Australian swimmer Maddie Groves alleges she was molested as a teenager

Olympic silver medallist Maddie Groves has claimed that she was molested by a swimming official who still works in the sport.

Australian swimmer Maddie Groves has claimed she was molested by a person who still works in the sport.

Earlier this year, Groves announced she would not be competing at Olympic trials in June, citing “misogynistic perverts in sport” in a social media post explaining her decision.

“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,” she wrote.

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Groves, who won silver in the 200m butterfly at the Rio Olympics, said she has received a lot of support since boycotting the Tokyo trials.

She has met with Swimming Australia, and the governing body announced it will set up an all-female panel to investigate the treatment of athletes.

But in a fresh revelation, the 26-year-old has claimed in an interview with ABC’s 7.30she was sexually abused by a swimming official as a teenager.

Australian swimmer Maddie Groves. Picture: Instagram/mad_groves

Groves said she decided to speak publicly on the allegations after learning of an unrelated investigation into former elite swimming coach John Wright, who was accused of sexually abusing a number of teenage boys he trained at Queensland pools in the 1980s and 1990s.

“When I was underage, on multiple occasions I was actually molested by an adult male,” she said.

“At the time I didn’t feel like there was anyone I could tell about that. And there’s no-one in swimming that I would trust disclosing that to now, either.”

Groves chose not to identify the alleged perpetrator.

Groves won silver in the 200m butterfly at the Rio Olympics. Picture: Instagram/mad_groves

She declined to compete in the Olympic trials in June. Picture: Instagram/mad_groves

“I haven’t made a complaint about this individual,” she said.

“I guess my experience from trying to make complaints about other people in sport was so discouraging, it really didn’t leave me feeling that making a complaint about this person would be any different to the others.

“I don’t think I really want to report it to police. It’s obviously a huge process emotionally and it takes such a long time … and then it doesn’t necessarily end up working out that well.

“I’ve had a couple of other friends and people that I know in swimming that have been sexually abused and assaulted and they’ve been through that process.

“It ends up being really disappointing … and things don’t really seem to change. It’s sort of swept under the rug.

“And I think if I made a complaint, I don’t really think anything would be any different to that.

“It’s an uncomfortable thing to have to talk about and deal with, but it’s not my fault, and I just hope that by speaking about this stuff that it is taken seriously and that there are protections put in place.”

Swimming Australia statement in response to 7.30 report

Swimming Australia takes all complaints in relation to conduct very seriously and took all steps to address the complaints raised by Ms Groves. Ms Groves requested and was granted a meeting with President Kieren Perkins and former CEO Alex Baumann and was offered every opportunity to raise her complaints and concerns. At this meeting Ms Groves raised concerns in relation to a coach within our system. These allegations were the subject of a three-month independent investigation conducted by Q Workplace Solutions.

Ms Groves was afforded several opportunities to discuss the complaints, including participating in an interview with an independent investigator. Ms Groves was asked to provide further information to assist the investigation process, but she declined to do so.

The investigator ultimately determined that the complaint against Swimming Australia was unsubstantiated.

During her interview with the 7.30 program, Ms Groves also made allegations against another coach, which Swimming Australia was not aware of. At no time had complaints about this coach been made to Swimming Australia, and we are now cooperating with Sport Integrity Australia to ensure an appropriate, independent process is put in place for these new allegations.

Finally, the allegations of sexual assault by an unidentified individual made by Ms Groves during the report was the first Swimming Australia had been made aware of this matter. These allegations have been referred directly to the Queensland Police in accordance with Queensland’s legislative requirements.

Swimming Australia remains resolute in its commitment to continually improve our sport to ensure it is a safe and thriving environment for all participants from the grassroots through to the elite level.

Originally published as Australian swimmer Maddie Groves alleges she was molested as a teenager