Dick Caine, the swimming coach who attacked children in Australia, dies after being convicted

Australian Olympic swimming coach Dick Caine has died, weeks after he was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting six female students.

Caine, who had been receiving treatment for terminal cancer, died on Wednesday morning, the BBC understands. He was 78 years old.

Caine has been charged with 39 crimes against girls in the 1970s and 1980s. The attacks took place at a swimming pool in Sydney, at his home and in his car.

The six victims were due to present their victim impact statements at a special hearing in December, but this is unlikely to go ahead due to Caine’s death.

Caine had an interest in pre-pubescent and teenage girls, District Judge Paul McGuire said during his sentencing in August. One of his victims was only 10 years old at the time.

The judge noted the power imbalance between Caine and the young girls due to his authority and age difference, adding that the girls relied on Caine to help them achieve their swimming dreams.

Caine, who was arrested in 2022, did not appear for a single day of his trial because he was deemed unfit to do so. The court was previously told that he has terminal lung and throat cancer.

According to reports, Caine was the head coach at Carss Park swimming pool in Sydney for more than 40 years until he retired in 2018. He has coached several world champion swimmers, including Michelle Ford, Janelle Elford and Stacey Gartrell.

Child protection activist Hetty Johnston said it was disappointing that the hearing of the special case in December will not continue, as the victims have been waiting for decades to end up in court, according to the ABC report.

“The whole thing is just sad that it took so long to get to this point of the law, as it has now been passed,” he said.