What's happened
Michael Palfrey, an Australian swimming coach, has been dismissed after expressing support for South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. His comments, deemed 'un-Australian' by officials, led to a breach of contract and significant backlash from the Australian swimming community.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, Palfrey's comments were labeled 'un-Australian' by Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor, who stated, 'It’s just un-Australian, to be honest.' The South China Morning Post noted that Palfrey's remarks triggered a media storm, emphasizing the seriousness of his error in judgment. The Independent reported that Palfrey had previously been warned about his associations with rival athletes, indicating a lack of adherence to professional guidelines. This consensus across sources illustrates the gravity of the situation and the potential ramifications for coaching practices in Australia.
How we got here
Palfrey's comments came just before the Paris Olympics, where he publicly backed Kim Woo-min in the men's 400m freestyle, a race featuring Australian swimmers. This sparked outrage among Australian officials and media, leading to his termination.
More on these topics
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The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions.
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South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.