'Decision will come later': AOC boss backs call to keep under fire swim coach in Paris

The head of the Australian Olympic Committee Matt Carroll said he backs Swimming Australia's call to allow Michael Palfrey to remain in Paris, despite the coach breaching a directive to set aside commitments to overseas swimmers before the Olympic

On Tuesday, Palfrey wished South Korean world champion Kim Woo-min the best of luck to win gold in the men's 400m freestyle, a race Australians Sam Short and Elijah Winnington will also be competing in.

There were calls for the coach to be sent home, after claims Australian high performance staff were sent an email regarding their affiliations with international swimmers earlier this year.

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The email from Swimming Australia asked coaches to prioritise their commitment to the Australian team over other athletes and it specifically stated it did not support "Australian coaches supporting international athletes on international teams."

Yet Palfrey was given a stay of execution, when athletes and Swimming Australia officials decided it would be in the best interests of the overall team if the focus remained on getting the best out of the athletes.

"Within our agreements it says we should make decisions that's best for the athletes in the team. Swimming Australia made that decision and we support that," AOC chief Carroll told Today.

"The important thing there is the head coach of swimming took charge of that. There was full disclosure I spoke to the CEO of Swimming Australia last night. We told the swimming world we'll back you."

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Carroll suggested Palfrey will be dealt with when the team arrives home, and the athletes had a major hand in keeping him in France.

"The most important part of the decision was about the athletes," he continued. "The coaching decision will come later. There's two days to go before the swimming starts. The athletes got together and gave their views with Swimming Australia.

"What he said was probably not the best use of words . A lot of coaches do international coaching. It's not unusual in that respect.

"There is a point in time where that is put aside as you join the Australian squad for the Olympic Games. We know they've made the right decision."

Former Olympian Cate Campbell concurred with that viewpoint, saying the decision was driven by the athletes.

"He is a valued member of the team and is responsible for getting athletes prepared. With two days out, I think this was a good decision," Campbell told Today from Paris.

"Athletes were involved in the decision. It was an athlete-led performance focused decision. Mick's apologised."

Head swim coach Rohan Taylor confirmed Palfrey's continued association with Kim would be investigated by Swimming Australia's integrity unit.

He also acknowledged Palfrey did receive an email from Swimming Australia in March, regarding his duty to the Aussie team.

"I came to the decision that the best situation for the team is for Michael Palfrey to stay with the team," Taylor said. "We just had an online team meeting where ... Michael apologised profusely for his mistake.

"I'm very critical of him. I was angry. I made sure he knew that.

"I believe it was a very bad error of judgment and the consequences for that will be coming in the future when we get back home.

"But for the nine days of our competition, my job is to make a call around the wellbeing and the performance environment and that's what I've done."

The swimmers will get underway on Saturday night.