Swimming champ testifies in abuse case against physio

An Olympic gold medallist has denied deliberately withholding evidence in a child sexual abuse case against a former Australian swimming team physiotherapist.

Peter Wells was the head physiotherapist for the Australian swimming team at the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Peter John Wells, 55, is facing a committal hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial to defend allegations he had unlawful sexual relationships with five girls and indecently assaulted two others.

Wells was head physiotherapist for the Australian swimming team at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics.

Bronte Barratt, who won her Olympic gold medal in the 4x200 metre relay at Beijing, was recalled to the stand following an adjournment, after it emerged she had not produced all of her relevant communications regarding Wells.

Barratt – who is not a complainant in the case against Wells – had extensive correspondence with another elite swimmer.

That swimmer had told Barratt someone had pressured her to make a statement to police, which she resisted, saying “there would be the longest list of girls who could make a statement”.

Barratt replied: “Such a toughie. Only do it if you feel comfortable, and it’s your life, so don’t be pressured or anything ... Have you spoken to anyone else from our era? Literally every Queensland girl on the swim team would have been treated by Peter Wells at some point.”

Olympic swimming Bronte Barratt.Credit: Steve Christo

But after initially denying there was further correspondence between her and other athletes, Barratt, who was being instructed to scroll messages in her phone, confirmed there was.

“You understand you were summonsed to produce all communications,” defence counsel Craig Eberhardt said.

After an adjournment, more messages were produced with former Australian swimmers.

One, from August 6, 2022, said there were “swimmers, netball and soccer players all with identical stories”.

Accused of not telling the whole truth by Eberhardt, Barratt denied the failure to produce all relevant evidence was deliberate and said she had been in a rush.

A combative exchange occurred when Barratt was made to read out a message warning her that “the defence’s guy’s a prick and will really try and belittle you”.

“People have been saying that for years and now I’ve got a certificate,” Eberhardt said.

There was laughter from the gallery before Eberhardt asked Barratt “Have I been a prick to you?”

“I don’t think I need to answer that,” she replied.

“I’ll take it that you have,” Eberhardt retorted.

The hearing, which was supposed to finish this week, will resume on January 20.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

AAP

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