Allegations of inappropriate behaviour against top Australian Olympic coach

One of the country’s top Olympic coaches allegedly preyed on some of Australia’s brightest young athletes.

One of the country’s best pole-vaulting coaches allegedly preyed on some of Australia’s most brilliant young female athletes and his inappropriate behaviour was kept secret by the West Australian Institute of Sport for more than a decade, an investigation by The Australian has revealed.

Seven women have spoken to The Australian, revealing the alleged inappropriate behaviour they claim to have suffered while being guided by famed Olympic pole-vault coach Alex Parnov.

The Australian’s two-month investigation uncovered texts, emails, documents and video to expose Parnov’s alleged actions and WAIS’s failure to act.

Olympic champions Nina Kennedy and Steve Hooker have also spoken out about the culture of “harm” and abuse and sporting authorities’ lack of response.

Both superstar athletes have called for change, with Kennedy stating the “win-at-all-costs mentality, deeply embedded in sporting culture, must end.”

Nina Kennedy brandishing her medal on the podium at the 2024 Olympics in France. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

Former Olympic champion Steve Hooker.

When contacted by The Australian, Kennedy, who was targeted by Parnov, made a powerful statement urging “positive change” to protect athletes in Australia and internationally.

Kennedy made complaints to WAIS and says a 2019 investigation into Parnov did not bring to light “the seriousness of the alleged misconduct”.

She added that the “repercussions post-investigation” did not accurately match “the severity of the allegations”.

“Athletes deserve to feel safe and supported; however, I believe the organisations responsible for safeguarding us failed to protect myself and others and enabled my former coach’s harmful conduct to persist for over a decade,” Kennedy wrote in her statement to The Australian.

“I don’t believe the outcome of the 2019 investigation truly represented or brought to light the seriousness of the alleged misconduct. I also don’t believe the repercussions post-investigation delivered by WAIS accurately matched the severity of the allegations and findings.

“In this instance, I don’t believe the leadership board had the best interests of my wellbeing at heart. I felt this was prevalent during and proceeding the investigative process.

“I’ve been fighting this battle behind closed doors, in my own way, while trying to reach and succeed at the pinnacle of my sport. This story has weighed on my shoulders for many years. “It was only once my coach resigned that I felt like I could fulfil my potential and see what I could do in the sport; all the other individuals didn’t get that chance, which is heartbreaking.

“The purpose in speaking out is to hold to account the behaviours and systemic failures of organisations that not only harmed me but allowed harm to persist for so many others. This win-at-all-cost mentality, deeply embedded in sporting culture, must end.

“While I am just one voice in this story, I hope it will drive the urgent, positive change needed to ensure that athletes everywhere are protected, respected and supported – here in Australia and globally.”

Coach Alex Parnov watching Steve Hooker compete at the 2012 Olympics.

Nina Kennedy competing in Paris. Picture: Andrej Isakovic/AFP

Kennedy won gold at the most recent Olympics. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The Australian, while aware of Ms Kennedy’s detailed complaints about Parnov, has chosen not to describe the specifics of those allegations to honour a request for privacy.

Hooker, who was coached by Parnov to an Olympic gold medal in 2008, confirmed that he gave evidence to a 2019 WAIS investigation into the famed pole vault coach, but felt the reasons why Parnov was forced to resign should have been made public by the institute.

Hooker commended Kennedy for making a public stance on the issue and said he hoped Australian sports institutes and federations could learn from this.

“I think one of the really tough things is the power imbalance between coaches and athletes, between institutes and athletes, between federations and athletes. These athletes aren’t engaged as employees and don’t have the rights or protections that would be in place if they were employees” Hooker said.