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But this is why we don't put convicted child molesters in positions of power over children, even if they don't officially have direct supervision or contact. And even if Mr. Bok would not permit Sutton to cut a minor from the team with no valid reason, the 16 year old girl does not know that. Which is one reason that children are so vulnerable to manipulation and predation by those who have authority over them.
The only coach with “coaching authority” over our youth development and youth elite athletes, is the
country coach. Brett Sutton does not need or desire any authority, as he simply would never want to make a decision over a development athletes as we are not about creating winners. His desire is to retire after leaving a group of young champion coaches, and he simply sees himself as their mentor. We are about providing hope and opportunity to struggling pro’s since the start of our team in 2007 already and if a development athlete learns something about swimming and respecting his fellow athletes and refraining from violence at all times and never ever get involved in drugs, our mission is successful!
Why would we want to “fire” someone from our squad, if we know they simply do their best?
In The Philippines one 17 year old girl left our team in 2012, as she wanted to join the National Swim squad. No problem for us, we accepted her decision and all was handled on country level.
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Again, I'm not accusing Sutton of having done anything wrong with the minors in the TBB programs. But there are overwhelmingly clear reasons why he should have absolutely no power or authority over them.
Thank you for the little respect provided to Brett Sutton for having coached for more than 20 years after the dramatic mistakes he made and extensively discussed on this forum, without one repeat offence committed ever, while hundreds if not thousands of male and female athletes have been coached by Brett on a daily basis during that same period. Some people do show great remorse for mistakes made and learn from the pain this has caused both their victim and themselves in the process and trust me if I tell you, Brett has taken the burden for it upon himself for the rest of his live.
Key point on a belief I have and will share to those who question why I work with Brett Sutton.
Any emotional or physical challenge we experience in our lives can be resolved if we can truly reach a place in our heart where we can forgive those that committed sins to us our loved onces, or people we know and in the process the world will become a better place.
Many years before I met my wife, she was a victim of many years of sexual, physical and emotional abuse. She healed herself and currently operates a practice helping other such victims. She has experienced herself and with her clients also great success, that healing can
only take place when the victim is able to forgive, no matter how contradicting that might sound, the abuser, as otherwise the abuser will always retain a continued power over the victim.
The nightmares, pain and fear victims continue to experience in their lives, are totally understandable and must always be totally respected at all times,
but as long as we empower the abuser with our anger, fear, pain and what ever other emotional state, then this abuser still influences the happiness and quality of our lives. This all has very little to do with triathlon, but with a profound insight and proven facts by many people who were able to let go of the past, who could forgive those that hurt them in their life, as that lead to an increased level of happiness and the ability to "move on with life" as otherwise the victim could face even bigger challenges in the future for holding on to all that pain.
Letting go of the pain, letting go of the anger and finding “peace” in what has happened and was so very wrong, can be one of the biggest revelations and ways to healing for any one who has gone through such extreme painful experience.
My wife has met Brett Sutton prior to me proceeding to work with him after a 3 months in-depth study of his case and past. As a victim for more 6 six years herself, she strongly recommended me to work with Brett as she took one hour of talks as a women and ex-victim herself to figure out this man has a great heart and despite his terrible offence, he too deserves a life and for some people to provide forgiveness for him to move on with his life.
I sincerely hope that any victim on this forum, will accept I truly regret what happened to you and I totally respect and honor you for your courage to continue your life and speak out against those that have hurt you or similar offenders. No words can describe the pain for those who have experienced this, I know first hand.
But please accept, I have seen the power of forgiveness in the person I love most, who was abused for 6 years under the most extreme circumstances. Once she was able to forgive all involved in her ordeal, she finally was able to move on with her life as she verbally, emotionally and spiritually forgave her abusers and attackers, and as a result she is one of the happiest person's I know. After years of further studies and working with experts all over the world, she now successfully helps other victims to experience the same happiness and release of pain.
I agree with all on this forum, that people who violated such level of trust with a minor in a coaching position, should not be coaching minors, so there is no disagreement there at all.
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There are reasons why TBB has operated in Thailand and the Philippines and Brazil and now Mexico. I suspect it's because authorities in Australia, Britain, Canada and the U.S. would never let Sutton near minors. I also suspect that it's because the other countries may not consider 16 year-olds to be minors. That may explain the Switzerland choice, also.
Again, with full respect for your comment, but the assumption you are making is truly 100% incorrect. My business was based in Asia at the start, and hence our training camps were therefore organized in Asia. I live in Thailand with my wife, who is Dutch also.
We have launched teamTBB country teams in the USA, UK, Japan and Germany and the selection of our country team’s is made based on having a country title sponsor / partner and the local support to start our social programs.
Not once EVER, have I made a decision to stay away from country or open in a specific country based on the history of Brett Sutton!
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From further reading of the TBB website, and Sutton's own blog, it appears he is starting to remove himself from coaching professionals in 2013. It sounds like it's so he can focus his efforts on TBB's youth development programs in Asia and South America.
On doctor’s advise Brett is removing himself from not only his coaching work at teamTBB, but also from extensive travel and stressful environments. This means Brett will be increasingly operating as an advisor only in the background and do seminars and talks in our regional training hubs. At the same time, given his health situation, he wishes to spend more time with his wife, their two little daughters and three kids from his first marriage. I guess for him to therefore share his views about sports and kids on our website, based entirely on what he experiences with his own two daughters, seem fine to me.