Swimming Australia CEO Mark Anderson says that the sanctions applied to Olympic swimmers Josh Palmer and Emma McKeon, who have been barred from participating in the closing ceremonies were meant to “reinforce” the “paramount importance” of athletes’ “safety health and well-being,” he said in a statement released on Thursday afternoon.
The Australian Olympic Committee barred the two from participating in the closing ceremonies that take place on Sunday, August 21st, as a result of a violation of the organization’s curfew laws. The two were robbed late at night on Tuesday, August 16th in Copacabana, with Palmer being forced to withdraw $1000 from an ATM, The AOC Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller called the behavior “unacceptable.”
Swimming Australia said today it supports the decision by the Australian Olympic Committee to sanction two swimmers; Joshua Palmer and Emma McKeon. The Australian Olympic Committee also placed a curfew upon the pair that they must be in the the Olympic Village every day between 8PM and 8AM, and that they could only travel to sporting events in official Rio 2016 transport.
Palmer competed for Australia in the men’s 100m breaststroke, where he finished 30th after heats in a time of 1:01.13. McKeon was one of Australia’s most successful aquatic Olympians, having claimed a bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle, silvers across the women’s 4×200 and freestyle and 4×100 medley relays, as well as earning gold on the World Record-breaking 4x100m freestyle relay.
Australian head coach Jaccob Verhaeren emphasized that the two acted “professionally” throughout the competition, and says that its not an issue of “poor behavior,” rather emphasizing the safety of the athletes. McKeon stayed with two female friends in the area rather than returning to the village by herself after being separated from team members at a night club. The sanction, according to Swimming Australia, was specifically a result of her failing to inform team management of the situation.
The full statement from Swimming Australia is below.
Swimming Australia CEO, Mark Anderson stated that “our athletes safety, health and well-being is of paramount importance and the sanctions applied reinforces this position for the two involved athletes and the team.”
“Over the course of the Olympic Games the Australian swim team has represented Australia and the team well and have been very mindful of their responsibilities as Australian Olympic Team members,” Anderson said.
“The values of the Olympic Team and the Australian Swim team are our foundation. We hold each other accountable for these values. These are two isolated incidents that do not reflect on the whole team.”
Following a night out both Palmer and McKeon failed to return to the Olympic Village or inform team management of their whereabouts.
McKeon was separated from team members at a nightclub in Copacabana and as per the AOC safety protocol of not travelling alone she opted to stay with two female friends in this area rather than travelling back to the Village by herself. It was her failure to advise team management of this situation that has resulted in this sanction.
Australian Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren said: “In both instances these are not issues of poor behaviour by either individual. The matters related to the safety of both swimmers and that is my and the team’s priority,” Verhaeren said.
“Both athletes conducted themselves well and professionally throughout the competition.”
McKeon made the decision to stay with two international female swimmers that she has previously trained with rather than travel back alone, but notes that she failed to alert team management of this decision, which is a breach of the protocol.
Palmer was also separated from teammates and continued to drink alone, compromising his safety and breaching the AOC safety protocol and placing himself at risk.
Neither of the swimmers disturbed any competing athletes, it was primarily their safety and security that have caused these sanctions.
“The Australian Swim Team and Swimming Australia are fully committed to upholding the AOC values. We were involved in and support the decisions that have been made to ensure all of our team members remain safe for the remainder of the Games and we support the AOC in these endeavours,” Anderson said.
No, it’s not pathetic. They have significant liability to provide for the safety of these athletes. They create rules to help keep them safe. When the athletes violate those rules (that come as part of the package of representing your country and having much of your hefty tab paid by your country), then there are repercussions. The rules are not odious. This ain’t rocket science people.
Whilst a harsh call on McKeon (but fair enough with Palmer); the protocols were there for a reason. AUS Olympic team personnel WERE robbed in public in the lead-up to the Games …FACT.
As for diverting attention away from their own failings; get real !! The post mortems for the AOC, Aus Swimming and a number of other sports will be not only brutal but painful as public funding will be slashed, indeed canned in many cases. Heads are likely to roll in AUS Swimming hierarchy; a goodly number of coaches have significant questions to answer. As for the swimmers; lets see who retires; who is “encouraged to retire”, who takes time out as well as who carries on.
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I sincerely hope that you are right.
They really shouldn’t sanction Josh Palmer. What self-respecting guy WOULDN’T break curfew with Emma Mckeon?
He wasn’t with Palmer. They were two separate cases. He wondered off alone past curfew whilst she stayed with two friends from other international teams. She’s now going to miss the closing ceremony which she was looking forward to.
So, we’re grounding adults now? I think they should make her eat a 2nd helping of spinach, too!
“Kitty Chiller” Really? Isn’t that some evil villain’s maul from a 007 story?
Wow. No messing with the Australian Olympic Committee. But, I understand their rationale. Safety above all else. I will be so glad when these Olympics are over and done. I feel like we are living in a soap opera and canNOT escape.