Aussie coach is sent home after criticising team captain Sally Pearson
Eric Hollingsworth defies his bosses and accuses Olympic 100m hurdles champion of setting a bad example
The head coach of Australian athletics was being sent home for publicly criticising Olympic 100 metres hurdles champion Sally Pearson and accusing her of setting a bad example to the national team a day before she begins the defence of her title at the Commonwealth Games.
Australia chef de mission Steve Moneghetti confirmed on Thursday that Eric Hollingsworth was being sent home for releasing an unauthorised statement to the media criticising Pearson’s decision to miss a pre-tournament training camp with her teammates in Glasgow in favour of racing in London.
Hollingsworth, who was suspended just hours after his statement, also said the athlete, who won gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, had not told the truth about the support she had received from the Australian team.
What’s lost here is that she’s the team captain and there’s a reasonable expectation she’d be in the camp ahead of something as major as the Commonwealth Games. Her no-show sets a bad example to the entire national team
In announcing Hollingsworth’s suspension, Athletics Australia expressed disappointment at the timing of his comments, insisting he should be focusing on supporting the athletes instead.
“He acted without the authority of Athletics Australia and in contravention of the specific instructions of the chief executive officer,” Athletics Australia President David Grace said.
“Athletics Australia condemns in the strongest terms his disparaging comments about Sally Pearson and his timing.
“We have therefore suspended Eric Hollingsworth as an employee of Athletics Australia until such time as the Athletics Australia Board can convene to consider the matter.