Trending Now:

Latest Sport Videos

'Toxic culture' in Australian swim team: review

Yahoo!7 February 19, 2013, 10:52 am

The atmosphere inside the Australia swim team at the London Olympics has been described as 'culturally toxic' with incidents of prescription drug use and bullying prevalent.

It also found there were numerous incidents relating to alcohol use and breaking curfew.

The shocking findings were part of 'The Bluestone Review' into the leadership of Australian swimmers, which will be released today.

“Standards, discipline and accountabilities for the swim team at the London Olympics were too loose,” the report said.

“Situations were left to bleed with not enough follow through for fear of disrupting preparation for competition.

“Although few situations relating to London reported through this review were truly grave in nature, they compounded in significance as no one reigned in control.

“There were enough culturally toxic incidents across enough team members that breached agreements (such as getting drunk, misuse of prescription drugs, breaching curfews, deceit, bullying) to warrant a strong, collective leadership response that included coaches, staff and the swimmers. No such collective action was taken.”

Morale was apparently at an all-time low during the London Olympics with such an intense fopcus on winning gold medals.

Players struggled to compete for attention ahead of the 4x100m freestyle relay and James Magnussen as he bid to win the 100m freestyle.

“Poor behaviour and disrespect within the team were not regulated or resisted strongly by other team members, and it was left unchecked by or without consequence by staff and coaches on a number of occasions,” the report found.

“Some individual incidents of unkindness, peer intimidation, hazing and just ‘bad form’ as a team member that were escalated to personal coaches were not addressed and had no further consequence.

“It seems there was a lack of authority (including moral authority) within the group, which occasionally peaked in a mood where the boldest took centre stage.

“At its least attractive, the team dynamic became like a schoolyard clamour for attention and influence.”

FAST SPORT

AFL Teams - Pies lose Shaw, Dogs drop Cross

Te'o tweets - Lynn weighs in on assault allegations

Exclusive - Rob Whittaker opens up ahead of UFC 160

Socceroos squad - Osieck banks on veterans

Show:

26 Comments

Post your comment

1 0
My01:31pm Wednesday 20th February 2013 ESTReport Abuse
Ghost hunter is from an inces tious by product and the father of Dawns deformed kid. It all adds up to a family of losers and ask holes. U can lik my ask.
1 Reply
1 0
HA HA07:15pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 ESTReport Abuse
areel is a brain dead swine who lives under a rock
Reply
0 1
Areel05:58pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 ESTReport Abuse
Has anyone else noticed how our weather patterns are beginning to stabilize ? A lovely warm day here in Sydney today followed by some much needed rain tomorrow , Thursday and Friday. Our lawn will be greener and I will be as snug as a bug in a rug with my beautiful wife as we listen blissfully to the raindrops outside over the coming days and nights. Makes me so proud to be part of and an avid supporter of the carbon tax revolution. My thanks to you ms Gillard now and always. We look forward to AT LEAST another 8 years (more than likely 16 years) in office for you and your incredible team. Kindest regards Areel
Reply
0 2
Areel05:50pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 ESTReport Abuse
The only " toxic culture" I'm aware of is in the the Australian LIEabril Party. We have nothing to fear as Ms Gillard will crush Mr Abbott like an ant on September 14 , but who in their right mind would repeal the carbon tax ? Only a fool would serve to devastate our world and thankfully the majority of Australians know what a fool this man is. GO GO GO TEAM LABOR !!!! Kindest regards Areel
Reply
0 0
joyce k04:58pm Tuesday 19th February 2013 ESTReport Abuse
underpaid athlete wannabe syndrome
Reply