Summarised by Centrist
A 13-year-old girl who placed third in a top school mountain biking event was denied her bronze medal simply because she’s home-schooled.
Amelia Twiss outpaced her rivals at the North Island School Champs in Tauranga, finishing ahead of the fourth-place rider who was awarded the medal in her place.
“It just feels really disappointing, and it’s awkward,” Amelia said. “They feel embarrassed to say where they came, because they didn’t actually come in that place.”
School Sport New Zealand permits home-schooled children to race – just not to win. “These events are for school students representing their school,” said CEO Mike Summerell, defending the decision.
“Home-educated students have chosen a different learning pathway.” He also suggested home-schooled students may have more time to train, implying their participation may skew results.
But Amelia and fellow rider George Fisher, who was also denied a podium spot, aren’t backing down. The pair will cycle over 500km from Cambridge to Parliament next month, petition in hand. They aim to arrive during Youth Parliament, where Youth MPs will formally present their case to lawmakers.
Amelia’s mother, Toni, said the issue isn’t about policy nuance but basic fairness: “They’re allowed to race, they pay the entry fees, they compete by the same rules — and then they’re erased from the podium. That’s not sport.”
With over 10,000 home-schooled students in New Zealand, the story is resonating beyond the cycling world. “I just want to ride,” said Amelia.
