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Ryan Taylor - Source: Photosport
A Levin shooter appears to have won his fight to get to the London Olympics after successfully appealing his exclusion from the New Zealand team.
The New Zealand Shooting Federation put forward Ryan Taylor's name to the New Zealand Olympic Committee which turned him down despite his two qualifying scores, saying they did not believe he could earn a top-16 finish.
However the 32-year-old appealed that decision and the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand upheld the appeal, paving the way for the selection of 50m prone rifle shooter to compete in London.
New Zealand had a single shooting quota spot for the games, in the air rifle after they earned it through the Oceania Championships. However no air rifle shooters qualified allowing the spot to be transferred to another discipline.
Following Taylor's appeal it was decided there was sufficient evidence to suggest he was capable of a top-16 finish at the Games.
"The selectors also asked New Zealand Shooting to correct and clarify information previously supplied to the New Zealand Olympic Committee," an NZOC statement issued today read.
"This additional information combined with the corrections and clarifications from New Zealand Shooting provided a comprehensive overview of the situation."
Taylor's appeal is thought to be the first of its kind in a century.