As a follow-up to a story originally reported back in March of this year, the results of an independent inquiry into allegations of bullying and an overall ‘culture of fear’ cultivated by the coaching staff of British Para Swimming have now been released.
Revealed by British Swimming this week, the investigation found an ‘unnamed senior coach’ had used ‘abusive and derogatory’ language towards athletes’, including minors. British Paralympic Association (BPA) CEO Tim Hollingsworth stated that the investigation had revealed an ‘unacceptable’ environment. (The Guardian)
In a statement published in The Guardian, Chairman of British Swimming, Maurice Watkins, said, “On behalf of British Swimming I want to apologise to the British Para-Swimming athletes and their families who have faced unacceptable behaviours and comments. I have written to those athletes and their families I understand have been affected by this.
“In the pursuit of excellence, we recognise there have been failings in the culture and communication within British Para-Swimming. We are correcting that, recognising the need to ensure strong athlete welfare in our sport. British Swimming has in place a robust action plan, which follows a lengthy and detailed inquiry designed to make sure transparent procedures are followed and adhered to. These procedures are being widely communicated. We want to ensure a closer working relationship with the British Athletes Commission. Our goal continues to be medal-producing performances, consistent with medal targets, in a positive culture.”
Former Head Coach of British Para Swimming, Rob Greenwood, had already left his post, but his 2016 High Performance Coach of the Year award may now reportedly be retracted.
Upon hearing the findings, a British Paralympian, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC Sport, “It’s good that it has now been recognised, but it also feels as if nothing has really happened. I don’t have much confidence things will really change.
She describes how para athletes were “screamed at” and “verbally abused and bullied” and “swimmers broken-hearted, crying their eyes out, and completely destroyed as a result of what had been said to them.
“These members of staff would talk down to the swimmers, make us feel pathetic and useless. We were traumatised and belittled. It began a year before Rio and carried on constantly,” she said.
“I didn’t suffer as much as some of the others. We won plenty of medals, but they took it too far. If we’d had less pressure and stress and targets, we’d have been happier and won even more.”
Right folks if you ask to see any of the evidence then please do not send me e mails from fake accounts!!!
I am big and ugly enough to standby my posts and say it to anyone’s face.
So if your not prepared to do the same and disclose who you are then don’t expect to see the evidence
Interesting article written by Dan Roan “15/Oct”. “banned swimmers from leaving hotels “as punishment”. It’s my understanding that this was a five-star hotel. Doesn’t feel like we’re quite getting the balance to these stories?
Para-swimming: New details emerge from confidential report into ‘climate of fear’ – BBC Sport
http://m.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/41629365
Greenwood was headed to Edmonton’s Keyano Swim Club.
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/edmonton/rob-greenwood-swim-coach-edmonton-investigation-1.4354361
his references were immaculate? he could not have been very honest.. amazing and lucky escape for edmonton club
I’m sure he would have been provided with references from Furber, British Swimming & ParalympicsGB. The +ve is that he is now available to attend the Paraliamentary Committee Review on 31st Oct.
This is about the poor athletes involved and the emotional abuse they went through this has nothing to do with classification and actually shouldn’t be brought up, the athletes suffered under Rob greenwood and Chris Fuber and what is more worrying is that Chris Fuber is still in a role with lots of young athletes how the British can keep him is beggars belief if the man had any ounce of respect for the athletes he would walk !!! Maybe a whole new staff structure and let British para swimming rebuild !!! And a new British swimming board !!
I agree that it’s very concerning that Furber has remained. However, I disagree that classification cheating shouldn’t be brought up. This is a serious form of abuse that also has widespread and long term implications on the mental health of all of the athletes involved, directly or indirectly. The culture of British Swimming needs to be closely scrutinised in its entirety. That Furber remains in his post suggests to me that they aren’t really taking anything seriously at all and you have every reason to be worried. Rob Greenwood left and Chris Furber faced internal disciplinary action. That should not be the end. It should be the beginning of a full review into the culture of British Para Swimming.
where is rod greenwood now? did he leave for another job? he has not commented or denied any of it all
What’s he betting he will pop up in another coaching job , just different job , and this will prob all forgot about in a few months time , or so they hope ,
they should of all lost the jobs it is disgusting how they have managed to carrry on , especially when they knew it was going on ,
the swimmers had no one to speak to tells you all really ,
and this is not just the coaches at the top this is happening down the line starting from the first run of the ladder once you are on the talent programme comments are said that are not nice , yet we are scared… Read more »
No clue P-DIDDY but some very unsavoury details are emerging via BBC regarding a previous employment with UK police. I understand the man was a 2000 Olympian (Swimming) and prior to the British Swimming Para Head Coach position spent 5 years at the Stirling University program in a high performance role (Ross Murdoch is one swimmer that springs to mind). If the UK police story can be proven then the question that needs to be asked is how the heck did he end up in a position working with children, disabled ones at that. Surely police checks form part of the recruitment process.
See the discussion above is worse than the dog show . The whole idea of putting ppl into 14 different categories ( plus open) is ridiculous . Why not let tham compete in Show , Obediance , Retrieving or Obstacle course like the dogs . I figure the open would be the racing ( speed) . They put whippets in under 5 & over 5 years old .for example like our Masters .
Anyhow carry on .
Crofts Dog show has been slipping too . The recent German Shepherd winners have been cruelly distorted as have many other breeds .
I know that the British have always disliked people but they used to love their dogs. What is left?
It is appalling that Chris Furber has kept his job, he certainly needs to go – he is employed as Performance Director for goodness sake. Incredible that they thought they could keep the names of those involved underwap. The positives here are that the swimmers had somewhere to go (BAC British Athletics Commission) to voice their complaints and that it was immediately and independently investigated. I’m interested to know how similar complaints would be dealt with in USA & Australia. Where do their athletes go to raise concerns?
I also hope that this is the start of a mass clean up of Para Swimming. Stephanie Millward and her electric wheelchair during the Paralympic Games 2016, pfffftt! She certainly didn’t… Read more »
Spot on , I for one think theses people should be sacked and not aloud to work within coaching again some ignorant the people bullied are young ones ,
Come on Ipc sort out this stuff before it gets more out of hand it an absolute joke we all know you know what is going on even contributed to the cheating and Turing a blind eye ,
Well Pete and mike ( Ipc) time is ticking away , you lied to me and I’m not letting this go …….
Craig Nicholson is another spineless member of the GB set up, and he is fully aware of the cheating in GB swimming. I watched this man facilitate a young swimmers IM whilst he sat and drank his drink.