Australian swimmer Madeline Groves withdraws from Olympic trials, cites 'misogynistic perverts, boot lickers'
Two-time Australian Olympic medalist Madeline Groves won't compete for a spot in the Tokyo Games, citing exploitation of "young women and girls" in swimming.
Groves, 26, won silver medals at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games in the 200-meter butterfly and the 4x100-meter medley. She announced on social media Wednesday that she "made the decision to not compete at Olympic Trials in Adelaide." She also wrote that she was "very relieved" and "excited to watch everyone at trials," but did not initially provide a reason for her withdrawal.
Her explanation arrived later Wednesday in a critical Twitter statement.
"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," Groves wrote. "Time’s UP"
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 https://t.co/XMQCRPjNzK
— Maddie Groves (@MaddieGroves_) June 9, 2021
Groves did not name names or go into specifics. On Thursday, she thanked her followers for their support and announced that she's deleting the Twitter app.
Groves' previous accusations of inappropriate conduct
Groves has levied previous criticism, including recounting last November a "weirdo" who stared at her while she was wearing a swimsuit. She wrote that that incident happened "a few years ago" and that the person who works in swimming has "possibly been given a promotion since."
We didn’t really have a #metoo moment in swimming but just realising maybe it was this weirdo staring at my tits when I’m trying to swim https://t.co/viXPcHXMWi
— Maddie Groves (@MaddieGroves_) November 30, 2020
Sorry I shouldn’t say that, I think he went through some personal development first hopefully to teach him to not stare at young women in their toga, THEN he got promoted https://t.co/a8tAnmOiYo
— Maddie Groves (@MaddieGroves_) November 30, 2020
She also wrote that a coach made a sexual comment to her when she was 20 years old while she was working to make the Australian swim team.
He came up to me like 15 minutes later and apologised, I think possibly cause the team psych told him to. Like dude I’m 20 please leave me alone and don’t make creepy comments to me when I’m just trying to be on the Australian Swim Team
— Maddie Groves (@MaddieGroves_) December 1, 2020
Governing body's response to Groves' accusations
According to Reuters, governing body Swimming Australia reached out to Groves after her November Twitter posts.
"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," an SA statement read, per Reuters. "Maddie declined to provide further information nor do we have any previous complaints on record from Maddie.
"All allegations concerning child abuse or sexual misconduct are taken seriously 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."
Groves also expressed concern about COVID-19 in Tokyo
Groves also criticized last month an International Olympic Committee waiver for the Tokyo Games stating that participants "will take part in the Games at his/her own risk and own responsibility including ... serious bodily injury or even death raised by the potential exposure to health hazards such as the transmission of COVID-19.”
Is anyone surprised at how willing with IOC is to risk people’s lives to make money? https://t.co/cfgWVZ4PBu
— Maddie Groves (@MaddieGroves_) May 31, 2021
It's not clear if concerns about COVID-19 in Tokyo also played a role in her decision.
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