Bobsleigh Federation boss plays down reports of rift in Jamaican camp

President of the Jamaica Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation Christian Stokes says the team will not be negatively impacted by the departure of coach Sandra Kiriasis ahead of their participation at the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeonchang, South Korea. Reports are that Kiriasis, a German 2006 Olympic champion, claims she was forced out when her role was changed.

Kiriasis claims  she had to quit after refusing to change roles from driving coach to track performance analyst, which would have given her no access to the athletes. Stokes confirmed the news. “We hired a particular coach to be driving coach and we have asked her to limit herself to being driving coach but she has attempted to be more than a driving coach which does not fit in with our team approach and therefore she has withdrawn herself. Regardless of that, we have tremendous support; excellent coaches up and down providing their services  ,” said Stokes.   

Kiriasis has also threatened to take the team's sled for which she says she is legally responsible  and wants payment for. But the Jamaica Bobsleigh Federation declined and is disputing she owns the sled.

“We are in possession of the sled now. The sled is the least of our issues; she claims that it is her’s but we have more than enough equipment; there is no issue with the sled,” claimed Stokes. Stokes says the team led by Jasmine Fenlator-Victorian, remains focused on the task at hand.