 Some swimmers were upset by Sweetenham's coaching methods |
Former British swimming performance chief Bill Sweetenham says he feels "vindicated" over his controversial approach by the team's Olympic success. The Australian was in charge for seven years during which time he was accused and cleared of bullying some swimmers. "It's a perfect situation for Britain. There's a great group of coaches who can take the team to the top," he said. "It's vindication not only for me but for the athletes who had the courage to bring a new culture to the sport."  | 606: DEBATE |
Sweetenham took charge of British swimming after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where the team failed to win a single medal for only the second time. Four years later in Athens British swimmers won two medals, and that has already been matched in Beijing by Rebecca Adlington and Joanne Jackson, with 400m freestyle gold medallist Adlington becoming the first female British Olympic swimming champion since 1960. "You've got a very young team, 90% of this team is going to go through to 2012," he said. "I'm immensely proud and feel great when I watch them swim. These young girls particularly are going to be sensational."
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