Double Olympic silver medallist Madeline Groves has pulled out of Australia’s swimming trials for the Tokyo Games, citing “misogynistic perverts in sport”.
Groves, who gained silver within the 200 metres butterfly and 4×100 medley on the 2016 Rio Games, introduced her choice on Instagram earlier than following up with a livid tirade on Twitter on Thursday.
“Let this be a lesson to all misogynistic perverts in sport and their boot lickers — 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,” she tweeted. Â
In December, Groves wrote on social media that she had made a criticism a couple of years in the past a couple of man in swimming who stared at her in her swimsuit and made her really feel uncomfortable.
“I think he went through some personal development first hopefully to teach him to not stare at young women in their toga (swimsuit), THEN he got promoted,” she wrote on Twitter.
She additionally wrote {that a} “well known coach” had made a “creepy comment” to her and apologised quarter-hour later, “possibly because the team psych told him to”.
Governing physique Swimming Australia mentioned that they had reached out to Groves following her feedback in December.
“Swimming Australia reached out to Maddie in December 2020 to enquire about a tweet sent by her that referenced potential abuse by someone connected with swimming,” SA mentioned in a press release.
“Maddie declined to supply additional info nor do now we have any earlier complaints on report from Maddie.
“All allegations regarding little one abuse or sexual misconduct are taken significantly by Swimming Australia.
“We consider the welfare, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as paramount, and we have a duty to make inquiries to uphold the standards of our sport.”
Australia’s Olympic trials begin in Adelaide on Saturday.Â
