Olympic gold medalist Zac Stubblety-Cook has broken his silence on his decision to switch swimming camps on the eve of the Commonwealth Games, revealing “cracks started to appear” in his relationship with respected coach Mel Marshall during what he described as a “stressful” period.
Ahead of Australia’s swimming trials in Sydney, which run from Monday to Saturday, Stubblety-Cook has tried to clear the air after being hit with “disappointing rumours” since this pillar head was exposed he and Olympic girlfriend Ella Ramsay had abruptly left their Gold Coast training facility in April following a major row with Marshall and other swimmers.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issues, say the Griffith University Swimming Club program, one of Swimming Australia’s high-performance hubs, has become an uneasy environment in recent months, with internal tensions brewing among swimmers and Stubblety-Cook and Ramsay amid turmoil.
Sources say issues have been raised internally and finger-pointing has escalated, leading to the pair moving to Melbourne’s Nunawading Swimming Club, where they have been preparing for trials for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Pan Pacific Championships in California later this year.
Their departures follow those of Olympians Kaylee McKeown and Lani Pallister, who also left Griffith after Michael Bohl left following the Paris Olympics.
Attempts to contact Marshall were unsuccessful, and Swimming Australia declined to comment on his behalf.
In an interview with this masthead, Stubblety-Cook said she had “huge respect” for Marshall’s career, which included guiding British breaststroker Adam Peaty to multiple Olympic gold medals.
He was excited at the prospect of working with one of the world’s top coaches, but admitted the relationship fell apart.
“I think the cracks started to show, and it just didn’t work for us,” Stubblety-Cook said.
“There were differences of opinion on a few aspects of the program that we didn’t agree on … and that’s not unusual in a high-performance environment. It’s Mel’s plan, and he has the agency to run it as he sees fit.
“I’m in my third (Olympic) campaign now and I wanted to push forward and get the best out of myself and I didn’t see a way to do that.
“There was a nationalist meeting (in April) where there were a few options discussed. At the end of the day, it was clear from that discussion that we would go our separate ways and move forward.
“I wish him and his team all the best for the upcoming trials.”
Central to the story is Ramsay, an Olympic silver medalist in Paris as part of Australia’s 4x100m medley team, who declined to comment through his management on the circumstances surrounding his departure.
“That’s probably for him to comment on. I don’t want to put words in his mouth,” Stubblety-Cook said. “There are several situations that went on, but it’s not for me to talk about because it’s not my story.
“Mel always treated us differently and as individuals.
“I am 27 years old, and you will fight with anyone in the workplace, but I can say that the allegations and rumors have been the most frustrating part because it is not who I am and never how I have behaved. I have never understood those accusations or those rumors.”
Stubblety-Cook said the timing of the move was not good, but she is confident it will not jeopardize her bid to defend her Commonwealth Games title in the 200m breaststroke.
“I definitely believed … I was doing my best and I never stepped outside of what I was asked to do, but it’s a difficult position to be out of the Olympics for two years. Athletes and coaches move all the time. It just happens to be in a bad and dangerous situation,” he said.
“Even though it’s been a bad situation and a very frustrating time, I’ve landed with a group that has embraced me. I can’t wait to get back to racing and go hard. I’m a very compassionate person and not someone who likes to rock the boat.”
There could be an awkward encounter between the pair at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, or later on the tour if Stubblety-Cook and Marshall are involved with the Dolphins.
“That’s a bridge I’ll cross when I get there,” Stubblety-Cook said. “I think we can all stay professional. I think everyone has to respect Mel and what he did with Adam and the time he had in British swimming.”
When asked about the fact that three Olympians – himself, McKeown and Pallister – had all left Griffith since Marshall arrived in early 2025, Stubblety-Cook was careful with his response.
“They have made it clear why they left and they have achieved success since they left. Maybe that says enough,” he said. “I don’t think Kaylee would go slow anywhere she swam.
“That’s Swimming Australia’s job to sift through all of that and comment on all of that. People can make their own deductions about what it looks like.
“There are two different programs (at Griffith). Mel Marshall works in one program and Tom (Fraser-Holmes) works as another program. It’s not for me to talk about how they work together or not.
“I am very grateful to all those people who have helped me along the way during this very difficult time.”
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Tom Decent is the senior sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect through X or email address.
