Michael Palfrey Olympics: Shock decision on-Australian swim coach who wants foreign star to beat our men in Paris

An Australian Olympic swimming coach wants a top athlete from South Korea to beat the Dolphins. He is staying at the Paris Olympics despite the anger he feels over his comments.

Swimming Australia head coach Rohan Taylor says coach Michael Palfrey will face “the consequences” for his inflammatory comments once the Paris Olympics are over.

However, Taylor said Palfrey would remain in Paris given the workload of the eight Australian swimming coaches under his leadership during the Olympics.

Palfrey told Korean television he hopes South Korea’s Kim Woo-min will win the men’s 400-meter freestyle in Paris.

Australia has two real contenders for the gold medal: Sam Short and Elijah Winnington. This chance is high in this event, which takes place on Saturday, the opening day of the swimming competition in Paris.

“I really hope he wins, but ultimately I just hope he swims well,” Palfrey told Korean media, before ending the interview by saying, “Go for it, Korea.”

Taylor called the comments “un-Australian” but decided Palfrey would remain in Paris.

“I have decided that it is best for the team that Michael Pelfrey remains with the team for the next nine days,” Taylor told reporters in Paris on Thursday evening.

Palfrey said he hopes South Korean star Kim Woo-min (pictured) will win the men’s 400m freestyle despite two Australians competing in the event.

Australian swimming head coach Rohan Taylor (pictured) said Palfrey would still suffer “consequences” from his outburst

‘We just had an online team meeting where… Michel apologized for his mistake.

‘I am very critical of him.

‘I think it was a very serious error of judgment and we will only experience the consequences of that when we get back home.

‘But during the nine days of our (swimming) competition, it’s my job to make decisions about the well-being and the performance environment, and I did that.

“And it comes down to the burden on the coaches and athletes.”

Anna Meares, Australia’s Olympic chef de mission, said earlier on Thursday that Palfrey’s comments were “a conflict and a serious error of judgement”.

“He is very aware of it and deeply regrets it,” Meares told reporters, adding that the Australian Olympic Committee would support Taylor’s decision.

Palfrey works with Australian swimmers Zac Incerti, Abbey Connor and Alex Perkins.

He also mentored South Korean swimmers, including Kim, who won the 400-meter freestyle at the world championships in Qatar in February.

Australians Sam Short (pictured) and Elijah Winnington will battle for gold in the event – with Palfrey ‘profusely apologising’ for his comments during a team meeting

Taylor said Australian coaches were given “directives” in March to cease any association with non-Australian swimmers before the Paris Olympics.

And Taylor expressed his disappointment at the commotion, just two days before the start of the Olympic swimming competition.

“It weighed heavily,” Taylor said.

‘I work a lot with the coaches and I trust them enormously.

‘They work incredibly hard, the athletes work incredibly hard and we work very, very hard to come together as one.

‘And for someone to make a really stupid error in judgment, and not really think about the team at that moment, was disappointing to me.

“So from that perspective I was angry and I made sure he knew that.”