Swimming Australia has dismissed coach Michael Palfrey following remarks he made during the Paris Olympics, where he expressed a desire for a South Korean athlete to outperform Australian swimmers.

In an interview with South Korean media, Palfrey stated his hope that Kim Woo-min would secure victory in the men’s 400-meter freestyle, a race that included Australian competitors Sam Short and Elijah Winnington. “I genuinely hope he can win, but ultimately, I hope he performs well,” Palfrey remarked in Paris, adding, “Go Korea.”

In a statement released on Friday, Swimming Australia announced Palfrey's termination, citing a violation of his employment agreement. The organization noted that Palfrey had brought “himself into disrepute, causing significant harm to both his and Swimming Australia’s reputation, while negatively impacting the interests of Swimming Australia.”

FILE - Gold medalist Lukas Maertens, of Germany, middle, poses with silver medalist Elijah Winnington, of Australia, left, and bronze medalist Kim Woo-min of South Korea, on the podium after the men’s 400-meter freestyle final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. Swimming Australia has fired coach Michael Palfrey over comments made at the Paris Olympics where he said he hoped a South Korean athlete would beat Australian swimmers. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

The statement confirmed that Palfrey would maintain his coaching accreditation status.

Palfrey, who had previously served as an adviser to Kim, was instructed along with other Australian swimming coaches in March to cease any affiliations with non-Australian athletes, four months before the Olympic Games.

Germany’s Lukas Märtens won the gold medal in the men’s 400-meter freestyle, with Winnington taking silver and Kim earning bronze.

Australia's head swim coach, Rohan Taylor, described Palfrey's comments as “un-Australian” and indicated that he might be sent home, although he ultimately remained in Paris. “I am very disappointed. Extremely disappointed,” Taylor expressed at the time. “For a coach on our team to endorse another athlete over our own is unacceptable.”