A former Olympic star reveals the damaging impact of a top swim coach’s strict training method in an exclusive interview with BBC Panorama. Rūta Meilutytė, who achieved gold at the London 2012 Olympics, opened up about how Jon Rudd’s intense focus on weight and diets led to her struggle with an eating disorder and depression. Meilutytė is among 12 former swimmers who have come forward with accounts of bullying, a toxic training environment, and a controlling food culture at one of the UK’s premier clubs for young elite swimmers during Rudd’s tenure as head coach.
Despite facing allegations of bullying and verbal abuse during his 28-year leadership of Plymouth Leander swimming club, Rudd never faced any consequences from the sport’s governing body. Swim England, the governing body, failed to act on a confidential 2012 investigation that recommended Rudd’s suspension after hearing testimonies from 17 witnesses. Andy Salmon, Swim England’s current chief executive, expressed deep regret over the organization’s failures to protect swimmers from harm at Plymouth Leander.
Rudd, who is expected to take on the role of high performance director for Saudi Arabia’s Olympic swimming team, has not responded to BBC’s requests for comment on the allegations. Meilutytė, now 28, shared her experience of Rudd’s hurtful comments about her weight, including an incident where he remarked on her physique before a major competition. Despite being hailed as a successful swimmer, Meilutytė reflected on how Rudd’s regime both shaped and ultimately broke her during her time at Plymouth Leander.
Furthermore, the revelations about Rudd’s coaching methods and the subsequent lack of accountability from the governing body have prompted Swim England to review 1,500 safeguarding cases across England. Panorama uncovered a culture of fear in aquatic sports at all levels, threatening the sport’s future. Plymouth Leander and Plymouth College, where Rudd was employed until 2017, have responded to the allegations by emphasizing their commitment to providing a safe environment for athletes.
In another instance of abusive coaching practices, the Royal Wolverhampton School Swimming Club came under scrutiny for complaints about head coach David Painter’s behavior
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
