Following a lengthy dispute with Biathlon Canada, three-time Olympian Zina Kocher has been left off Canada’s national biathlon team for the upcoming season.
Kocher struggled for much of the 2014-15 season after a tumultuous off-season where she combatted personal and medical issues, but showed a return to form at IBU Cup 7&8 in Canmore with a silver medal-winning performance in the sprint. She did not meet Biathlon Canada’s 2014 national team criteria (her top result on the world cup was a 48th-place finish), but was given an illness provision by Sport Canada, which allowed her to keep her athlete carding – $18,000 in funding.
After her carding came through, she expected to rejoin the national team, but was told she could not by high performance director Chris Lindsay.
“When I was told no by Chris, it was a bit of an ‘excuse me?’ ” Kocher said.
Kocher was surprised, especially since teammate Scott Perras found himself in the exact same spot – unable to perform due to injury – but allowed to rejoin the team this season.
She was given the option to appeal the decision to the Biathlon Canada board of directors, but this week decided to simply train on her own for what will likely be her last season in biathlon.
“I’m not going to appeal it. It feels like there is too much negativity … that I’m paddling upstream. Being my last year, I know they had a lot of questions. (Biathlon Canada) feel they don’t have the resources with a larger women’s team. I think there could be a lot of positives if I were to train with them, but others think I should retire. They ask why I’d want to continue if I’m not going to race until 2018,” Kocher said.
Kocher did contemplate retirement following last season, but after a month to relax in Thailand, she rediscovered her desire to race.
“I had a really tough go at the beginning of the season. That was a reflection of my summer and fall. But I was able to turn myself around for the Canmore IBU Cup. I felt if I had a solid year of training without life turmoil and medical issues, I could perform,” Kocher said.
“I still had moments last year with motivation, where I struggled. But I’m motivated by how I turned it around by myself. I have the genetics, I know how to do this, I have something to prove.”
Biathlon Canada High Performance Director Chris Lindsay said the organization supported Kocher’s push for carding and want to see her race on the world cup again, but she won’t take part in training camps or day-to-day training with the team. The organization doesn’t have an injury provision for the national team, Lindsay said, but Perras was invited back to the team as he has helped the team achieve strong relay results in the past.
“We feel there is a niche for him,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay is leaving Biathlon Canada at the end of the week (see related story page 48).
Kocher is now searching for a coach to work with her this off-season, and will rely on a wide-ranging support network of physiotherapists, strength coaches and psychologists to support her in her training.
Canmore will host a biathlon world cup race this upcoming season, which will be one of her goals moving forward. After years as the lone Canadian hope on the team, she’s happy to see the Canadian women’s program growing and doesn’t begrudge younger athletes their spot on the team. But she still has a desire to prove she’s one of the best.
“It’s great to see growth in the sport,” Kocher said. “I’ve trained with all of the girls and it will be great to push each other at trials.”
