The South Korean Swimming Federation has expressed regret over coach Michael Palfrey’s dismissal from the Australian swimming team. Still, it has announced that it will not be hiring foreign coaches.
The federation criticized the distorted media reports in Australia that contributed to Palfrey’s firing and expressed its disappointment over the situation. It stated, “We deeply regret the harm Palfrey has suffered,” while making it clear that it has no intentions of recruiting foreign coaches for the national team.
This decision seems to be a strategic move to maintain fairness in the upcoming announcement of the new national team coach, scheduled for October. The Korean Swimming Federation emphasized, “The recruitment of the national team coach will follow the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee regulations and focus on the development of the current team.”
Earlier this year, Palfrey led Korean athletes during a training camp organized by the Korean Swimming Federation in Australia, significantly influencing swimmer Kim Woo Min. Under Palfrey’s rigorous training, Kim contributed to his success by winning a bronze medal in the men’s 400m freestyle at the Paris Olympics, a category keenly contested by Australian swimmers. The Australian media viewed Palfrey’s support for Kim’s success as a betrayal.
Ultimately, the Australian Swimming Federation terminated Palfrey, accusing him of breaching his contract and damaging the reputation of Australian swimming. Although he was not expelled from the Olympic venue, he was dismissed from the Australian national team post-Olympics. Despite this, Palfrey retains his coaching credentials.
As Coach Lee Jung Hoon’s contract expires, there is speculation about whether Palfrey might join the new national coaching staff. The Korean Swimming Federation has addressed these rumors, stressing that such speculation could negatively impact foreign coaches and reaffirming their commitment to a fair recruitment process.
This situation has sparked significant attention within the Korean swimming community, highlighting the need to discuss future development directions. The relationship between Kim Woo Min, who achieved success under PPalfrey’scoaching, and the coach will likely continue to attract interest. The Korean Swimming Federation reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing fairness in the upcoming coaching recruitment process, generating optimism for the future of Korean swimming.
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