In June we reported how controversial Australian swim coach Brian King received a three-year suspension from coaching children, as well as a 6-month ban from coaching swimmers of any age. The punishment was a result of accusations of disturbing actions towards his swimmers, including throwing objects at the athletes, verbally abusing them, and making them get on all fours and barking like a dog, according to reports.
However, news from Perth Now indicates that King has been caught back on the pool deck with young swimmers at Banora Point’s Oasis Pools, as evidenced by photos obtained by ‘the Bulletin’. Witnesses say they had seen King coaching children under the age of 16 and Oasis Pools owner Andrew Hunter confirmed that King had been “working with” swimmers and “giving advice” and helping with coaching schedules in an unpaid status.
Hunter called King a “coaching consultant” and had been working with children until Swimming Australia contacted Hunter about King’s suspension last month. However, since Oasis is not considered a high-performance center, Swimming Australia has no jurisdiction to enforce its ban.
Says Hunter, “He’s giving us advice and working with our coaches and [people learning to swim]. He has a lot of talent in being able to assess people … he would be an asset if he was allowed to stay coaching.”
However, not everyone is happy to hear that the coach is indeed back at it, albeit in a more limited role. “It’s a slap in the face when our kids have gone through all of this, we’ve gone through all of this. People are just choosing to turn a blind eye to it,” said a swimming parent who wished to remain nameless.
King’s appeal hearing is scheduled for October 12th.
USAS enacted legislation in 2013 that makes it a violation of the Code of Conduct is any USAS member (club, individual, etc) works with a banned or suspended coach I any area of swimming. Swim Aussie needs to do the same or their suspensions are nothing more than a paper tiger
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SA & ACSTA undoubtedly consulted defamation lawyers who crafted their response .
Attempts by ppl & entities to deprive a person of their right to earn a living can be judged in a court of law under defamation acts which are quite strong here .
( A comment here & there on an Internet forum won’t suffice ) .
Jurisdictional excuses are just not acceptable. Most of the parents probably have no idea what this guy is capable of. The children need to be protected.
In the same article, Andrew Hunter is also quoted as saying “he asked Swimming Australia if the sanction was for anything sexual or physical and he was satisfied it being of a verbal nature”. I am speechless. How can anyone involved with children be satisfied this is acceptable? This is why Swimming Australia conducted its own investigation and made a very strong statement with a 3 year ban from coaching children. Clearly, this type of verbal abuse, intimidation and humiliation of children is never acceptable. Shame on you Andrew Hunter for condoning this behaviour.
Oasis pool Banora Point is in northern New South Wales (30 seconds drive from Queensland border), not Perth. My grandson swims there, but not for long. Kingcliff pool looks like a SAFER option
Very poor ………this should never have been allowed ….SAL , ASCTA , DOCS………
Similar to the Cecil Russell case in Canada. It’s amazing that parents want their kids near people like this.
BK can run (over the border to NSW), but he can’t hide!
Yes RICH it is similar. Brian King has done his research on how to give “the forks” to Swim Aust. Time will tell on how much longer he’s successful at playing dodge-ball, but my guess is he’s not as clever as Cecil Russell.