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A distraught Nick D’Arcy says he has accepted the fact that he will not swim at the Beijing Olympics but admits it is “one of the harder things I’ve had to do”.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday rejected D’Arcy’s final appeal against a decision by the Australian Olympic Committee to dismiss him from the Beijing squad for bringing the sport and the team into disrepute.
D’Arcy is charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm on former swimmer Simon Cowley by assaulting him in a Sydney bar early on March 30, just hours after winning a spot on the Australian Olympic team.
The national 200m butterfly record holder fought back tears when he emerged from his Sunshine Coast home today to front the media for the first time since hearing the CAS verdict.
“I’m very disappointed with yesterday’s decision, although I accept yesterday’s decision,” he told reporters at Buddina.
“I have now exhausted all the options available to me for appeal and otherwise.
“I personally believe the CAS hearing was fair and considered so that makes it easier for me to accept the decision.”
The 20-year-old national butterfly champion consulted a piece of paper in his hand throughout but still found it difficult to talk as he came to terms with his Olympic dumping.
“I’m still struggling to come to terms with it,” he said.
“It’s probably one of the harder things I’ve had to do.
“It was not just about me, it was about achieving more for my country, more for my team and more for everyone who sacrificed to get me here.”
D’Arcy said it would be painful but he would watch the Games on TV and cheer Australia’s Travis Nederpelt on in the 200 metres butterfly.
“I will be watching him and I will be wishing him all the best,” he said.
“Obviously it will be a little bit difficult but you’ve got to support your friends, especially if they’re your close friends.”
D’Arcy – who was in the training pool only yesterday – said his future plans were “uncertain”.
“I don’t think I should be making any decisions about my swimming career hastily,” he said.
D’Arcy’s coach Brian Stehr said when considering his charge’s swimming future, it was important to remember that he was still only 20.
The world championships take place next year in Rome, followed by the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
“Knowing Nick as I do I wouldn’t be a bit surprised now to see him bounce back and say `well here I come, cop this’,” he told reporters on the Sunshine Coast today.
D’Arcy’s assault case will not be heard until after the Olympics because members of the Australian swim team in Beijing will be called as witnesses.
In a brief hearing in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court today, the case was adjourned until July 24 for a hearing to determine who will be called as witnesses.
D’Arcy’s lawyer Jack Leitner said his legal team would not be able to call key defence witnesses on July 24, because several were members of the Australian Olympic team, which leaves for Beijing on July 23.
Leitner said it was expected the matter would be adjourned again until after the Beijing Games.
“That’s the inevitable consequence of this matter, that any hearing or trial will proceed after the Olympic Games,” Leitner said.
He said the brief of evidence had been served about two weeks ago and all parties would have to wait to see which witnesses would be required.
He said D’Arcy would be “strongly defending” the assault charge.