Latest news with #Rudd
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Olympic gold medalist speaks out about how top UK swim coach's regime left her 'broken'
Left: Rūta Meilutytė and Right: Jon Rudd/ Image: Instagram/Linkedin Olympic gold medalist Rūta Meilutytė has revealed to BBC Panorama how she was emotionally and mentally shattered by the harsh coaching methods of Jon Rudd , a highly regarded figure in British swimming. Meilutytė, who made history at the 2012 London Olympics as the youngest swimmer to win gold in the 100m breaststroke, described Rudd's focus on strict dieting and body image as a key factor in the eating disorder and depression that nearly broke her. Her experience is just one of many in the wake of Rudd's 28-year tenure as head coach of Plymouth Leander , where multiple swimmers have come forward to share stories of bullying, toxic training environments, and a controlling food culture. The Coach's legacy and allegations Jon Rudd, who coached at Plymouth Leander from 1989 to 2017, was instrumental in building the club's reputation for producing Olympic champions. However, according to 12 former swimmers, the coaching regime under Rudd was far from nurturing. These swimmers have accused Rudd of bullying and verbal abuse, contributing to severe mental health struggles. One of the most harrowing testimonies came from Meilutytė herself, who recalled incidents where Rudd made cruel comments about her weight, even laughing when she confided in him about making herself sick after meals to control her weight. "Well, at least you get the calories out," he allegedly said. Meilutytė, now 28, reflected on how Rudd's regime 'made me for a while and then it broke me.' She explained that his comments, including telling her at the age of 16 that her "ass was fat," left lasting scars. Despite these harmful experiences, she acknowledged that Rudd did attempt to offer help once he realized the impact of his words, though the damage was already done. Swim England 's response and failures The BBC investigation uncovered that Swim England, the governing body for swimming, failed to take action despite a 2012 investigation that concluded Rudd should be suspended for four months, after hearing from 17 witnesses. The investigation had been kept secret, only coming to light after a tip-off in 2023. Swim England's current CEO, Andy Salmon, expressed deep regret for the oversight, admitting that he did not understand why Rudd had not been suspended. He said, "I am deeply, deeply sorry for any harm caused by the failure to act." Rudd's reputation continued to grow after leaving Plymouth Leander, with him taking up roles including Swim Ireland's Director of Performance Swimming. He is currently slated to become the high-performance director of Saudi Arabia's Olympic swimming team. Rudd did not respond to the BBC's requests for comment. The wider impact and other allegations Meilutytė's story is not unique. Olympic bronze medalist Cassie Patten shared with the BBC how Rudd pressured her to train with a shoulder injury, a decision she believes ultimately ended her career. Commonwealth Youth gold medalist Phoebe Lenderyou also revealed that Rudd's regime worsened her struggle with an eating disorder. The allegations against Rudd were part of a broader pattern of mistreatment at Plymouth Leander, including the case of swimmer Antony James, who represented Team GB at the 2012 Olympics but was later convicted of sexually abusing two young girls. Some sources suggest that Rudd should have been aware of James's inappropriate behavior, given his long tenure as James's coach. Swim England is now reviewing over 1,500 safeguarding cases after the failures exposed in this investigation. The governing body is also conducting a broader inquiry into all aquatic sports in the wake of Panorama's findings, with a focus on the toxic culture that has plagued British swimming for years. Institutional failures and accountability Plymouth Leander has since distanced itself from Rudd, stating that the club has undergone significant changes in its safeguarding practices. They emphasized that Rudd's employer, Plymouth College, was responsible for overseeing his actions. The college, now under different ownership, also expressed deep concern over the testimonies shared by former swimmers, terminating its partnership with the club in 2024. Meanwhile, another investigation by Panorama found ongoing allegations of bullying at the Royal Wolverhampton School Swimming Club, where coach David Painter was accused of forcing swimmers to prioritize training over their academic commitments. Despite complaints from parents, Swim England took no formal action, asking the school to resolve the issues independently. Painter, who left to coach in Canada, denied all allegations, calling them "untrue" and defamatory. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
The Journal
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Former Swim Ireland performance director accused of 'toxic' practices during UK role
FORMER SWIM IRELAND national performance director Jon Rudd has been accused of 'bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture' by 12 swimmers during a previous role he held in England. The allegations against Rudd were detailed in a BBC Panorama programme on Monday night. Rudd spent eight years with Swim Ireland but left his role last week to join the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee as performance director. The Panorama investigation focuses on Rudd's time with Plymouth Leander, where he was head coach between 1989 and 2017. Lithuanian Rūta Meilutyte, who at the age of 15 became the youngest person to win the Olympic 100m breaststroke at the 2012 London Games, told Panorama that Rudd's training environment 'made me for a while and then it broke me'. Meilutyte said she once told Rudd she would make herself sick after meals, and he replied: 'Well, at least you get the calories out.' Panorama's investigation also revealed 17 witnesses gave evidence as part of a 2012 investigation which determined Rudd should be suspended, but Swim England did not take any action. Advertisement Swim Ireland say they were made aware of the 2012 investigation in 2023, but state there was 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during his eight years at Swim Ireland. A Swim Ireland statement read: 'In September 2023, Swim England advised Swim Ireland of an independent review of a 2012 report concerning Plymouth Leander Swimming Club where Jon Rudd was Head Coach. 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'that specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end.' And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland never received the independent review or the original report from Swim England and have heard nothing further from them on the matter. 'Despite Swim England indicating that no action was required by Swim Ireland, Swim Ireland conducted its own internal assessment led by our Head of Safeguarding. Jon fully cooperated with this process. There has been no suggestion or indication of welfare issues during Jon's tenure with Swim Ireland. Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns. 'Jon resigned his role with Swim Ireland to take up a position of Performance Director at Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee. 'The welfare and support of swimmers is a primary focus for Swim Ireland. The 'Here to Listen' section of our website details who to speak to and supports available to anyone with a concern relating to welfare of any swimmer.' Written by Ciarán Kennedy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The 42
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Former Swim Ireland performance director accused of 'toxic' practices
FORMER SWIM IRELAND national performance director Jon Rudd has been accused of 'bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture' by 12 swimmers during a previous role he held in England. The allegations against Rudd were detailed in a BBC Panorama programme on Monday night. Rudd spent eight years with Swim Ireland but left his role last week to join the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee as performance director. Advertisement The Panorama investigation focuses on Rudd's time with Plymouth Leander, where he was head coach between 1989 and 2017. Lithuanian Rūta Meilutyte, who at the age of 15 became the youngest person to win the Olympic 100m breaststroke at the 2012 London Games, told Panorama that Rudd's training environment 'made me for a while and then it broke me'. Meilutyte said she once told Rudd she would make herself sick after meals, and he replied: 'Well, at least you get the calories out.' Panorama's investigation also revealed 17 witnesses gave evidence as part of a 2012 investigation which determined Rudd should be suspended, but Swim England did not take any action. Swim Ireland say they were made aware of the 2012 investigation in 2023, but state there was 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues' during his eight years at Swim Ireland. A Swim Ireland statement read: 'In September 2023, Swim England advised Swim Ireland of an independent review of a 2012 report concerning Plymouth Leander Swimming Club where Jon Rudd was Head Coach. 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'that specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end.' And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland never received the independent review or the original report from Swim England and have heard nothing further from them on the matter. 'Despite Swim England indicating that no action was required by Swim Ireland, Swim Ireland conducted its own internal assessment led by our Head of Safeguarding. Jon fully cooperated with this process. There has been no suggestion or indication of welfare issues during Jon's tenure with Swim Ireland. Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns. 'Jon resigned his role with Swim Ireland to take up a position of Performance Director at Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee. 'The welfare and support of swimmers is a primary focus for Swim Ireland. The 'Here to Listen' section of our website details who to speak to and supports available to anyone with a concern relating to welfare of any swimmer.'
Irish Independent
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
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.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Swim Ireland review found no welfare issues associated with Jon Rudd
Swim Ireland's longtime national performance director Jon Rudd has been accused of bullying and weight shaming multiple swimmers during his time in a previous role in England. Earlier this month, Rudd stepped down from his role with Swim Ireland after eight years to take up a position in Saudi Arabia. Before joining Swim Ireland, he spent 28 years as head coach at Plymouth Leander Swimming Club in England, guiding the careers of many internationals. In a BBC Panorama show that aired on Monday night, 12 ex-swimmers at the club said they experienced bullying, a toxic training environment and controlling food culture while Rudd was head coach there. Ruta Meilutyte, a Lithuanian who won 100m breaststroke gold at the London 2012 Olympics, said Rudd's focus on weight and diet contributed to her struggle with an eating disorder and depression. 'Jon said my ass is fat in one competition when I was 16. I broke a world record that day, I think that was because I was angry.' Meilutyte said that the first time she told Rudd she was vomiting after meals, he laughed and said: 'Well, at least you get the calories out.' She added: 'He saw that I wasn't very keen on what he said, so he sort of got all serious and he realised how it was affecting me. We did seek help after that.' Panorama spoke to eight swimmers trained by Rudd who described pressures over diet or weight. One of those was Phoebe Lenderyou, who had an eating disorder before joining the club which she said worsened in her time there. She said Rudd had pulled her aside at a competition in 2013 and told her she had gained weight, pointing to different parts of her body and saying, 'you need to sort it out.' Another swimmer, Cassie Patten, claimed Rudd was a 'bully', saying: 'Jon's main go-to was to berate, to make people feel scared of him, and that's how he got that respect.' She said Rudd pressured her to train through injuries which she believes contributed to her early retirement. In 2012, Swim England commissioned a confidential independent investigation in which 17 witnesses gave evidence about Rudd's behaviour. According to Panorama, it found that under Rudd's leadership, 'swimmers were, as Swim England described it, publicly fat shamed, verbally abused, made to train while injured, inappropriately disciplined, and that there was a bullying culture. It recommended he be suspended for four months. He never was.' Andy Salmon, the current CEO of Swim England, said he was 'deeply, deeply, sorry' to those harmed by the governing body's failings: 'Clearly the organisation failed to act.' Swim Ireland said that in September 2023, Swim England advised it of an independent review of the 2012 report: 'Upon Swim Ireland requesting further details, Swim England issued the following correspondence: 'That specific case was more for information and records only, rather than any need for specific action on your [Swim Ireland's] end.' And further; 'case files don't get shared unless there is specific/threat which justifies it.' Swim Ireland stated it 'never received the independent review or the original report' from Swim England and heard 'nothing further from them' on the matter since. It said it conducted its own internal assessment, led by its Head of Safeguarding, adding that Rudd had fully cooperated with the process. It said there was 'no suggestion or indication of welfare issues such as those mentioned in the report'. 'Furthermore, towards the end of 2022, a thorough independent Sport Ireland Culture Review was completed with our Performance Department that involved staff, coaches and included meetings with athletes. This Culture Review raised no concerns.' Sport Ireland said it 'only became aware of the allegations' when the story was published on the BBC website on Monday and was unaware of the Swim England investigation in 2012. 'We have consulted with Swim Ireland, and they informed us that no formal complaints have been made to them.' Panorama made 'numerous attempts' to contact Rudd about the investigation, but he did not respond. Rudd oversaw Ireland's most successful period in swimming during his eight-year term, with three medals won at the Paris Olympics last year by Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry – who are both based abroad. When announcing news of his departure from Swim Ireland a fortnight ago, Rudd said: 'I have very much enjoyed my time in Ireland, and it quickly became home, providing me with an opportunity to work with a wonderful group of staff, athletes, and coaches throughout this time. I will certainly miss the people and the role, but it is time for something fresh, and the role in Saudi Arabia very much presents this.'
