AOC: Leading representatives of the Olympic Movement met in Lausanne over the weekend, with the Olympic Agenda 2020 process central to their discussions. Sports leaders heard updates on the proposals that have so far been generated and will meet again in December to discuss changes to the Olympic program including the introduction of mixed gender events.

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) Athletes’ Commission Chair, Kim Crow, and multiple Olympic medallist Libby Trickett believe mixed gender events promote equality, collaboration and a spirit of mutual respect but they have opposing views on their inclusion to the Olympic program.

“Mixed gender events at an Olympic level show to the world the value of men and women working together towards a common goal and respecting each other's strengths,” dual Olympic medallist Crow said.

Trickett, who has won four gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the Olympics, is unsure of their inclusion at the Olympics.

“I like the purity of the Olympics, women versus women and men versus men. That's the true power of the individual (in swimming) and then the team as a whole performance.”

Currently, Australia is the world record holder of the 4x100m mixed medley relay, 3:46.52 (Ashley Delaney, Daniel Tranter, Alicia Coutts, Emma McKeon ) and 4x100m freestyle relay, 3:23.29 (Tommaso D'Orsogna, Cate Campbell, James Magnussen, Bronte Campbell ) both set at the 2014 Aquatic Super Series.

And Trickett was one of the first to promote mixed gender events when at the 2007 Duel in the Pool, she swam what would have been a world record when racing against American superstar Michael Phelps.

“I love the idea of having [mixed gender events] at more playful and low key events, but not at the Olympics. I would much rather see the inclusion of 50 form strokes before mixed gender relays,” Trickett said.

“The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport and I don’t think this event fits with that.”

In August, the IOC members will evaluate mixed gender sports at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, in Nanjing, China, where 14 of the 28 feature men and women in competition together. Australia will send 89 of the country’s best young athletes to compete in 23 of the 28 Olympic sports in Nanjing. Some will compete in mixed gender events.

Crow and Trickett agree many parameters would need to be considered before including mixed gender events in the Olympic sports program. The Olympic medallists highlighted the necessity to ensure female participation in sport was not affected by the inclusion of mixed gender events.

“While there are sports where mixed gender events could be a wonderful step forward, we also must appreciate that the events must be carefully chosen to ensure there is still a place for women's excellence to be displayed,” Crow said.

“We don't want a situation where the women in the mixed gender event become the "weak link to be worked around" or women have less opportunities to compete in elite sport.”

“I wouldn’t want to see any other relays or events suffer due to the inclusion of this event,” Trickett said.

Crow, who was one of the stars of the Australian rowing team at the London 2012 Games, identified tennis as a successful example of incorporating mixed gender events to a sport program, including the introduction of mixed doubles to the 2012 Olympic sport program.

“Tennis has played mixed doubles for many years in grand slams with great success,” Crow said.

She highlighted the popularity of mixed gender boat races at the Australian University Games and suggested the mixed double scull as a good event at the Olympic Games.

“It could be quite a spectacle!” she said. “Already our Para-rowers race in mixed gender boats, with tremendous success.”

“A successful mixed gender rowing boat [however] would need a great deal of thought given to how best to rig the boat to match up the differing strengths and sizes of the rowers.”

Although cautiously optimistic about mixed gender events, Crow and Trickett also agreed they could assist promote sports and their competitions.

“It would be a very strategic event to plan and to race and I think that would add a very interesting element to the event,” Trickett said.

“In some sports, combining the genders could help raise the profile and broader interest in both the women's and men's sides of the sport,” Crow said.

Frances Cordaro
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam