Australian basketball star Liz Cambage has quit the Tokyo Olympic team citing mental health concerns in a massive blow for the Opals’ medal hopes.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) announced the shock news after Cambage fell out with the Opals during their pre-Olympic training camp in Las Vegas.
She was reportedly involved in a number of incidents which upset her Australian teammates and resulted in her walking out on their team camp.
The AOC announced her shock withdrawal on Friday.
Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman said he respected Cambage’s decision.
“Liz has made a great contribution to the Australian Olympic team over two Olympic Games campaigns. We respect her decision and wish her the best in returning to full health,” he said in a statement.
“Our focus now moves to working with the Opals so they can achieve the goals they have set for themselves in Tokyo. ”
Cambage said she was concerned for her mental health when in the coronavirus bubble in Tokyo and said she’d had “panic attacks” and had been taking medication.
“Every athlete competing in the Olympic games should be at their mental and physical peak, and at the moment, I’m a long way from where I want and need to be,” the 29-year-old said.
“It’s no secret that in the past I’ve struggled with my mental health and recently I’ve been really worried about heading into a “bubble” Olympics. No family. No friends. No fans. No support system outside of my team. It’s honestly terrifying for me. The past month I have been having panic attacks, not sleeping and not eating.”
“I know myself, and I know I can’t be the Liz everyone deserves to see compete for the Opals. Not right now at least. I need to take care of myself mentally and physically.”
The AOC will explore the potential for a late replacement for Cambage in the Opals team.
Basketball Australia (BA) had launched an investigation following reports that Cambage was involved in a physical altercation during a closed-door scrimmage against Nigeria as part of the Opals’ Olympic preparations.
The four-time WNBA All-Star also allegedly broke team protocols to go out in Las Vegas, where she plays with the Aces in the WNBA.
cherry
Guest
Yeah - you're gone - good
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Its funny how Simmons who is younger and has a lot more to gain at the Olympics not coming has drawn so little criticism. Is that because Simmons gets a hall pass being in the NBA or because he makes less controversial comments. Cambage had made the hard yards for the Australia team in the past so her commitment is a mile ahead of Simmons and she turned up at least before going off this time. Simmons could have redeemed himself at the Olympics and increased his NBA value. Just because Cambage shoots off at the mouth isnt a reason to put her down. Cambage is past her peak and gave her best years. Mental health well the media reaction when its Buddy Franklin for the Swans or anyone else has been rather over the top sympathy in the media .
James
Roar Rookie
I have no knowledge of what transpired with Liz Cambage but it is a huge step to leave your teammates one player short (it would be hard to make amends with future team mates). I understand Australia have no travelling reserves to replace her but I did notice Penny Taylor in the crowd. I wonder... The Opals looked good playing an up tempo style against the USA without focussing on a big slow moving centre.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
There's a report in The Courier-Mail today saying that Cambage threatened not to go to Tokyo in May after declaring an AOC advertising campaign had whitewashed athletes of colour. Without delving into what this means, I wonder if she ever wanted to go.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
You are so very dismissive of the mere mortals who attend her, who bathe in her reflected glory, who it seems deserve none of that "respect meee" stuff that ignorant beings like this lump throw about so readily. Invariably they offer no visible or audible evidence of their deservedness - quite the opposite.
JGK
Roar Guru
The Opals didn’t seem to miss her today.
Marcel
Guest
There's an interesting and timely article today in the SMH about Kylie Moore-Gilbert and her 2 years in an Iranian jail... often in solitary confinement. Her calm fortitude is in stark contrast to the continuing Cambage circus.
Slam Dunk
Guest
"....I know I can't be the Liz everyone deserves to see..." Narcissists speak like that about themselves.
Jockstar
Guest
Nutter
Blue Stephen
Roar Rookie
Spot on! It seems that she's not a team player, and cares more about Liz. That's fine let her do it, and hopefully you gets all the help she needs. But lets hope she doesn't become another Meghan Markle, and there is an endless saga about her 'mental health' issues. In the time of Covid everyone has 'mental health issues' . We need to support each other, but 'mental health' is NOT an excuse for antisocial behaviour.
Devil's advocate
Guest
Yeah, New England did really well this season without Tom Brady after all....
MH01
Guest
How has AOC treated her with disrespect ? She is acting like an entitled brat . Your reply seems like you don’t care about facts …. She is no victim here.
Johan
Guest
Liz has made the right decision and left the opals high and dry which is quite right. I hope that they don’t win a medal in Tokyo now. The AOC treated her with with disrespect and now they pay the price.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah you have to wonder. Says she has withdrawn for mental health reasons due to having to go into a bubble. Same for everyone else, they put up with it to represent the country. She left the bubble of course, to go out with friends. The real mental health concerns could be that she knows she's in trouble and doesn't want the stress of dealing with the fallout.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yep. Doesn't fit the criteria.
Brian
Guest
Chip on shoulder.
jameswm
Roar Guru
It's just a news story at the moment, isn't it? Is it a press release from the AOC? If I'm right on that, how can they cop any blame?
jameswm
Roar Guru
I reckon they need Liz to win.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
When half a million a year to play you-score-I-score for 6 months or so, fly about in business class and stay in nice digs is nowhere near enough. Poor diddums.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Yes Liz is good at talking big and playing big, and now she's stuffed up big. What should be embarrassed by actions, she let down her team mates, her country and her fans. Go Opals - you dont need Liz to win.