Should the UCI stop athletes with eating disorders from racing? Sammie Maxwell answers

This week, we have a special guest: mountain bike world champion Samara Maxwell opens up about her struggles with an eating disorder and why she actually thinks it was good that her federation forced her to stop riding — or at least she can understand and agree with it now.

But first, the women’s sports highlights of the week:

• PWHL opening weekend: Vancouver packed in 14,958 fans to watch them take down Seattle—the highest-attended home game in PWHL history.
• NWSL Playoffs: Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle delivered the lone winning goal. And Kelly confirms the hype in the Bay Area was real. Is it time for the NWSL to end neutral site championship games? Up the salary cap? Did Kelly regret not going to the fame?
• NCAA cross-country championships: Don't let the debate over international recruiting practices mar an amazing race from Doris Lemngole.

Then, we talk with New Zealand’s Samara “Sammie” Maxwell, the first Kiwi to win the UCI cross-country World Cup overall title.

Sammie, who has been open about her struggles with an eating disorder, was told to stop cycling by her federation and then left off the Olympic team because they didn't think she had fully recovered — a decision she appealed. She explains why she appealed the decision, but also why she now believes Cycling New Zealand made the right call. And what can be done to address eating disorders in cycling?

Then, of course, our Feisty Picks of the Week.

Episode resources:

• WADA considers banning Ozempic: https://velo.outsideonline.com/news/ozempic-weight-loss-drugs-ban-sports/
• Climbing introduces policy to combat eating disorders: https://www.climbing.com/news/ifsc-policy-combat-eating-disorders/

Episode timestamps:

• 00:23 - Shoutout to the PWHL & the NWSL Finals
• 18:05 - Kelly explains cross-country to Sara
• 22:36 - What is happening with NCAA recruitment?!
• 32:01 - Samara Maxwell on how she's recovering from an eating disorder and what she wants people to know
• 57:27 - What responsibility do coaches have?
• 01:10:51 - The future of GLP-1s in sports

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