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“I have to say, it sucks, but what can I do?” Stabretti-Cook said when asked about it at the Australian Olympic trials last month.
Olympian Grant Hackett said he would not be surprised if swimmers protested in Paris.Credit: Eamon Gallagher
“Right now, I just want to focus on my dream and not let anything destroy it,” Jack told the newspaper last month.
Hackett’s former coach Dennis Cottrell is in charge of the Chinese swimming program and attended Extensive and rare interviews Use this masthead during April.
Cottrell denied any suggestion of systematic doping or that he or the swimmers were aware of the use of substances on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.
Hackett read the interview and said that while he did not agree with everything Cottrell said, he did not understand the lack of transparency from WADA and China.
Denis Cotterell with Australian swimming great Grant Hackett in 2006.Credit: Paul Harris
“Certainly, Dennis is entitled to his opinion. He’s closer to that team than most of us are,” Hackett said. “While I certainly respect everything Dennis says, I don’t always agree with his take on a situation.
“My take on this isn’t necessarily that someone did something right or wrong. I have no evidence to prove that. What’s really disturbing is … the lack of transparency and openness about this and the lack of due process, like what happened with Shayna Jack. That’s everything I want to see in sports.
“Dennis is a purist of the sport. He loves to see amazing performances. He’s obviously seen a lot of people out there train hard and obviously, he’s formed his opinion there and I have my opinion too. I’m not necessarily trying to refute anything Dennis said, I’m just saying, well, if there’s nothing to see here, then why don’t we go through a fair and transparent process?”
The first sign of athlete discontent may have come the next evening (July 28) in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke, when two-time gold medalist in the event, Britain’s Adam Peaty, faced off against Qin Gang, the event’s second-ranked swimmer.
The Australian Olympic Committee said it would not prevent athletes from speaking out on the matter, but hoped that protests would not take place on the podium or in the venue. Hackett hoped that this would not affect the viewing experience of the competition.
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“I think it will definitely be on the list,” Hackett said. “I feel for a Chinese swimmer who did all the right things, trained really hard, prepared well, developed well, went out there and performed well, but was questioned because the selection process a few years ago was not transparent and that cast doubt. I feel sorry for everyone involved in this because no matter which side you are from, it just feels wrong and it’s not fair.
“But hopefully once the Olympics start we’ll be talking about the incredible performances and some of the things we didn’t expect.”
Grant Hackett will appear as swimming expert on Stan Sports’ Olympic Games Daily and Paris preview shows. Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
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