Timaru's Olympic pursuit cyclist Marc Ryan has expressed sympathy for Natalie Rooney after her Olympics dream was crushed.

For 11 days the Studholme trap shooter thought she was going to compete in London after being advised on June 26 by the New Zealand Olympic Committee she was in the team.

Unfortunately for Rooney, 24, in a devastating turn of events on Friday she was dumped after Levin shooter Ryan Taylor successfully appealed against his exclusion from the team.

Ryan said it was disappointing to read about Rooney's plight.

"For Natalie to be told she was going, then taken away from her, makes me feel deeply for her, and her Olympic dream to represent New Zealand at the highest level.

"My thoughts are with her.

"For Natalie, you should never give up on your dreams or goals you set yourself as there will be other chances.

"I know it must be a big blow to miss selection this time but then again it also gives you that extra motivation to succeed in the future and prove them wrong."

Ryan said it would have been awesome to have three South Cantabrians at the Games, especially as the community and town offer so much support.

"Without the help of Timaru I couldn't, and wouldn't, have achieved what I have. Whenever I pull on the silver fern it's not only for New Zealand but also South Canterbury and I know this is something Natalie would have done also."

Ryan said sometimes selection policies could be crazy.

"For Ryan Taylor, I wish him all the best but sometimes you have to look to the future and, for myself, I believe it would have been a great experience for Natalie to be exposed to all the Olympic hype and the atmosphere that goes with it to set herself up for 2016.

"It is something I will be helping Shane (fellow South Canterbury cyclist Shane Archbold) with as much as possible as the Olympics is another level and will also be his first," Ryan said.

Timaru Clay Target Club president Allan Saunders said it was a tough call on Rooney.

"She had worked really hard for this. Natalie practised all the time and she went overseas for competition to improve herself.

"To have a dream taken away must hurt and we all feel sympathy for her."

Saunders said she was a determined woman and he was sure in time she would bounce back from the huge disappointment.

- © Fairfax NZ News