Banned Australian swim coach Brian King appealed his suspension with Swimming Australia, but his appeal was denied this week.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reports that King’s appeal was thrown out and his 6-month ban upheld by Australia’s swimming federation. King will still be unable to coach children for three years.
The King story has been a long and winding one, with accusations of verbal abuse of young swimmers along with resume falsification and other allegations of misconduct.
We covered much of the controversy surrounding King in an in-depth piece last May, which you can read here. King was accused of verbally abusing his age group swimmers, saddling them with unwieldy punishments like 1000-meter butterfly sets, throwing kickboards and water bottles at athletes and even forcing one boy to crawl out of the pool and bark like a dog.
There were also allegations that King falsified much of his resume in applying for a job at the Miami Swimming Club (more on that story here), and various club officials claimed King was hired on at Miami via underhanded tactics that didn’t allow the board to review King’s qualifications (more on that accusation in our May piece from above).
Over the summer, King was banned from coaching by Swimming Australia for 6 months,and was banned from coaching children under the age of 16 for 3 years.
That punishment will stand after King’s appeal was dismissed. The Gold Coast Bulletin reported in September that King had begun coaching children again, though, but in a facility that did not fall under Swimming Australia’s jurisdiction. It’s unclear if King is still coaching at that Banora Point facility.
I am very confused….King was able to appeal because his qualifications and experience is real, that right? An appeal would not be entertained if any part of his background was proven to be false surely? So did King produce evidence he holds a degree in Sports Science and a Masters in Biomechanics? Did he produce evidence he was coach for the NSW Institute of Sport Triathlon Team in 1996 and Assistant Coach to the Australian Junior Olympic Swimming Team in 1998? How about evidence he was coach for the Australian Paralympic Swimming Team during 1997-1999? That Queen of England Honour Sports Award for ‘Dedication to Swimming, 2000’ presented by then Prime Minister John Howard, the real-deal or not? I can… Read more »
IF the allegations are true (emphasis on “if”), it appears BK has gotten away with faking his credentials and experience for years. There is a saying that faking academic qualifications and experience is like carrying around a ticking timebomb with no idea when it could go off. A person cannot get away with it forever and eventually the deception and fraud will explode in their face – taking their riches and reputation with it. On the other hand NO deception = NO worries and three year’s time he can resume his professional career. Time will tell.
If this man is continuing to coach at the Oasis facility surely the Board of Dirctors of Swimming Australia have the overriding authority to advise the parents of Mr King’s suspension.
If the parents are then foolish enough to have this man near their children and things “go to custard” then the parents and the management of the Oasis facility should also be charged with endangering their child.
Further – in regards to the resume – this is fraud – any person who wants their child coached by someone that bullies, intimidates and then fabricates his resume should have their parenting payments stopped!
Win at all cost – great message we are sending to children!!
I believe that Management has stepped in and Brian King is no longer coaching at the Banora Point facility.
That’s good news. Let’s hope there are no other SAL loop holes for Mr King to exploit!