The tug-of-war over the decision to include Lolo Jones on the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team extended into Friday when the team's top driver entered the fray in support of her polarizing teammate.
The Los Angeles Times reported that No. 1 driver Elana Meyers defended the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation's selection process on her Facebook account, carefully talking about the group of push athletes representing the women's teams.
A day earlier, push athletes Katie Eberling and Emily Azevedo - passed over in the selection process in favor of Jones and fellow track and field athlete Lauryn Williams - suggested that the selection committee chose Jones only because of her popularity.
Meyers, whom Jones said influenced her to try out for the bobsled team right after the 2012 Summer Olympics ended, refuted the claims of the rejected push athletes.
"I have tried to remain quiet as long as possible, but some things must be clarified," Meyers wrote on her Facebook page. "... The three athletes that were chosen for the Olympic team were chosen because of the numbers they have put up this season. In a sport where medals are won and lost by hundredths of a second, it is very important to analyze all the numbers and make the best decision to try to win Olympic medals for our country. Everyone may not agree with the decision, but the fact of the matter is, the numbers supported the selection committee's decision and 3 athletes were chosen. The three that were chosen have worked hard to earn there spots, and I am proud to call them my Olympic teammates. "We should be celebrating our Olympians, not tearing them down. I'm amazed that out of all the people asked about the situation, not a single driver was asked about what happened over the course of the season. I am devastated for those who didn't make the team but I will celebrate for those who did. Now is a time for preparing for what lies ahead, and that's what me and my teammates are prepared to do." According to the Times, Eberling continued her questioning of the process in an email to the Chicago Tribune. She cited her exclusion from racing with Meyers as proof that the selection committee had an agenda. "Every athlete that raced with Elana this season received the Olympic nod," Eberling wrote to the Tribune, the Times reported. "With our history of success coupled with my push championship results, I was shocked I never received an opportunity in her sled. In fact, I slid with her one day this entire year. "I am not one to stir up conflict, but those things can't just be swept under the rug." Darrin Steele, the federation's chief executive, said team officials simply were trying to gather information on Jones and Williams, both of whom are new to the sport. "We needed numbers on Lolo and Lauryn because they're rookies," Steele said in an email. "It wasn't about fairness, it was about collecting data, and we have more data on veterans."
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