Australian swimming coach Rohan Taylor has apologized after publicly supporting South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min, who is set to compete for a different country at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Taylor described Palfrey's comments as "un-Australian" and suggested that he could be forced to return to Australia before Olympic swimming competition gets underway this weekend.
Australian swimming coach Rohan Taylor has apologized after publicly supporting South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min, who is set to compete for a different country at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Taylor described Michael Palfrey's comments as "un-Australian" and suggested that he could be forced to return to Australia before Olympic swimming competition gets underway this weekend.
Australian Swimming Coach Apologizes for Supporting Rival Swimmer
"Very disappointed. Extremely disappointed," Taylor said. "For a coach on our team to promote another athlete ahead of our athletes is not acceptable."
Palfrey is part of the Australian staff at the Olympics, overseeing the preparations for three swimmers and working with a fourth athlete as well. But he previously coached Kim, who is the South Korean men’s 400-meter freestyle world champion.
Australian Swimming Coach Apologizes for Supporting Rival Swimmer
In an interview with South Korean television, Palfrey said he was pulling for Kim to claim gold in that event on the opening day of the swimming competition.
"I really hope he can win, but ultimately I really hope he swims well," Palfrey said. He added, "Go Korea."
Australian Swimming Coach Apologizes for Supporting Rival Swimmer
Taylor said Palfrey later apologized for what was characterized as a lapse in judgment. But, Taylor added that he would hold a meeting with the Australian athletes to discuss whether the coach should continue on with the team in Paris.
"For me, my priority is the performance of the team, the performance of the athletes," Taylor said. "I need to look at the performance of the team and make a judgment call on that."
Australia has two of the leading gold-medal contenders in the 400 freestyle: 2023 world champion Sam Short and 2022 world champion Elijah Winnington.
It's not unusual for coaches to work with athletes from other countries. One of the top American coaches, Bob Bowman, leads a training group that includes French star Léon Marchand.
However, considering the Olympics were looming, Taylor said, it was totally unacceptable for a coach on the Australian staff to express support for another country's swimmer.
"We confronted him with those details," Taylor said. "He owns that and was taken to task for it. He's very remorseful and we're now dealing with it."
Australian swimmer Bronte Campbell, competing in her fourth Olympics, said the controversy has "barely caused a ripple" within the powerhouse team.
"When you come into an Olympic Games, it’s all about protecting your energy. It's a big, long, emotional competition," she said. "Everyone knows what they have to do. We always talk about focusing on performance first. The way you do that is focusing on the things you can control that are right in front of you."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
