SANTA CLARA, California, June 7. THE Bad Boys of Australian Swimming are back at it as Nick D'Arcy and Kenrick Monk have incited a media firestorm by posting pictures of the duo posing with guns. The action led Swimming Australia to take immediate action in calling for the deletion of the images, and releasing a statement against the activity.<\/p>\n
While gun enthusiasts in the United States might wonder what the big deal is, the Australian media is all over the pictures as gun control advocates in Australia state that the images aggrandize the Virginia Tech and Port Arthur mass shootings as D'Arcy and Monk are seen holding weapons similar to those used in the massacres.<\/p>\n
D'Arcy and Monk are not new to controversy. <\/p>\n
D'Arcy's issues are much publicized as he was stripped from the 2008 Australian Olympic Team after assaulting Simon Cowley during a post-Trials celebration. D'Arcy just barely found his way back into the Olympic scene this year after years of litigation, including a loss to Cowley in civil court.<\/p>\n
Monk, meanwhile, broke his elbow last October, initially lying to police stating that he had been involved in a hit-and-run accident as a pedestrian. Monk later came clean, admitting to lying about breaking his elbow due to a skateboarding accident. <\/p>\n
Swimming Australia has responded strongly against latest controversy with the two.<\/p>\n
Swimming Australia became aware of inappropriate photos posted on athlete Facebook pages and Twitter accounts this morning, and instantly contacted the athletes involved to ask for them to be removed under Swimming Australia's Social Media Guidelines.<\/p>\n
The athletes have subsequently removed the photos.<\/p>\n
Swimming Australia in no way condones these photos, and does not condone the posting of inappropriate content on Facebook, Twitter or any social media platform.<\/p>\n
This is a timely reminder for athletes to more be responsible to themselves, the public with whom they engage through social media, and the reputation of the sport.<\/p>\n
The athletes involved are currently returning from a training camp and competition in the US, and will be spoken to further upon their return.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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