Australian swim coach Michael Palfrey declares allegiance to Korean star Kim Woo-min in TV interview

An Australian Olympic swim coach is under fire after openly declaring he wants a Korean athlete to win a race at Paris 2024 that includes two Aussies.

Dolphins coach Michael Palfrey is employed by Swimming Australia but has a close relationship with a number of Korean swimmers who have also trained under him, including world champion Kim Woo-min.

Kim is set to race against Australian duo Sam Short and Elijah Winnington in the men’s 400m freestyle on Sunday morning AEST — a race which Palfrey hopes the Korean will win.

“I really hope he can win, but ultimately I really hope he swims well,” Palfrey told Korean media poolside in Paris.

“It’s been a very collaborative approach from the coaches in Korea and myself in Australia.

“I’m very good friends with the Australian coaches and swimmers but I have really enjoyed coaching Kim as well.”

Short was the 2023 world champion in the 400m freestyle, while Winnington finished second behind Kim in the same event this year.

The Australian coach said there would be a group of about four swimmers vying for gold, and that “we” need the Korean to “lift”.

“I really think that last 100 to 200 metres is going to be a bit of a dogfight. It’s going to rough. The boys are going to be there,” Palfrey said.

“There will be three or four of them in the race that think they can win it.

“I think it’s going to come down to that last 100 metres. We need Woo-min to lift, that’s what I’ll be saying to him. He’s got to race tough.”

Palfrey is one of eight Australian Dolphins coaches, and directly looks after Zac Incerti, Abbey Connor and Alex Perkins.

South Korean swimmers Kim, Lee Yoo-yeon, Yang Jae-hoon, Lee Ho-joon and Hwang Sun-woo have all travelled to Queensland to train under Palfrey in the past, with the blessing of Swimming Australia.

Palfrey said he had high hopes for all three of Kim, Short and Winnington.

“I want to see new ground always being broken, I want to see world records being broken,” Palfrey said.

“With Woo-min, what I can see that he can do in the training pool, not many swimmers can do.

“I’m excited to work with an athlete and that I am going, ‘Wow, this guy is something special’. We just need to give him enough time that he keeps on improve him.

“I want him to get out of the pool and (know) he’s done his best time and he’s given it 100 per cent.

“We want to see him swim a best time. If he swims a best time, he’ll be amongst it. He’ll be in the top few swimmers in the race.

“I think Woo-Min can definitely be amongst the medals but the hard thing for him is that those (Australian) guys have already posted fast times. He’s got to find another level. Hopefully at this meet, he can go faster.”

Palfrey finished his interview with South Korean reporters by saying “go Korea”.

Swimming Australia has been contacted for comment.