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Swimming coaches commit to improve culture

Steve LarkinAAP
Head coach Rohan Taylor says his colleagues are committed to improving Australia's swimming culture.
Camera IconHead coach Rohan Taylor says his colleagues are committed to improving Australia's swimming culture. Credit: AAP

Coaches are committed to improving Australia's swimming culture amid a sexism controversy, head coach Rohan Taylor says.

A furore triggered by swimmer Maddie Groves, who claimed there are "misogynistic perverts in sport", hung over Australia's Olympic selection trials which ended on Thursday night.

Taylor, Swimming Australia's head coach, said he's confident in the current culture in the sport.

"I work with the athlete leaders ... we meet fortnightly and we work hard on ensuring that the environment is set up to support these athletes and the coaches and the staff," Taylor said.

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"So I am confident working with them that we're doing that and we will continue to do that.

"And I think Swimming Australia is taking any allegations seriously and working to put together a panel, but also just to continue to improve.

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"It's all about us improving our environments, whether it be the team environment or your home environment.

"So to me, it's what we're doing and will continue to do."

Taylor said the culture controversy wasn't a distraction for coaches during the selection trials in Adelaide.

"None that I saw, no. They are pretty focused, just like the athletes," he said of his coaching cohorts.

Groves, a dual silver medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, withdrew from the trials.

She announced her withdrawal on Instagram on Wednesday last week, then went further on Twitter the next day.

"Let this be a lesson to all misogynistic perverts in sport and their boot lickers," she wrote.

"You can no longer exploit young women and girls, body shame or medically gaslight them and then expect them to represent you so you can earn your annual bonus.

"Time's UP."

Groves' comments sparked widespread controversy including claims some swimmers had been fat-shamed and mistreated by coaches.

Groves initially refused to return Swimming Australia calls and emails but has since, through an intermediary, offered to meet with governing body's president, Kieren Perkins, and chief executive officer, Alex Baumann.

The sport's hierarchy have pledged to investigate any claims of mistreatment and urged swimmers to come forward with any complaints.

The organisation will also form an independent all-female panel to investigate the claims.

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