
Former Swim Ireland national performance director accused of ‘bullying' and ‘weight-shaming' during previous role
BBC 'Panorama' show features allegations from several swimmers who claim Rudd pressured them over their diets and weightSwim Ireland said there is no suggestion that Rudd acted inappropriately during his eight-year spell with the organisation
Today at 15:09
Swim Ireland has said there has been 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during Jon Rudd's eight-year term as national performance director in the wake of a BBC documentary in which multiple swimmers accused Rudd of bullying and weight-shaming during his previous role in England.
Rudd, a native of Hull, joined Swim Ireland in 2017 and had previously spent 28 years as head coach at Plymouth Leander Swimming Club. The allegations outlined in the BBC Panorama show, which airs tonight, date from that time.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTÉ News
38 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Memorable quotes from the defamation trial
Over the course of four weeks, the jury in former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams' defamation trial against the BBC heard many hours of evidence. Here are some of the memorable quotes from the high-profile case at the High Court: "Gerry Adams' reputation is that of a peacemaker. It has taken Gerry Adams a lifetime to gain that reputation." "I do think the IRA was a legitimate response to what was happening at the time. That's not to say that everything they did was legitimate." - Mr Adams giving evidence when being questioned by his own legal team. "I have never resiled from my view that the IRA's campaign, whatever about elements of it, was a legitimate response to military occupation." - Mr Adams under questioning from the BBC's legal team. "It wasn't a path that I took" - Mr Adams when asked by a BBC barrister how does a person join the IRA. "There are of course some folk who want to fight the war all over again and set aside the progress that has been made - and that includes those who killed Denis Donaldson, and I'm sure whoever it was would like to see me dead as well." - Mr Adams when being questioned by the BBC legal team. "You're trying to persuade this jury I had no reputation whatsoever because I attended funerals? And therefore Spotlight could say whatever they want about me, and I would have no redress?" - Mr Adams when asked by a BBC barrister about his attendance at the funerals of IRA members. "A grievous smear." - Mr Adams' description of the BBC Spotlight allegation against him. "I would have said to her that not only was she barking up the wrong tree, she wasn't even in the right orchard." - Ciarán Shiels, former solicitor for the Donaldson family when asked what he would have said to BBC journalist Jennifer O'Leary if she had put to him allegations that Gerry Adams had sanctioned the murder of Denis Donaldson. "The BBC did not meet the editorial thresholds for responsible journalism in its inclusion and presentation of solo, anonymous allegations against Mr Adams. The segment lacked sufficient editorial veracity to be published." - John O'Loan, an Australian journalist who was called as an expert witness on behalf of Mr Adams. "Martin was not the only source to give the (Spotlight) programme team this information, the programme team received the information from multiple, authoritative, credible, confidential sources." - Eoin McCullough, SC for the BBC, stating that allegations made in the Spotlight programme were corroborated by others. "He is seen as somebody who made an extraordinary contribution to change what Northern Ireland was like to what it's like today." - Former US congressman Bruce Morrison, called as a witness by Mr Adams' legal team. "How can Mr Adams acknowledge he has a reputation of having been in the IRA, having been on the Army Council, having organised violence on that account - at the same time tell you 'did you know my reputation is as a peacemaker?"' - Eoin McCullough, SC for the BBC. "I wouldn't be here if I couldn't stand over the programme and the allegations made in the programme ... any reasonable person watching the programme would know we are making an allegation." - BBC Spotlight journalist Jennifer O'Leary. "The more months that I had, the more credible sources were telling me that Gerry Adams had given the final say or it was their belief that he had given the final say." - BBC journalist Jennifer O'Leary under cross-examination from Mr Adams' legal team. "I was careful and responsible. Was I supposed to ignore the allegation? It was in the public interest that it was in the programme but only if it was stood up." - BBC journalist Jennifer O'Leary under cross-examination. "The tone was measured, the language was precise. There was so much care taken over this programme. It was a solid piece of journalism and the result of many months work and a lot of diligence and a lot of rigour and a lot of scrutiny." "It (the allegation against Mr Adams) was couched in terms of allegations, there was an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond, the programme would probably not be found in breach and not be unfair or unjust to Mr Adams." - Chris Banatvala, an independent media consultant, called as an expert witness by the BBC. "His (Gerry Adams') reputation would be one of having been a warmonger." - Ann Travers, a victims' advocate, called as a witness by the BBC. "He is seen as a peacetaker, not a peacemaker." "Amongst the public, he is known as a politician now who was a leading member of the IRA and who was active in the IRA during the period of its armed struggle against the forces of law and order on this island." - Independent Senator Michael McDowell, called as a witness by the BBC. "What sort of cruel joke would that be? That he can continue to deny any association and come into court and say: 'I am a peacemaker'." - Paul Gallagher SC, for the BBC, on the subject of potential damages for Mr Adams. "This is, in truth, a cynical attempt by Mr Adams to launder his reputation." - Paul Gallagher SC, for the BBC. "This is a widespread circulation of a national broadcaster of an allegation of cold-blooded, cynical murder." - Declan Doyle SC, for Mr Adams. "No jury, in my view, should be asked to give a verdict on Irish history." "So really what you're asked, in my view: is his public reputation a man who approved murders, of a man who approved of murders by others, of a man who was involved in directing terrorism, or is his public reputation of a man who persuaded others to stop and devise the process of discussion and compromise which led to permanent cessation of violence in Northern Ireland? Or is it a bit of both? Or is it predominantly one or predominantly the other, or totally one or totally the other? Those are really the matters which are for you to decide."


Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
2002 nostalgia, Brogan vs McNulty and Cosgrove's red-hot summer
Alan reflects on being marked by Enda in that All-Ireland semi-final, Ray remembers his red-hot goal-scoring summer and the panel discuss the fiery rematch the following year that saw Stephen Cluxton sent off. Before the all-star panel, Ronan and Will join Conan to reminisce about '02 championship summer - when football was football! If you'd like to get in touch with the show, email us at indosportpodcast@ here. Spotify Apple Podcasts


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘This isn't Cul camps' – Hurling icon rubbishes Wexford complaints about harshness of All-Ireland structure
KILKENNY legend Richie Hogan was bemused by the comments of Tony Dempsey regarding the Yellowbellies' early exit from the hurling championship. Former Wexford manager Dempsey claimed during the week hurling is "under threat" unless the hurling championship is moved to the prime summer months. 2 Wexford haven't reached a Leinster final since winning it in 2019 2 The hurling analyst was humoured by the Wexford native's comments This outburst came as his beloved Wexford as well as Clare and Waterford were knocked out of the All-Ireland series before the schools even close for Summer. Dempsey told RTE: "We're bitterly disappointed because the summer is when young people share the joy of school holidays with being able to watch their elite performers. "In our case Lee Chin and Rory O'Connor, and not only to watch them but to enjoy them without the problem of trying to attend school on a Monday. "So school holidays will now be a time for Wexford, Waterford and of course Clare and many other counties when the performers will be gone from there. Read more on GAA "We won't be able to see them." Hogan shot down the claims by Dempsey on The seven time All-Ireland winner joked: "As a man who is married to a teacher has two sisters who are teachers, brother's a teacher and 60-70% of my friends are teachers, I would love to see them get more school holidays." "This is not the Cul Camps, we can't all play on All-Ireland final day. Most read in GAA Hurling "Do they want some festival on Saturday and Sunday where every team gets a chance? "If you don't have consequences for losing there is no joy in winning." Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - The four-time All-Star's stance on the matter is that the All-Ireland championship places have to be earned and not everyone can be included in the select few. Hogan went on to explain: "Waterford have lost three games, they have four Munster championship games. "I won an All-Ireland in 2015, we only played four games in the whole championship season." In 2015 Kilkenny were given an automatic spot in the Leinster semi-final where they overcame Wexford by 24 points before going through Galway then Waterford before playing Galway again on their way to All-Ireland victory. Waterford had a tough Munster championship campaign only recording one win against Clare, losing by six points to Limerick and Cork and nine points at the hands of Tipperary. The All-Ireland champions Clare disappointed in their attempt at retaining their title. They began with Similarly Wexford struggled in the Leinster championship, recording wins against Offaly and Antrim. But loses to Dublin and Galway meant their fate was sealed before