Terry Buck
Encyclopedia
Terrence William "Terry" Buck was an Australian swimmer and coach. He represented Australia
at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in the 400m individual medley and placed eighth. He was the first Australian swimmer to first participate at the Olympics as both an athlete and a coach. He was head coach in the 1984 Summer Olympics
, and team manager in 1992
and 1996
. Buck was also a surf lifesaver and a life member of the Clovelly
Surf Club in New South Wales
. He died in a tractor
accident on his farm, leaving behind his wife Laraine and three daughters.
In 2003, Greg Rogers
filed a civil lawsuit against Buck, accusing him of repeated sexual assault beginning in 1960 when Rogers was 11 and Buck 16. He also claimed that his younger brother, Neil, was sexually abused from the age of eight. This was settled outside court. After Buck's death, the The Daily Telegraph
published an interview with an unnamed "Olympic and Commonwealth medalist" who made public charges of having experienced abuse at Buck's hands as a child. Whilst the interviewee's name was not disclosed, he was widely known to be Rogers. The publicity prompted Paul Shearer
to come forward with allegations of abuse by an unnamed Australian swimming coach. Police Strike Force Solano had begun private investigations into the matter in 1998, but dismissed it in 2001 as lacking evidence. His widow has denied all allegations. 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 they are lies."
Australia at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Australia competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. 243 competitors, 203 men and 40 women, took part in 133 events in 19 sports...
at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in the 400m individual medley and placed eighth. He was the first Australian swimmer to first participate at the Olympics as both an athlete and a coach. He was head coach in the 1984 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics
Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics, held at the McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium, located on the USC campus. There was a total of 494 participants from 67 countries competing.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:-References:...
, and team manager in 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and 1996
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. Buck was also a surf lifesaver and a life member of the Clovelly
Clovelly, New South Wales
Clovelly is a small beach-side suburb in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Clovelly is located 8 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick, within the Federal Division of Wentworth.Clovelly...
Surf Club in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He died in a tractor
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
accident on his farm, leaving behind his wife Laraine and three daughters.
In 2003, Greg Rogers
Greg Rogers
Gregory Rogers was an Australian sprint freestyle swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s, who won a silver and bronze medal in the 4x200m and 4x100m freestyle relays respectively at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics...
filed a civil lawsuit against Buck, accusing him of repeated sexual assault beginning in 1960 when Rogers was 11 and Buck 16. He also claimed that his younger brother, Neil, was sexually abused from the age of eight. This was settled outside court. After Buck's death, the The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
published an interview with an unnamed "Olympic and Commonwealth medalist" who made public charges of having experienced abuse at Buck's hands as a child. Whilst the interviewee's name was not disclosed, he was widely known to be Rogers. The publicity prompted Paul Shearer
Paul Shearer
Paul Shearer is a British actor who is best known as a member of the Fast Show team. His best-known roles on that programme are as a newscaster and a variety show host on the European television parody sketch 'Chanel 9'....
to come forward with allegations of abuse by an unnamed Australian swimming coach. Police Strike Force Solano had begun private investigations into the matter in 1998, but dismissed it in 2001 as lacking evidence. His widow has denied all allegations. She said that she had "trusted" Rogers, who had been the godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
of their late daughter, Sarah, and that having "looked at it from every angle, I can say with certainty in my they are lies."