pulled out of CWG - Oct 10, 2010
- New Zealand confident about Games security (Lead) - Oct 01, 2010
- Team must go for CWG: New Zealand sporting greats - Sep 19, 2010
Tags: 2006 commonwealth games, cwg, cycling world championships, david brailsford, family fears, games team, geraint thomas, gold medal, greg henderson, katie mactier, kiwi, little girl, morning herald, road cycling, road cyclist, security fears, stannard, sydney morning herald, thomas peter, wife katie