Australian swimming coach Michael Palfrey has been labelled “un-Australian” after telling South Korean media that he had cheered for a South Korean swimmer in Paris.
The storm erupted on Thursday after Palfrey, one of eight Dolphins coaches, said he wanted 22-year-old South Korean star Kim Woo-min to win gold in the 400-meter freestyle, despite Australians Sam Short and Elijah Winnington both being entered in the race.
The comments were roundly criticised by Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) brass, with both mission chief Anna Meares and Dolphins coach Rohan Taylor admitting Palfrey could still be sent home, despite saying they were “deeply sorry” for his comments.
“With regards to Michael Palfrey and his comments in support of Korean athlete Kim Woo-min, this is a conflict and a serious error in judgment,” Meares said at a news conference on Thursday.
“Any decision we make two days into the Dolphins' campaign must involve the athletes.
“Like many people, it was a surprise and a shock. My first thoughts were with the athletes and their well-being.”
This comes after an AOC spokesperson called the comments “deeply troubling.”
It is said that a series of late-night meetings were needed to decide whether Palfrey would be sent home, but Taylor admitted the decision was still up in the air.
“Either go home or stay, those are the options,” Taylor said.
“And what is the impact on the team's performance.
“If he comes home, we have to find other coaches to take care of the athletes and our coaches are really under pressure. But is this in the best interest of the athletes?
“This is a consideration.
“If he stays, then it will be about team dynamics and making sure that the (other) coaches are happy and can support him and that the athletes themselves can do their activities without being distracted.
“He made a mistake and I told him I didn't appreciate it… that was an un-Australian comment.
“Does this mean he is not worthy of taking care of the three athletes he has trained for the last three years up to this point, who are counting on him to prepare for the performance?
“This is what I have to evaluate.”
Taylor added that he was “extremely disappointed,” saying, “It is not acceptable for a coach on our team to promote another athlete ahead of our athletes.”
Meares also said he “has no intention of meddling with Swimming Australia” and would support “whatever decision is made”.
Palfrey is the head coach of the USC Spartans on the Sunshine Coast and will coach Zac Incerti, Abbey Connor and Alex Perkins at the Paris Games.
In the past, however, South Korean swimmers Kim, Hwang Sun-woo, Lee Ho-joon, Lee Yoo-yeon and Yang Jae-hoon have visited Queensland to train with Palfrey.
However, in March, Australia's governing body issued a clear directive for coaching staff to sever ties with international athletes ahead of last month's Olympic selection process to avoid conflicts of interest.
Palfrey's comments made headlines for all the wrong reasons after he spoke to South Korean media by the poolside after Australian training on Tuesday, wearing an Australian jersey.
“I always want to see new horizons broken. I want to see world records broken,” Palfrey said.
“With Woo-min, what I see him do in the training pool, not many swimmers can do that. I'm excited to work with an athlete and say, 'Wow, this guy is something special.' We just have to give him enough time to continue to improve.
“I want him to walk out of the pool and know that he did his best time and gave it 100 percent. We want to see him swim his best time. If he swims his best time, he'll be among them. He'll be among the top swimmers in the race.
“I think Woo-Min can definitely be in the medals, but the difficult thing for him is that those guys (Australians) have already done fast times. He has to find another level. Hopefully in this meet he can go faster.”
Palfrey also believed the race would be close.
“There will be three or four of them in the race who think they can win,” he said.
“I think it's going to come down to that last 100 meters. We need Woo-min to lift, that's what I'll tell him. He's got to run hard.”
He is said to have concluded the interview by saying, “Go Korea.”
Short enters the Olympics having won the 400-meter race at the 2023 world championships, while Winnington finished second at the 2024 world championships behind Kim Woo-min.
The final will be the first medal-winning swimming event at the Paris Olympics and, while Palfrey may be rooting for Kim Woo-min, Australia will be firmly behind Short and Winnington.
Heats for the 400m freestyle race will begin on Saturday, before the final takes place at 4.42am (AEST) on Sunday morning.
Both Winnington and Short will return to the pool on Monday night to compete in the 800-meter freestyle race.
The final of that event is scheduled for Wednesday morning starting at 5.03am (AEST).
