Swimming Australia sack Olympic coach after ‘Go Korea’ comment at Paris 2024

In the tight-knit sport of swimming, the utterance of “Go Korea” from within the Australian camp is now a sackable offence.

The position of Michael Palfrey as a Swimming Australia coach was terminated on Friday following his comment in support of a South Korean swimmer before the Paris Olympics that was dubbed “un-Australian” by his boss.

Palfrey – who worked with 400m freestyle medal contender Kim Woo-min in the lead-up to Paris 2024, in addition to his work with the Dolphins – told Korean television that he was backing Kim in the lead-up to the Games, even though Australians Sam Short and Elijah Winnington were also in the event.

Ultimately, Winnington won silver in the final in Paris ahead of Kim in third with Short in fourth. The trio finished behind German gold medallist Lukas Märtens. But the ultimate loser from the saga is now Palfrey.

“Swimming Australia has terminated Michael Palfrey’s employment due to a breach of his employment agreement,” read a statement from the sport’s governing body issued on Friday.

“Palfrey was found to have breached his employment contract by bringing himself into disrepute and causing serious damage to his and Swimming Australia’s reputation, and adversely affecting Swimming Australia’s interests.”

Palfrey had been employed by the national body and travelled with the team to international meets, but worked day-to-day in the nationally-funded high-performance hub at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

On Friday morning, his profile remained on the university’s website with the title USC Spartans head coach, Olympic.

Swimming Australia said the organisation was already working on finding a successor to Palfrey, but the coach is to retain his accreditation status.

“Swimming Australia will be making no further comment,” the statement read.

Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor and Australian Olympic team chef de mission Anna Meares were critical of Palfrey when the comments emerged at the start of the Games.

“It’s just un-Australian, to be honest,” Taylor said. Meares added Palfrey’s words were a “serious error of judgment”.

But the administration was reluctant to immediately sack Palfrey given the risk of instability within the Australian swimming camp. Taylor flagged the veteran coach – who started coaching the Dolphins in 2010 – would be “dealt with” after the Games.

Swimming Australia confirmed on Friday Palfrey’s termination is effective immediately.

Taylor also said in Paris that Swimming Australia would phase out the practice of locally employed coaches working with international competitors.

“We are a leading nation and we do have a lot of really strong IP in coaching and resources and we are investing in that and we want to protect it,” he said.