A somewhat unfortunately-timed newspaper column criticising New Zealand's team at the Winter Olympics in Russia has drawn a sharp response from one of the athletes on Twitter.
New Zealand recorded one of its best days at the games in Sochi, with freestyle skier Jossi Wells coming within a few points of a bronze medal.
Jossi Wells in the men's ski halfpipe qualifications. Photo: AFP
Journalist Dana Johannsen wrote a piece in the New Zealand Herald on Wednesday slating the athletes for waving to the camera at the end of their runs and said that following the team was like "watching a bunch of Kiwis on an expensive skiing holiday".
She also criticised Wells for giving up on his final slopestyle run after an early mistake cost him any chance of a top score. Wells came fourth in the half-pipe competition - the country's best result since Annelise Coberger's silver medal in 1992.
His brother Byron, who also competed in the games, tweeted a response to Ms Johannsen, saying Jossi came fourth in an event he hardly competes in and she should have some respect for athletes risking their lives to represent their country.
Jossi Wells said his preferred event was last week's slopestyle so he's "relatively happy" with his effort in the halfpipe.
His brother Beau-James, who finished sixth, told Morning Report his brother hadn't skied in a half-pipe for six months. "He was riding actually the best he's ever done and put a few new tricks in there, so it was amazing to see him ski that well."
The selection of Jossi, Byron and Beau-James Wells made it the first time three siblings have been chosen for a New Zealand Olympic team.
Shane Dobbin leads Germany's Moritz Geisreiter in the 10,000m speed skating. Photo: AFP
