It’s been a day since the Olympic closing ceremony and I’m already having Kitty Chiller withdrawals. (Click to Tweet) So, here is a performance assessment of apparently – if we’re judging by the number of press conferences – the most important Australian in Rio during the past two weeks.
Firstly, the medal count of 29 (8 Gold) was well below what she had predicted. If only Kitty had revved up Cate Campbell more, and told her she “doesn’t really know what it means to be an Olympian”, it could’ve pricked her ego and she could’ve won more. It worked for Nick Kyrgios a couple of weeks ago.
Additionally, the disappointment of the basketball teams. Would things have been different had Kitty got Andrew Bogut to write a letter, Emma McKeon style, after the semi, explaining “that he now understands what he has done” when the Boomers lost to Serbia.
Perhaps if Kitty had given the pesky Bogut more of a clip around the ears, he wouldn’t have got fouled out in the bronze medal match.
To be seriousness though, let’s look at her style of leadership.
On arrival in Rio, Chiller complained about the rooms. While safety issues such as electrical wires are a genuine concern, is it really advantageous to publicly say the floors are “in need of a massive clean”, and term these rooms the worst she’s ever seen at the Olympics?
The only teams that I recall whingeing about creature comforts upon arrival are losing teams- think the English cricket teams during the 90s, and the humiliated English football team two years ago at the World Cup in Brazil. It perhaps unnerves athletes, and puts a target on their head in the minds of their opponents and, well, everyone.
Also, there’s the recent revelation that Kitty wishes to “confront” the Australian swimming team, after its unexpectedly mediocre (at least compared to expectation) results. For some reason, it reminded me of when Tony Abbott threatened to “shirt front” Vladimir Putin. Perhaps as both involve two leaders who were declining in popularity, posturing and publicly trying to save their own back.
In Kitty’s case, this could also have been done in house. Why not give the swimmers the chance to appreciate their dedication and achievements at the closing ceremony, instead of publicly humiliating them, and leaving a sour taste in their mouth as the games drew to a close?
One could reasonably deduce that she was trying to publicly exonerate herself and the AOC from responsibility for their results.
Additionally, did she need to be sitting there next to every gold medallist at their post win press conference? What point did that serve? Boris Becker doesn’t sit with Novak Djokovic in the press conference after he wins a slam. After all, it was Novak out there winning it.
Maybe, after the London debacle, the Australian team needed a Kitty Chiller-type figure. I have genuine admiration of her love and passion for the Olympics, and her desire to instil that into Australia’s Olympians. Further, dealing with 100s of athletes in a country in the middle of unease, is no simple task.
The fact that no major incidents involving an Australian – the ticket fiasco is common practice – occurred is a credit to her and the AOC. But, perhaps it’s taken Kitty to become a national punch line to realise that maybe we need to change our attitude to not only the Olympics, but sport in general in Australia.
Maybe rather than predictions, ridiculous expectations and bottom lines, we can just appreciate that a nation of 23 million can deliver 29 moments of inspiration, and be in the top 10 medal winners in the world. Surely that would be the ‘chiller’ way to take in this magical fortnight.
Hansie
Guest
And most of those Australians arrested were arrested because the AOC fiddled with their accreditation passes. Chiller deserves to go based on that incident alone. Yet there is little accountability for the AOC in getting its own athletes arrested.
Ty
Guest
If the Kyrgios and Tomic was at the Olympic, I would have no doubt that Chiller would have blamed them for the team's misfortune. Given that Australia only has 23 millions people, I am surprised that other nations have not accused Australia of systematically doping our athletes given our incredible results. Statistically Australia did an amazing job, comparing 23 millions Australian to 1.3 billions Chinese and 300 millions Americans? Given that the AFL (Essendon) and the NRL (Cronulla) teams in Australia have systematic doped their athletes, and hiding their results, how many of the Olympics Athletes have doped but did not know that they doped like the Essendon players? Other nations could have easily accused Australia of systematic doping on mass on the findings of WADA and seek to ban the whole Australian olympic team? I know that this reasoning is crazy as you can not blame the whole of Australia on a few bad apples? But isn't what we are doing to Russia the same? Hypocrite anyone?
Simoc
Guest
Chiller was poor early but got it right in the end. It's all about the athletes being able to and doing their best and nothing about medals. In a about a weeks time is when those that love themselves, like John Coates, should start pontificating about the should haves where we went wrong etc etc. It's what roosters do. He's probably practicising in front of a mirror now. If you're keen on sports the coverage was great. The medal predictions were Oz media predictions and we have very few knowledgeable on that count. Roycroft in Equestrian rode pretty much every jump for every rider and McAveny in Athletics is very good. But most of the those who knew the sports weren't Australian. If we criticize Campbell for losing we need to haul in Chalmers for winning. Plainly that is stupid. And performance on the day is what sport is about. For every winner there are multiple losers. The ABC has drifted from being an authority in sports broadcasting to nowhere today when there lead man Whately is primarily a race horse fanatic and good on AFL. He is out of his depth on the international sports stage. Thus the predictions were ridiculous.
BennO
Guest
huh? No sorry sheek, contrary to your own narrative, it's not always about you. As I've explained clearly, twice now, the performance of Kitty Chiller as chef de mission was poor and scrutiny and criticism of that performance, as contained in the article, is completely reasonable. You've come out swinging, played a PC sexism card and now over-reacted when called out on that. You're welcome to address the substance of my comments.
Maggie
Guest
Disagree about Jackson's article. Lisa Wilkinson's article is what I describe as "very fair and balanced". http://m.huffingtonpost.com.au/lisa-wilkinson/kitty-chiller-stood-strong-for-team-australia-and-i-salute-her/?ncid=tweetlnkauhpmg00000001
1st&10
Guest
"Kitty is beautiful and wonderful, she stays on she should do. She brings more cool factor than boring past people in her role." What does he appearance and temp have to do anything ? She is too autocratic and was not up to the job . It was all about her -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
spruce moose
Guest
I wasn't having a go at you, or criticising Chiller. I was simply posting what I believe to be a very fair and balanced article. Your question, while immensely valid, is not for this particular thread.
sheek
Roar Guru
Okay, I get it, this is about me. You're really after me, Kitty is just a feint. Well done. Give yourself a stamp.
Matth
Guest
That does not answer my question. How did any of the issues discussed above or I. The media lead to a conclusion that things did not run smoothly for the athletes. This is different to medal predictions or reprimanding rule breakers.
BennO
Guest
Really mate? That's where you want to take this? For someone who likes to complain about the modern generation not being able to handle straight talking, you run to a sulk and play some PC card pretty quickly. If you read my post you'll see I pretty clearly spelt out the actions that Chiller took that were unwarranted or poorly thought out, in my opinion. All performance related. I don't see why you think she shouldn't be criticised or scrutinised for these things.
Jason Cave
Guest
I wouldn't be surprised to see Kitty Chiller be swamped with job offers in Australian sports. The Australian Rugby Union might want to have Kitty Chiller on their Board, and possibly be CEO once Bill Pulver retires. The AFL clubs like ie Richmond or Collingwood would like to have her on the board, also the AFL itself may look at having Chiller bring on the AFL Commission. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Apart from her me,me,me,me,me,me,me,me,me,me approach - on what basis would you conclude that she made it all about herself?
sheek
Roar Guru
Yeah well John Coates made similar predictions. Where's the outcry against him?????
sheek
Roar Guru
FFS BennO, Where did I say or suggest her position above scrutiny? I'm defending her in the face of unwarranted personal attacks. Now she being attacked by twitter twits for being first off the plane. She is, after all, the chef de mission. Fortunately, she's not answerable to the twits. If you don't like her, just say so. Maybe it's her hair, or the way she crunches her nose, whatever. Maybe it's for no other reason than she's a woman.
BrainsTrust
Guest
There is the real issue, the athletes didn't have adequate accomodation, that is the one thing she was responsible for. There is no evidence that any form of tests for gas levels were carried out in a building with gas leakages. If a building is not inspected till the day before they move in its not acceptable. If someone is talking about Kyrgios at press conferences my assumption is they have already inspected and passed the Olympic village,
Maggie
Guest
I have been wondering what the ROI will be for Swisse.
Maggie
Guest
In fact Nick Green, as chef de mission at the 2012 London Olympics, was constantly talking to the media, giving press conferences and being quoted. Do an internet search and his name comes up with quotes from 2012 many times - not surprisingly since being spokesperson is part of the role of the chef de mission. Nick Green also made an ambitious medal forecast which was not reached in London, and was lambasted for it when the team returned. And he also publicly reprimanded athletes - D'Arcy and Monk over their ill-judged gun photo; Booth who was sent home after a drunken episode in which he vandalised shops. Green's job in London was much, much easier than Chiller's in Rio. I agree with Sheek - the criticism of Chiller is way over the top.
spruce moose
Guest
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/22/australias-olympic-woes-arent-kitty-chillers-fault-but-she-made-it-easy-for-people-to-blame-her Russell Jackson sums this up nicely.
fiddlesticks
Guest
Kitty is hard and tough and what is needed in australian sport
pat malone
Guest
i am hoping Kitty can keep her job, she is what is needed and takes pressure off the athletes