Australian swimmers Josh Palmer and Emma McKeon have been disciplined and won’t be allowed to attend the closing ceremony after breaking team rules after a night out in Copacabana.
Palmer and McKeon had been partying with other swimmers at the Miramar Hotel on Tuesday night (Rio Time).
From there gold medalist McKeon decided to stay with two swimmers from Sweden rather than take a taxi back to the athletes’ village on her own at 4:30am. McKeon’s mistake was not informing team management that she was not returning.
Palmer’s night was more dramatic.
After the Miramar Hotel, Palmer had been with lawyer and columnist Justin Quill at one of the many beach kiosks. They watched the sun come up and Quill eventually left thinking Palmer was going to make his way back to the athletes’ village.
No one could reach Palmer and his whereabouts were not known until 2pm when two businessmen are said to have found the swimmer looking ‘disoriented’ in the copa district.
He didn’t have his phone or wallet and claimed that he was robbed and forced to withdraw money from an ATM.
Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller had warned athletes about team rules and decided to take a firm approach to Palmer and McKeon’s breach. As well as being banned from the closing ceremony both swimmers will have a curfew between 8pm and 8am, while the rest of the Australian swimming team will have a 2am curfew.
“Given the security problems we have encountered over the past few weeks I find the behaviour of the disciplined athletes disrespectful to the remainder of the Team,” Chiler said.
“I would like to thank the businessmen who found Josh and delivered him to the Australian Consulate and I appreciate the support given to the Team by Consulate staff”.
Chiller insists she is not a ‘party pooper’ and the team rules are in place for a reason.
“This could have ended up a lot worse. We know what goes on in Copa and Ipanema.”
“I do not want to have to call a parent and tell them that their child has been robbed, mugged or anything worse,” Chiller said.
yeah-nah
Guest
How do you know that? NZ will have rules and protocols very similar to what Australia have. The major difference is that their athletes are probably following them, ergo, we hear nothing about team discipline.
yeah-nah
Guest
I'm with you on this Sheek. The athletes broke protocols - end of. This is the olympics not some weekend carnival. Millions of dollars have been poured into their respective programmes specifically for this event and they, the athletes signed up for it - and that includes abiding by the rules or protocols set by those in charge. Those who pay make the rules if the athletes don't like it, don't sign up.
Mitcher
Guest
You must worry an awful lot.
Mitcher
Guest
'Back in my day blah...' Was there a moment you realised you'd reached critical fogie mass? Or did it come on gradually?
HarryT
Guest
I am sure the security briefings Chiller had to incorporate into her management would spook us all. Many of the athletes are fanatical about their nutrition and diets and even more so before the 'big dance'. The pictures of athletes preparing to eat 30 Big Macs is a symbol of their abstinence leading up to the Olympics. Many of these guys are people of extremes. More concerning is young people going from a regime of no alcohol or party drugs to the party capital of the world. This would give those responsible for maintaining everyone's safety a lot to worry about. When you add the impulsiveness of the under 25s and the single minded "Rainman' impersonations of many elite athletes, I am in favour of a general hyper vigilance.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Maybe he takes some of the blame for that dickhead Lochte then
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Damn right we'd all love to be partying post our competition. But...there is a stricter protocol in place to ensure athlete's safety in a place acknowledged as being less safe than Sydney or London for example. If I went on a rampage until breaching curfews or found disorientated at 2pm I may have some great stories to tell but, as an adult, if at least accept that I broke rules I knew. I wouldn't do Chiller's job if I got a fortnight post games without curfew as a bonus.
jameswm
Roar Guru
One of them was found disorientated and delivered by concerned citizens to the Australian embassy. Not the best look, don't you think?
jameswm
Roar Guru
The Americans and Poms didn't complain. They just didn't stay there.
paulywalnuts
Guest
Yes, very important when having a big one...protocols...
howzyapappa
Guest
sorry Sheek. Heartily disagree with everything you have said. Also, I am sure if you were in Rio you would love to be amongst the partying once you completed competition. If you did not, then I am not sure why
howzyapappa
Guest
me too. that would be wicked
howzyapappa
Guest
I agree Celtic. If I trained for 4 years and finished my events, I would be partying hard in Rio . I have heard some hot stories from there. I would be way amongst it. How could anybody be begrudged that. I am sure there is a heap of "outrageous" activity going on there, most we won't hear about. Good luck to them
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
Well, poor discipline has been blamed for Aussie swimmers under-performing before, but putting a pseudo-governess in charge, who acts as if she's going to spank them if they don't eat their vegetables isn't really going to help them develop the maturity they need. Likewise, if the aim is to avoid distractions, then having to jump through hoops for an attention seeking Robomummy isn't going to help either. Don't believe me? Look at the performances...........
me too
Guest
This is why i no longer get emails from Change.org - just the most inane stupid petitions from the 'me' generation. god knows how they would have handled what happened to dawn fraser.
bendagirl
Guest
Sorry, clicked too late...my response actually directed to Will Sinclair's earlier comment.
bendagirl
Guest
You are being sarcastic, yes?
sheek
Roar Guru
It doesn't change the fact Chiller is doing her job & being pilloried for it. what is these, the no consequences for stupid behaviour generation?
Handles
Guest
Try googling US Chef de Mission, or NZ Chef de Mission, or UK Chef de Mission etc. etc. Nobody else, nobody else, has carried on like our Kitty.
sheek
Roar Guru
Oh please...........