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Friday, 16 December 2005 |
Australian swimmers mock execution training shock
Australian swimmers have been forced to endure mock executions at a
military-style boot camp in Melbourne and pictures of a coach aiming an
imitation 9mm pistol at swimmers, some as young as 16, have provoked an
angry reaction in Australian newspapers.
Swimming Australia chief executive Glenn Tasker admitted: "What we saw
in the paper, depicting weapons and shooting, is very inappropriate.
"My view is people who see it would be shocked."
The camp hosted a number of leading medal hopes for next year's
Commonwealth Games, including 18-year-old 50m butterfly world champion
Danni Miatke and Australian team members Shayne Reese and Sarah
Katsoulis.
It is reported that Nathan Schrag, a Royal Australian Navy trainer,
pointed the imitation pistol at the heads of two kneeling athletes
after they had completed a gruelling two-hour exercise.
In his other hand he held a starting pistol with live caps, which was
fired simultaneously for dramatic effect, with the participants
slumping to the ground.
Rohan Taylor, the coach responsible for the training programme, said he would not be using the controversial technique again.
"We were all laughing at the time, but the pictures do not present
well," he said. "It was a mistake and I would not do it again."
Federal sports minister Rod Kemp said: "There is clearly no place for mock executions in sport training."
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Last Updated ( Monday, 19 December 2005 )
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