A special delivery went awry at the 2022 Commonwealth Games after Goldie Sayers revealed her Olympic medal-winning javelin was lost in the post.
Sayers—who earned bronze on Great Britain's behalf at the 2008 Beijing Olympics —attempted to lend the special item to New Zealand protege Tori Peeters. The javelin final takes place on Sunday, but it's feared Peeters won't receive the equipment in time after it was sent to the wrong depot.
"It’s got a lot of sentimental value and I was gifting it to her," Sayers told the Daily Mail. "Tori works with a number of people who are dear to me it’s just one of those pay it forward things. She would be able to compete without it but I hope they get it to her in time for Sunday."
More than merely wondering if Peeters will be able to throw with the javelin, Sayers will be concerned whether she'll set sights on the spear again. The 40-year-old originally finished fourth in Beijing after recording a British record throw of 65.75 metres, but she was promoted to bronze after Russia's Mariya Abakumova tested positive for banned substances in 2016.
Sayers initially appealed over Twitter and posted: "Dear @parcelforce, I’m trying to get an urgent (javelin) parcel to someone competing at the Commonwealth Games. You’ve failed to deliver once (no idea why) and have now sent it to the wrong delivery depot. Help please? They need it today! It was picked up on Wednesday last week!
The delivery service replied directly to Sayers' tweet asking for details about the item to help them "look into" the matter. Mirror Sport has approached Parcel Force for comment.
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Peeters, 28, is attempting to make up for lost time on the big stage after missing out on New Zealand's team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was crowned winner of her event at the Oceanic Championship earlier in 2022 and is hoping to push the Kiwis up from third in the Birmingham medal table.
New Zealand sit third in the medal count at the start of Wednesday's action. They've earned 20 fewer overall medals than Canada below them in fourth, boasting the slightest of advantages in golds won.
Peeters set a new resident record when she threw 60.51 metres at the Capital Classic in February. Although Sayers' javelin isn't crucial to Peeters competing at the Commonwealth Games, she'd hoped that harpoon in particular would grant her good luck.
