Olympic gold medalist Rūta Meilutytė has spoken out for the first time about the emotional toll of training under one of Britain's most celebrated swim coaches, Jon Rudd. Despite leading her to global success, Meilutytė says Rudd’s coaching methods left her mentally and physically drained, describing the environment as one that ultimately "broke" her.
In a revealing interview with BBC Panorama, the Lithuanian swimmer detailed how Rudd's strict focus on weight and appearance contributed to her developing an eating disorder and struggling with depression. “He helped create the champion I became,” she admitted, “but at what cost?”
Meilutytė moved to the UK in 2010 to train at Plymouth Leander, a club known for producing elite swimmers. She was only 13. Two years later, she shocked the world by winning Olympic gold in the 100m breaststroke at the London 2012 Games. But behind the medal was a darker story of pressure, scrutiny, and emotional manipulation.
“At Least You’re Losing the Calories”
The swimmer recalled several moments when Rudd made inappropriate comments about her body. At one point, after confiding in him that she had started purging after meals, Rudd reportedly laughed and said, “Well, at least you’re getting the calories out.” Although he later showed concern and sought help, the damage had already been done.
She also recalled being told that her “ass was fat” shortly before a major race—comments that undermined her confidence at critical moments. Although she was the club’s standout athlete, the pressure she faced behind the scenes led her to walk away from Plymouth Leander in 2017. See More
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