Paris Olympics: Australian swimming coach in trouble for talking up South Korean rival
- Michael Palfrey told media he hoped Kim Woo-min would win gold in the 400m freestyle ahead of Australia’s Sam Short and Elijah Winnington
Australian Olympic officials have admonished one of the team’s coaches for saying he hopes a South Korean swimmer he works with can beat his Australian rivals in the 400 metres freestyle when the meet starts on Saturday.
Michael Palfrey told South Korean media that he hoped Kim Woo-min would win gold in the event, in which Australia’s Sam Short and Elijah Winnington are also contenders.
Olympic swimming coaches are often freelancers who work with multiple nations’ swimmers. Palfrey had previously coached Kim, who is the 400m freestyle world champion.
“There will be three or four of them in the race that think they can win it,” the media reports quoted Palfrey as saying.
“I think it’s going to come down to that last 100 metres.
“We need Woo-min to lift, that’s what I’ll be saying to him. He’s got to race tough.
“I really hope he can win, but ultimately I really hope he swims well,” said Palfrey, who later said: “Go Korea.”
