Abuse in swimming clubs exposed in new BBC Documentary The Dark Side of Swimming Clubs

Airing today, the documentary investigates how the dreams of young athletes - some aiming for Olympic glory - have in some cases been shattered by the actions of abusive coaches and systemic safeguarding failures.

The documentary features swimmers who developed eating disorders after being bullied about their weight by coaches and investigates the role of the sport's regulator, who knew about allegations against senior coaches but did nothing. Swim England has apologised and promised to learn from past mistakes.

Dino Nocivelli, solicitor and abuse claims partner at Leigh Day, contributed to the programme and has long campaigned for greater accountability and transparency within sport. His involvement builds on years of legal work representing survivors of abuse in swimming and other athletic environments.

Earlier this year, Dino secured a settlement in a legal case for a woman, now in her 30s, against Bridgend County Borough Council, after she was sexually abuse by former swimming coach Robert Rixon.  

Rixon was a swimming coach at Porthcawl Comprehensive School where he sexually abused the claimant from her first year at the school in 2000 when she was aged just 11, over a period of two years. Rixon exploited his position of trust and authority to carry out the abuse. He was convicted in 2022 on 25 charges relating to childhood sexual abuse and is now serving a 25-year prison sentence.

Dino Nocivelli has also been an outspoken critic of the limited scope of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), particularly its decision not to fully investigate abuse in sport. He has previously argued that sports like swimming - with their combination of close physical contact, authoritarian coaching structures, and young athletes striving for success - present a high-risk environment for abuse if it is not properly safeguarded.

Dino said:

“This documentary is long overdue. I hope it serves as a wake-up call to sports bodies, clubs and society more broadly. Too many survivors have had their voices ignored or silenced. The pursuit of sports prizes should never come at the cost of a child’s safety.

“We have seen how abusers have used their positions of power and trust to manipulate and exploit young athletes, often in plain sight. For too long, the response from institutions has been one of denial or delay. That must change. There needs to be a cultural shift in how we view safeguarding - one that places children’s welfare above reputation or results.

“I urge anyone who has suffered abuse, whether recently or many years ago, to know that you are not alone and that justice is possible. Your story matters.”

Survivors who have suffered abuse can confidentially contact Dino at dnocivelli@leighday.co.uk