Telegraph
London Olympics 2012: cyclist Lizzie Armitstead says women athletes face overwhelming sexism
By Telegraph reporters
Published July 30th, 2012
Lizzie Armitstead, the cyclist who became Britain’s first medal winner at the London Olympics, has called for women riders to receive more pay and recognition amid “overwhelming sexism” in the sport.
Armitstead, 23, finished just behind gold-medalist Marianne Vos of the Netherlands in yesterday’s 87-mile womens road race to take the silver. Russias Olga Zabelinskaya was third. Britains pre-race favorite Mark Cavendish had failed to win the mens event a day earlier.
Armitstead said there was sexism in the sport and cyclings ruling body should require sponsors such as BSkyB, which employs Cavendish on Team Sky, to bankroll an equivalent women’s squad.
Cavendish’s teammate Bradley Wiggins became the first Briton to win the Tour de France on July 22.
“We could get a lot more help from the top,” Miss Armitstead told a news conference.
Armitstead said she had considered asking Pat McQuaid, the president of the ruling body Union Cycliste Internationale, to “sit down and have a chat” about the matter when he handed her the silver medal yesterday.
Goto Full Article – “Click Here”
Published July 2012
0 Response to “London Olympics 2012: cyclist Lizzie Armitstead says women athletes face overwhelming sexism”