Swimming Australia: Olympic and Paralympic stars sacked in major bloodletting

The bloodletting at Swimming Australia has continued with two leaders abruptly sacked from key leadership positions as the sport continues to battle for calm waters.

One of Ian Thorpe’s former Olympic gold medal teammates and the Sydney Paralympics flagbearer have both been sacked as part of more sweeping leadership changes inside Swimming Australia.

Although no public announcements have been made, News Corp can confirm that just two weeks after SA president Tracy Stockwell was dumped at the top of the sport the bloodletting in the pool has continued as two more senior leaders lost their jobs last Friday from within the highly successful para swim program.

These include Adam Pine - who won a gold medal along with Thorpe in the famous Australian 4x100m freestyle relay team at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Pine was ditched as General Manager of Paralympic and Open Water after a decade of involvement in high-performance para swimming.

Australian Paralympic swim team manager Adam Pine.

Another Sydney 2000 hero, Brendon Burkett, has also lost his job as head coach of the Para swim team.

A former champion para swimmer himself who won medals at four Paralympic Games, Burkett is best known for carrying the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony in Sydney.

Sources have told News Corp there have been ongoing issues within the Para program for several years relating to team culture and the favouritism of certain athletes.

Asked why the two men had been replaced, Swimming Australia told News Corp: “This decision has been made in the context of the team’s continued trajectory of success from Tokyo to this year’s World Championships and Commonwealth Games, as well as the very clear goals now set for Paris and the road beyond to Brisbane.

“We believe now is the time for a fresh set of eyes and renewed passion to steer the team, and the program more broadly, forward on this pathway of immense opportunity.

“The General Manager – Paralympic Program role is now in market and, once appointed, the successful candidate will commence the process of identifying the next Head Coach.”

Australia’s 2000 Sydney Paralympic flag-bearer Brendon Burkett.

The surprise move comes just weeks after the shock sacking of Nathan Doyle as Head Coach of the Paralympic Hub program at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

One of Australia’s most successful para swim coaches, Doyle has trained 38 swimmers who have made the national team since 2017, and 10 who appeared at this year’s Commonwealth Games.

Doyle was shocked when told by Pine in late October his contract would not be renewed.

Swimming Australia confirmed two weeks later he had been replaced by Harley Connolly, another highly accomplished coach who will now lead the Paralympic Hub program at USC through to Paris 2024.

“Harley has been a valued member of our Australian teams for a decade now and will relish this opportunity to take on a significant leadership role within the Paralympic program,” Swimming Australia High Performance Director Tamara Sheppard said in a statement released at the time.

“Not only do the results speak to the quality of his coaching, he also enjoys the respect of both his athletes and fellow coaches by virtue of the way in which he lives the values that are central to the Dolphins environment.”

Asked why Doyle’s contract was not renewed, Swimming Australia said: “Similarly, following the review process from this year’s campaign a decision was made not to extend Nathan’s contract beyond the end of his current agreement.”