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Swimmer Madeline Groves
Photo: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images
The two-time Olympic silver medalist Madeline Groves has withdrawn from the Olympic qualification with a sensational reason.
The Australian swimmer wrote about her resignation from the trials in Adelaide, which begin on Saturday: "Let this be a lesson to the misogynist perverts in sport and their boot-lickers."
It also said: "You can no longer exploit young women and girls,
bodyshamen
or medically
gaslighten
and then expect them to represent them so that they can earn your annual bonus," said a message that she spread via Twitter.
The time has run out.
She did not explain exactly who Groves meant by "misogynist perverts" or what specific incident had led to this news and her foregoing the chance to participate in the Tokyo games.
The 26-year-old swimmer has so far left a request from SPIEGEL unanswered.
According to The Australian newspaper, the Australian Swimming Association reached out to Groves to find out more.
Groves' allegations before
In December, Groves had already reported that a few years ago she had filed a complaint against a man who had stared into her swimsuit and made her uncomfortable.
A "very well-known" trainer also made a creepy comment to her and apologized for it after 15 minutes.
According to its own statement, the Australian Swimming Association had also contacted Groves at the time.
The swimmer refused to provide any further information about her allegations, it said.
"All allegations of abuse or sexual misconduct are taken seriously by Swimming Australia."
The association continued: "We consider the safety and well-being of children and young people to be our top priority and we have a duty to inquire in order to maintain the standards of our sport."
Groves had won gold medals in the 200 meter butterfly and in the 4x100 meter relay at the 2016 Olympics.
She should still have qualified for the games in Tokyo, which begin on July 23.
bka / Reuters
