Big splash: Thai swimming coach denies sexually assaulting trainee
A Thai swimming coach denied sexually assaulting a female trainee at a condominium pool in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok and countersued her for allegedly damaging his reputation.
The 26 year old Thai woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, filed a complaint against the swimming coach with officers at Bang Sri Mueang Police Station. She alleged that the coach touched her excessively, beyond what was necessary for swimming instruction.
According to the woman, the coach touched her waist from behind and stood too close to her. She also felt that he attempted to press his genitals close to her body.
At that moment, she decided to stop the training session, excused herself to use the bathroom, and then fled the scene. She later shared video footage of the incident with both the police and news agencies.
In a video aired by Channel 7, the coach is seen standing behind the woman while she practises freestyle swimming.
The woman reported the incident to the administrator of a Facebook group for swimming coaches, who promptly removed the coach from the group.
The swimming coach, whose identity also remains undisclosed, denied the accusation in an interview with Channel 7. He insisted that he had conducted the training in line with standard teaching practices.
He claimed that he did not only touch her waist but also other parts of her body for instructional purposes, and stated that the woman did not release the full footage to the public.
The coach added that he occasionally had to position his face close to the trainee to check whether she was breathing correctly.
Channel 7 reported that the coach has filed a countersuit against the woman, accusing her of defamation and sharing false information via a computer system, in violation of the Computer Crime Act.
Police have not yet reached a conclusion in the case or issued legal charges against either party. Both individuals are expected to be summoned for further questioning.
Former national swimmer Arwut “X” Chinnapasaen, who is now a swimming coach, gave an interview to Channel 7 on how to choose a trustworthy trainer. He advised prospective trainees to verify a trainer’s credentials and permits before enrolling in a course.
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