Maddie Groves, a prominent Australian swimmer and two-time Olympic silver medalist, recently made headlines when she announced she had withdrawn from the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Her decision was attributed to concerns about an alleged culture of misogyny and harassment within the swimming community. The revelation sparked discussions about the challenges female athletes face and the importance of creating a safe and respectful environment in sports….
Maddie has built a solid reputation. Her preparation for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which was postponed by a year due to the global pandemic, has taken a lot of effort in recent years. However, Groves has recently come under more criticism during the Australian trials leading up to the Summer Games and has now decided to withdraw from the Olympics due to the proliferation of “misogynistic perverts” in the swimming community.
Maddie avoided naming specific individuals when she announced that she would not be participating in the Olympic Trials because of “perverts.” However, he does not have to make such a statement. Instead, she has been vocal about bullying in competitive swimming in the past. Maddie came to the conclusion that she would rather live in peace than constantly worry about the “misogynistic pervert” who harassed her at the pool.
Unfortunately, due to her choice, Maddie will not be attending Tokyo this summer. Although she is a world-class swimmer who has won two Olympic silver medals, she does not dive into the water to compete in the 200-meter butterfly or the 4 x 100 breaststroke, both of which she finished in at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio.
As long as they’re allowed to torture her as she tries to compete, Maddie says, “Time’s up” for the perverts, and she’s done swimming.
Some of her followers took it pretty hard when she posted on Instagram to explain why she was pulling out of the Olympics.
“I have decided not to compete in the Olympic Trials in Adelaide. Thank you so much for your encouragement as I make my decision. I am extremely relieved and look forward to competing in other events later this year (yeah, sorry / Not sorry, yet you didn’t let me go!).
“I’m so excited to see everyone at the trials (streaming on Amazon, y’all),” she continued, “and to see who will represent Australia in Tokyo. Whatever happens, I honestly believe it will be one of the fastest Australian swimming teams of all time so I urge everyone to jump on the bandwagon as soon as possible. Good luck to everyone involved in the Olympic Trials, but especially to my great team at @moretonbay_swimming, my incredible coach @david_lush_, and everyone who has helped our group in this preseason.
Maddie didn’t provide many details in her initial message. Fortunately, this was followed up by another that included more information about why w
Let this serve as a warning to all misogynistic perverts in sports, as well as their dupes. Young women and girls can no longer be exploited, shamed, or medically misinformed while being expected to speak on your behalf to get your annual bonus. We’re done.
She declared an end to a sport that rewarded those in positions of power who engaged in “bad behavior” and supported it.
It is crucial for sports organizations, coaches, athletes, and fans to come together to eliminate harassment and misogyny from sports. Athletes like Maddie Groves should be celebrated for their talent, dedication, and courage and not be mistreated. As the world watches the Tokyo Olympics, let it serve as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that sport is a place where all athletes can thrive, free from fear and harassment.
Maddie Groves’ decision may have been personal, but it sparked an important conversation about culture in sports. Her bravery in speaking out against the alleged wrongdoing sends a powerful message: It’s time to put an end to behavior that has no place in the world of sports or anywhere else.