Simon James Latimer OLY (born 4 November 1981[1] in Dunedin, New Zealand) is a former New Zealand champion and international representative in springboard and platform diving.[2] Latimer is also a three time Olympic diving judge and referee having officiated in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.[3] In 2015, Latimer was the recipient of a Prime Minister's Scholarship[4] for service to sport. Latimer was previously a member of FINA's Technical Diving Committee between 2017 and 2022, and specialized in the psychology of judging diving.[5] He is currently a judge on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series since 2020.[6]

Simon James Latimer

In December 2021 Latimer wrote a formal whistleblower complaint to FINA's Chief Executive Brent Nowicki accusing FINA's vice president, Zhou Jihong from China, of unethical behavior.[7] Latimer alleged that Zhou manipulated judging panels in favor of China and bullied judges in the diving events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.[8] Zhou was subsequently ordered by FINA's Ethics Panel to apologise for complaints about her behaviour and a recommendation was made to disestablish her position.[9]

Latimer also claimed that Zhou's unethical behavior extended to coaching Chinese divers at the 2020 Olympic Games while concurrently a FINA Vice President and this was corroborated by video evidence.[10] In 2022, FINA's By Laws were updated to state that the Bureau Liaison position that Zhou holds should not interfere on the field of play during competitions and that individuals holding that position shall not act as a Team Leader or coach at international events including the Olympic Games.

As of 2022, Latimer is a Life Member of Diving New Zealand.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Olympedia – Simon Latimer". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Simon Latimer". New Zealand Olympic Team. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Olympedia – Simon Latimer". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  4. ^ Johannsen, Dana (12 July 2022). "Kiwi diving official replaced on FINA committee after blowing the whistle on one of the sport's most powerful figures". Stuff. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Live session – Replay – Simon Latimer (NZL) | FINA Learning Platform". Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Red Bull Cliff Diving – About Us". www.redbull.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. ^ Ramsay, George (12 May 2022). "She apologized for verbally abusing an Olympic judge, but questions over the conduct of China's 'Iron Lady' of diving remain". CNN. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Simon Latimer letter to Brent Nowicki.docx – AnonFiles". anonfiles.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  9. ^ Hack, Raymond (December 2021). "FINA Ethics Panel Decision Zhou Jihong" (PDF). World Aquatics. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  10. ^ Sutherland, James (18 April 2022). "Video Shows FINA VP Zhou Jihong Coaching Chinese Diver At Tokyo Olympic Games". SwimSwam. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  11. ^ "DNZ BOARD AWARDS". DIVING NEW ZEALAND. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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