Barney Williams, coach of the University of Victoria Vikes women's rowing team, is pictured in a handout photo taken in August 2018 at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in St. Catharines, Ont. VANCOUVER -- Lily Copeland felt she had found her purpose in life when she joined the University of Victoria rowing team.
Copeland is one of three athletes and an assistant coach who have filed complaints against Williams with the university and Rowing Canada Aviron, the governing body that certifies coaches in the country. She alleges he repeatedly yelled at her in a cramped, locked room and criticized her weight and appearance until she began cutting herself and throwing up her food.
When the school launched its investigation in April, team members were told Williams was on a personal leave. He returned to coaching at the school last month even though the process is still underway. "What are you doing? What's in your head?" she says he would yell at her, sometimes using expletives.
She says she complained to the associate director of sport, James Keogh, in October 2018 and in January, but she says he did nothing other than send out a survey to students in mid-March. She says he didn't tell her about the Equity and Human Rights Office, which handles formal complaints, and when she learned about the office in late March she filed a complaint soon after.
Another parent, Lorry Prokopich, says his daughter was required to train on a rowing machine without proper footwear and ripped off the skin on her heels. Photos show large patches of raw, red skin. The injury plagued her and she was cut from the team, he says. "When you're dealing with high-performance athletes, you're asking them to push themselves to their physical and mental limits every day," she says. "A coach has that duty of pushing you but also knowing when to support you."
The claims against Williams have shocked some team members. Layla Balooch and Gillian Cattet say they never experienced or witnessed any mistreatment. McKenna Simpson says she had an "amazing" experience last year with Williams, while Madi Adams, who joined this fall, says she's had "all good, positive experiences."
Jamie Ferguson recalls cycling to practice in February 2014. He says Williams had harassed and verbally abused him for months and he'd begun to seriously contemplate killing himself.
He sounds like a fine coach from what I've read. He's just used to dealing with athletes not buttercups with hurt feelings.
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