With the start of pool swimming just two days from now, there has been a lawsuit filed against Shane Tusup, the coach and husband of Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu. Tusup began coaching Hosszu in 2012.
The lawsuit centers around an incident that occurred this April at the Hungarian Spring Nationals (also their Worlds Trials meet) in Debrecen, Hungary. Hungarian media outlets reported in April that Tusup got into an altercation with former employee Darren Ward. According to international news agency AFP, Tusup “allegedly pushed and threatened” Ward on the pool deck in Debrecen, and the unresolved incident is the reasoning behind the lawsuit now.
AFP writes that they viewed a statement from Ward where he said he filed a lawsuit against Tusup and Iron Corporation for a “public violation of my personality rights,” while he has also taken steps to “establish the unlawful termination of the employment relationship and to request compensation for damages.”
Ward, who is Scottish, came to Hungary in 2016 to coach for Iron Aquatics, the club team run by Hosszu and Tusup, though he left after the April incident.
“It had been my wish to settle the case amicably with Shane Tusup and Iron Corporation, regrettably they have not responded to my lawyers enquiries to discuss the matter at hand,” said Ward. “With respect to this, I have no option but to commence a lawsuit,” he said.
Iron Corporation spokesperson Fanni Tóth spoke with AFP, confirming that the lawyers from both parties have been in contact. “We asked them to postpone the whole conversation until after the world championships,” she said. SwimSwam is still waiting on further comment from Tóth regarding Tusup’s involvement in coaching Hosszu this upcoming week.
Every single person (swimmer and coach) has been witness to the way in which Shane acts. If Katinka doesn’t perform in a matter that suits him he berates her, cusses her out. Throws things and totally loses control. Ask any swimmer who attends the World Cup with them. To
Think Shane wouldn’t treat anyone else this way is wishful thinking at best. While shane may be a good coach. He is not a good man and it is absolutely in coach Darren’s right to take legal action.
Came to Hungary for a job, got fired and now files a law-suit? Is this a joke?
In Hungary verbal threatening (if it’s not an enforcement, and in this case it’s not) is not taken that serious like for eg in the UK. On the other hand, the employees’ rights are much more secured, even with a formal mistake in his dismissal he can earn up to 12 months of his average income.
Anyway, congrats for the timing. Mr. nobody has now headlines…
I don’t find anything on AFP.
Me neither. But you can be sure that it is the headline of swimvortex…
Of course Riez, Lord hates Hosszu, is an obsession.
True, he isn’t the most dedicated fan of them. I read that article early in the morning.
This is shocking because he alwaysbstruck me as a man of self control
Watching his reactions on the pool deck was actually the only reason I planned to watch the World Championships at all next week.
Sigh. Guess I’ll settle for watching more of those Diamond League Track & Field championships tapings instead.
I have heard some disturbing stories about him, especially in regards to Katinka.
I heard it was someone sitting on their bed who weighs 400 pounds.
Governor Christie?
He has lost a lot – at least 100lbs & looks like most other Americans now . Plus he’s a keen beachgoer now , down there when no one else is . Commitment !
Let’s wait until 2 days before the WC to serve notice. ?
Why should he have to wait until “their” big meet is over? They could have handled this quietly by responding ahead of the Worlds Championships.
maybe the plaintiff filed it so that he knew it would conflict with world championships for added exposure. hard to say by the wording of the article if what you proposed was an option for Shane et company
try reading the article before commenting… he threatened to kill him alegedly