Australia swim coach who supported a South Korean athlete at the Paris Olympics is fired
SYDNEY (AP) - Swimming Australia has fired coach Michael Palfrey over comments made at the Paris Olympics where he said he hoped a South Korean athlete would beat Australian swimmers.
Palfrey told South Korean television he hoped South Korea's Kim Woo-min would win the men's 400-meter freestyle in Paris, an event that featured Australians Sam Short and Elijah Winnington.
"I really hope he can win, but ultimately I really hope he swims well," Palfrey said in Paris during the Games. He added, "Go Korea."
Swimming Australia said in a statement Friday that it had terminated Palfrey "due to a breach of his employment agreement."