Matt Ryan to become a Brit?
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Lucy Graham
18 Jul 2008 13:46
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I've just read that Matt Ryan is going to convert to British nationality and try for the GB team instead of the Australian for future championships. I was totally gobsmacked when I heard he hadn't been picked for the Aus team for Hong Kong. With such a good run at Badminton I would have thought his place was a dead cert! Obviously not. The article says that he wants to be part of a fair system of selection and that is his reason for swapping to British nationality. Sounds like he is seriously annoyed and I don't blame him a bit! The riders based in Aus that have been picked haven't proven themselves against the best in the world (e.g. at Badminton) as Matt has so I think the decision to select them is a bit odd. Anyway... we're adding Matt's biog page to the HH website next week but if you are interested in watching the interview we did with him at Badminton, go into the Badminton section of the Video Library. Anyone else think he is right to change or should he just accept the decision and try again next time?
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jesster
19 Jul 2008 13:20
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Yes seems such a shame he's triple gold medal winner. How much more can you do to prove your talent? Don't understand it... he must be gutted. Hope to hear good news for him very soon and that Burghley is a brilliant success for him.
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dundee
30 Jul 2008 10:01
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As a fellow Australian it is such a shame to see someone with a track record miss out. However, the team is put together to balance all kinds of issues such as bringing on younger riders and giving pathways to Olympic competition to local (those based in Australia) riders who can't afford or don't want to move to the UK. If Matt does change his nationality, there is certainly no guarantee that he'd make it to the British team with such a strong field here! Just look who missed out for the British team and one can see how tough it would be.
As a mother with children who are keen riders that are encouraged to "follow the rules, behave nicely and never argue with the umpire", it's a shame to see Matt airing his very great disappointment about being left out so publicly.
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gt1984
01 Aug 2008 14:21
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I think the olympic teams should be picked on who's on the best form at the time, no matter where they are based. Sadly in this case this doesn't appear to be the situation.
Changing nationality to try and get in a different team seems to bit against the spirit of the Olympics.
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