MELBOURNE — Swimming Australia (SA) has sacked coach Michael Palfrey after he triggered a media storm at the Paris Olympics by saying he hoped a South Korean athlete would beat Australian rivals at the Games.

Palfrey, one of the Australian swim team's Olympic coaches, told media days before the Games that he hoped world champion Kim Woo-min would win the men's 400 metres freestyle in which Australia's Sam Short and Elijah Winnington were also contenders.

Olympic swimming coaches are often freelancers who work with multiple nations' swimmers.

"I really hope (Kim) can win, but ultimately, I really hope he swims well," Palfrey told media at Paris, adding: "Go Korea."

Palfrey's comments triggered a fierce reaction from team officials and the Australian Olympic Committee, which said he had made a "serious error of judgement".

However, he was allowed to continue in his role at the Olympics.

SA said on Friday (Sept 6) it had sacked Palfrey for breaching his contract "by bringing himself into disrepute and causing serious damage to his and Swimming Australia's reputation, and adversely affecting Swimming Australia's interests."

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