Chinese World Record-holder Sun Yang is reportedly still training in Australia, according to NBN News, though Swimming Australia and Sun’s former coach Denis Cotterell have publicly cut ties with him.
The latest media whirlwind involving Sun revolves around a doping ban that he served over the summer. The Olympic gold medalist tested positive for a banned substance and served a three-month suspension over the summer, though his suspension wasn’t officially announced until last month.
When Australia, Sun’s training home-base, heard about the suspension, they officially tightened rules regarding foreign athletes training at their excellence training centers, according to SwimVortex.com. That move cut Sun out, and Swimming Australia made their intentions even more clear by publicly announcing that Sun was no longer welcome at their official training centers, and ordering his former coach, Denis Cotterell, to sever ties with Sun.
That doesn’t mean Sun is banned from training at different locations within the country, though, and it appears the distance specialist has found a way to continue his swimming career in the Land Down Under, at least for the time being. Australian news source NBN News reports that Sun is still training on the Gold Coast, using the public lane at Palm Beach Currumbin, and is training with former Miami assistant Brian King.
Wow just came across this, and boy did it make me laugh!:) karma finally got this guy from years of lying about his accomplishments. I had a joke in our surf club that ‘ Brian king was the 3rd person to land on the moon!’
I’ve known of Brian king from his growing up in his local city. Couple of years ago he came back. Stepped straight into his former surf life saving club and stated ‘I want to be the head coach and change things’ ( I happened to be a coach at the time and with other senior members told him we don’t need a coach ) he then went to our nippers section and due to… Read more »
I agree with NOT SO SOFT – ask the coaches and staff of both facilities what they think of Mr King. It wasn’t just children he humiliated. The other coaches far out classed that man. He is nothing but a bully, 2 bit hack and compulsive liar.
I AGREE…. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN BRIAN YELL OUT DEMEANING ABUSE ACROSS THE POOL TO ONE OF THE OTHER MIAMI COACHES, ALEX, IN FRONT OF PARENTS AND KIDS. ALEX, BEING THE PROFESSIONAL THAT HE IS, CONTINUED DOING HIS JOB WITHOUT RETALIATION TO THE HUMILIATION. LET’S NOT FORGET THOUGH, ALEX IS AN ADULT AND NOT A 10-14 YEAR OLD CHILD!
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/veteran-swimming-coach-denis-cotterell-says-aussie-kids-need-to-toughen-up/story-fni0cx12-1227211571421?nk=c03719610087c6101fd197d1529a4689
People who saw Brian king coaching all know that 1,000 fly was often given as punishment and the children almost always did the ENTIRE fly! Ask the other coaches and parents at Miami. This article overlooks that Brian continued to bully children at Kingston and there is a pattern of behaviour that shows he should not be coaching children. There were many verbal and writteb complaints at Miami over many years and many other families simply left so there child did not have to be subjected to king. What happened to children at 10 enjoying swimming and being encouraged. They are dropped to the pool by their parents and there is a duty… Read more »
I take great offence to Dennis reporting that 1km fly for young kids is justified. His misinformed justification that KIDS deserve it because “they were rude” is completely FALSE and an obvious attempt to say whatever it takes to try and turn the heat off this disgraceful situation in which Brian & Co have found themselves in. My child simply asked BK to repeat the instruction as she simply could not hear him properly – STOP THE BLATANT LYING and media manipulation before you look worse than you already do!
More pathetic details are surfacing in the Australian media:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/swimming-coach-brian-king-accused-of-making-boy-act-and-bark-like-a-dog/story-fni0cx12-1227203662617
We’ve certainly past a point where ASCTA MUST consider a temporary suspension during investigations as they now should have a track record of reports and complaints that would allow them to consider such option.
As far as I know Mr King could be employed tomorrow by a club if its president lived in a cave in the last few months.
Yes, I saw newspaper reports today in the Sunday Telegraph and Brisbane’s Sunday Mail. I also googled Swimming Australia and right below it is this same article. I wonder how Mr King and Co feel tonight?
Can I encourage those affected by the conduct of Mr King to lodge a complaint with SAL and ASTCA. Otherwise they will dismiss the complaints as one or two isolated incidences. So please do not leave your experiences with Mr King as a comment on a website. Please take the time to put your experiences in a letter to both SAL and ASTCA as the representative bodies. How can a coach be employed when all the responsible bodies knew of the complaints at hand. I am horrified that Mr King went on the repeat his abuse and vilification of children at another swim club.
I’ve made a formal complaint – I’m so angry especially as I thought my boys were the only ones getting treated this way. I thought I was being over protective! Glad I stopped going to Kingston when Brian was there!
No, the problem is not you, far from it. He is very good at making you feel that way. He has a history and pattern of behaviour which is now apparent.
MAGYAR – contact Melissa Backhouse – email [email protected]
Your youngest was treated appallingly by BK – I was there the day he mocked your son because he couldn’t eorkout th
MAGYAR – contact Melissa Backhouse – email [email protected]
Your youngest was treated appallingly by BK – I remember when BK mocked your son because he couldn’t workout the clock. one of the older boys that goes to your sons school told BK they think he had a learning difficulty – but of course that was a red rag to a bull and BK just continued to mock him.
You weren’t alone he was an ass to a lot of the kids – I wonder if he himself was bullied as a 10 – 12 year old because that’s the ages he really picks on!
Also contact Jessica Halloran I’ve already mentioned to her the way BK was… Read more »
[email protected]
Maygar, Mother & Dream Catcher you all need to contact Jessica Halloran ASAP her email is above I received an email from her tonight and she is very keen to speak with all of you.
Thanks for letting me know that… my son doesn’t have a learning disability LOL – he’s only 11 and when he started with Brian he was only 10 – he just looks like he’s an adult! He’s got no confidence at all so this whole thing was NOT helpful to him either!
Don’t kid yourselves, SAL don’t care one incy wincy tiny little bit. Their non-action reflects that.
Firstly, I have today, received an email from ASCTA advising that Swimming Australia are now investigating the Brian King matter (his treatment of kids). It’s about time!
I am a mother of a beautiful little girl who has been severely affected by the treatment dished out to her by her former coach, Brian King. Everything I am saying from here on in, is factual and not an observation unless noted so. I am making these comments, as in my opinion, Mr King should never again be allowed to work with children in any sport. My daughter was 9 nearly 10 years old when she joined Brian’s squad. She was a successful swimmer and was looking forward to her first… Read more »
If Swimming Australia and the company responsible for managing Miami & Kingston swimming pools don’t take appropriate action they face the real possibility of a class action against them. As far as I’m concerned both parties have failed in the execution of their duties to protect the welfare & interests of children and are therefore accountable.. Both – should hang their heads in shame.
Hey Dreamcatcher, your account of his behaviour is exactly correct. Bravo for giving so much detail and i hope your daughter is now enjoying her swimming, having fun and progressing at her own pace …as it should be.
Good luck with ASCTA and SA – it seems to me that their arsenal consists of a sturdy broom and a lightweight carpet. They have been aware of all of these issues for a very long time.
OMG this is so sad.. I feel for the families – in particular the children. They are too young to be going through such an ordeal.
I agree with the comments from some of those above leave the children and other family members that are not directly effected out of the comments. I can only imagine what they must be going through.
Lets pray that Swimming Australia investigate and do something about it. It seems that the problem is also with the management of both Miami & Kingston. Are they owned by the same company/people?
Yes I believe they are managed by the same company. You may want to check though
Roger, firstly I am confused about the first few lines in your comment. How did we the parents at Kingston employ Brian King.
I believe that was City Venue Management that employee the coaches not the parents. Now let me point out that we were unaware of any issues at Miami it was never spoken of and no one from Miami was at our club nor contacted our club via emails phonine calls or at any race meets so how are we to know , Brian was already coaching there when we arrived.
Things were going very smoothly ALL the children were making massive improvements (this is what I mean about his coaching ability) Cracks started to appear… Read more »
I apologise, I read your initial comment from a person senior in the club “people were asking me…”, and therefore someone responsible for the employment of Mr King. No high horse here – believe me!!! Our family too are victims of Mr King and we tried everything to stop him going to your club. Whoever employed Mr King failed in their duty of care and reading comments today about that young lad is devastating.
Roger – I’m Mother my little man is doing well – he will get through this with love, support and patience.. We moved out of the club as soon as I was made aware – I didn’t stick around and I haven’t looked back.
I feel your pain and also your anger – I’m still so angry – angry mostly at myself. I would pick my son up from training and he’d tell me about his day – school, friends, crushes etc.. When it came to swimming training he would go quiet and say bits and pieces – I missed the signs – I was too busy.
I don’t know any of the people that have commented other… Read more »