Terry Buck

Australian swimmer, Olympic athlete, coach (1943-2005)

Terrence William "Terry" Buck[1] was an Australian swimmer and coach. He represented Australia at the 1964 Summer Olympics in the 400m individual medley and placed eighth.[2] He was the first Australian swimmer to participate at the Olympics as both an athlete and a coach.[1] He was head coach in the 1984 Summer Olympics, and team manager in 1992 and 1996.[3] Buck was also a surf lifesaver and a life member of the Clovelly Surf Club in New South Wales.[3] He died in a tractor accident on his farm, leaving behind his wife, Laraine and three daughters.[3][4]

Terry Buck
Born6 July 1943
DiedMarch 7, 2005(2005-03-07) (aged 61)
NationalityAustralian
OccupationSwimming

In 2003, Greg Rogers filed a civil lawsuit against Buck. He claimed that Buck had sexually abused him from 1960 when Rogers was 11 and Buck was 16. He also said that his younger brother, Neil, was sexually abused from when he was eight.[4] This was settled outside court.[5] After Buck died, the Telegraph published an interview with an anonymous "Olympic and Commonwealth medalist" who said that he had been abused by Buck as a child.[6] The person who was interviewed was not named, but many knew it was Rogers.[7] Police had begun private investigations into the matter in 1998, but stopped the investigation in 2001, saying that it did not have enough proof.[8] His wife said that the stories were all untrue.[9] She said that she had "trusted" Rogers, who had been the godfather of their late daughter, Sarah, and that having "looked at it from every angle, I can say with certainty in my heart ... that they are lies."[9]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kubatko, Justin. "Terry Buck Biography and Olympic results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  2. Kubatko, Justin. "Swimming at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games: Men's 400 metres Individual Medley". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Top coach Terry Buck mourned". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 March 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Sexual Assault | Terry Buck | Greg Rogers | Paul Shearer". theage.com.au. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  5. Jeffery, Nicole (December 10, 2009). "Swim coach Terry Buck denied date of meeting". The Australian. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  6. Walters, Adam (7 December 2009). "Olympic swim sex abuse scandal". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  7. Jeffery, Nicole (8 December 2009). "Swimming Australia head coach Alan Thompson takes leave amid investigation". The Australian. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  8. "Swim mum rubbishes claims coach abused kids, Olympians". Herald Sun. 7 December 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Cowley, Michael (10 December 2009). "Terry Buck's widow speaks out". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 September 2010.