SWIM COACH BREAKS SILENCE TO DENY THE CLAIMS OF BULLYING
THE coach accused of subjecting members of the British para-swimming team to a ‘climate of fear’ has broken his silence, denying the allegations of bullying and discrimination against him as he continues to consider legal action.
In their bombshell statement earlier this month, British Swimming did not name Rob Greenwood, who resigned from his post as head coach before an independent investigation into claims by 13 swimmers concluded that ‘ one member of staff’ had even used ‘ derogatory terms to describe (disabled) athletes’.
Greenwood, who won coach of the year after success at last year’s Paralympic Games in Rio, was named in media reports.
And last night he released an ‘interim statement’ to two newspapers, including the Daily Mail.
‘I wish to make clear at the outset my concern and surprise at the disclosure of confidential material including a report and my name,’ he said.
‘I also wish to place on record my severe disap-pointment with the findings of the report and the methodology.
‘I wish to remind youu of my record as a swimming coach which I takee considerable pride in and ask you to take note that the timing of this investigation ti ti followed closely upon my decision to resign from British Swimming.
‘I do not propose at this stage to address each finding in turn, but wholly reject the allegations of bullying, intimidation and all other criticisms made of me.
‘I would wish to inform you of what the EIS (English Institute of Sport) have said: “The pressure technique deployed is an example of a range of services that a performance psychologist would routinely deliver as part of their work to support coaches and athletes in achieving improvements in performance.
‘In this instance, the programme was designed with input from athletes... and intended, at their request, to help produce training conditions that felt more like a competition situation. ‘The EIS’s head of psychology hash reviewed the notes of the practitioner and is satisfiedsa that the proce ess followed was within the parameters set by the British Psychologi-cal Society... there is nothing to indicate that any practice in this casecas did not meet the high standards set”.’ Greenwood’s statement continued: ‘I would wish to add that no swimmer or member of staff ever raised any concerns with me about an alleged “climate of fear”. I do not consider I was ever knowingly offensive or insulting.
‘I accept that I push swimmers, whether able-bodied or disabled, to their limits which I believe is what is agreed by a whole team, including the athletes. The techniques and training have achieved great results consequently.
‘I was nearly always with other members of staff whenever I was coaching and I anticipate that there will be support for me coming from some of them and athletes in due course.’