Rising athletics star Kurtis Marschall says he will stay in Perth despite the coach who lured him there being sacked
Adelaide Commonwealth Games pole vault gold medallist and Olympic hopeful Kurtis Marschall says he will remain in Perth, despite the coach who led to him making the move west being sacked by the West Australian Institute of Sport.
Adelaide’s Commonwealth Games pole vault gold medallist and Olympic hopeful Kurtis Marschall says he will remain in Perth, despite the coach who led to him making the move west being sacked by the West Australian Institute of Sport.
Alex Parnov, who coached Steve Hooker to Olympic and world championships gold medals and an Olympic record was on Thursday evening sacked by WAIS as the head of its pole vault program after an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
The program at WAIS is widely regarded as world-leading for pole vaulters and Parnov, a former Russian coach, was also mentoring five nationally funded athletes.
Marschall, regarded as a real shot at a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, made the move from Adelaide to Perth last year to work under Parnov — who also had Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Nine Kennedy under his tutelage.
But despite the man who lured him out west no longer heading up the program, Parnov quit from his position earlier this month after WAIS were made aware of the allegations, Marschall said he would not be returning home.
“I will definitely be staying in Perth,” he told The Advertiser.
Athletics Australia suspended Parnov’s coaching accreditation while the investigation was being conducted, by a law firm specialising in employment law.
Dual Commonwealth Games pole vault silver medallist Paul Burgess is expected to now head up the WAIS program, which receives funding from Athletics Australia.
Details about the allegations against Parnov have not been released.
The Advertiser has been told that the investigation around Parnov’s behaviour did not come about as a result of an official complaint, rather after comments were made about the Ukraine-born coach.
In a statement on Thursday WAIS chief executive Steve Lawrence said the investigation found that Parnov had breached his employment contract with WAIS.
“WAIS is committed to providing a safe and ethical environment for staff and athletes,” he said.
“We take this commitment very seriously and hold all our employees, coaches and athletes to high standards.”
Parnov is one of Australia’s most successful athletics coaches.
In addition to Hooker he also coached Olympic silver medallist and Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Tatiana Grigorieva — who lived in Adelaide.