Olympic gold medallist rips Hockey Canada for paying her $4K for post-concussion medical expenses

Olympic gold medallist Katie Weatherston says it was "unjust" of Hockey Canada to tell her it only had $4,000 available to cover medical expenses for an ongoing traumatic brain injury she sustained while playing for Team Canada. 

She's now speaking out publicly and questioning Hockey Canada's priorities in light of recent reports that the organization has paid out millions of dollars in settlements for sexual abuse allegations.

"It was a slap in the face back then, when I was told they only have $4,000 to give me," Weatherston told CBC News.

"And now it's absolutely shocking what's come out and that they had no money for me, but they have money for this … It's not fair. I don't want to see it happen to other young female athletes."

Hockey Canada has come under intense public scrutiny in recent weeks over its use of its National Equity Fund — made up in part of players' registration fees — to settle a $3.5 million lawsuit. A woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by eight hockey players in 2018, including members of the men's World Junior team.

Hockey Canada later told a parliamentary committee that it has withdrawn another $7.6 million to pay out nine complainants with sexual abuse claims since 1989.

The organization has since defended the National Equity Fund, arguing that it is used "to support anyone who might have been injured or harmed where insurance policies were insufficient."

Weatherston said she doesn't understand why this fund isn't being used to pay for her treatment.

In a media statement, Hockey Canada told CBC News that the "safety of our athletes" is its "highest priority" and that the organization has different insurance policies or self-insured funds "that may be available" to players injured at Team Canada sanctioned events. 

The organization said it also has a Health Benefit Trust that covers some otherwise uninsured medical and dental expenses up to a maximum of $5,000.

Weatherston said that isn't enough.

"The medical care I need is about $30,000 to $40,000 a year," she said. "I can't afford to pay that much toward my medical bills, so I'm not getting the care I need."

Weatherston said that for the past 16 years, she's struggled with daily headaches, chronic exhaustion and the sensation of her ears popping, like she's on an airplane with a cold.

She said she's paying roughly $15,000 a year out of pocket on medical care, including physiotherapy and chiropractor appointments. Weatherston said she has also resorted to doing her own acupuncture, cupping and massages to cut costs.