Simon Latimer
Simon James Latimer (born 4 November 1981[1] in Dunedin, New Zealand) is a former New Zealand champion and international representative in springboard and platform diving.[2] Latimer is a three time Olympic diving judge and referee having officiated in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.[1] Latimer was previously a member of FINA's Technical Diving Committee between 2017 and 2022, and specialized in the psychology of judging diving.[3] He is currently a judge on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series since 2020.[4]

In December 2021 Latimer wrote a formal whistleblower complaint to FINA's Chief Executive Brent Nowicki accusing FINA's vice president, Zhou Jihong from China, of unethical behavior.[5] Latimer alleged that Zhou manipulated judging panels in favor of China and bullied judges in the diving events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.[6] Zhou was subsequently ordered by FINA's Ethics Panel to apologise for complaints about her behavior and a recommendation was made to disestablish her position.[7] Latimer also claimed that Zhou's unethical behaviour extended to coaching Chinese divers at the 2020 Olympic Games while concurrently a FINA Vice President and this was corroborated by video evidence.[8]
As of 2022, Latimer is a Life Member of Diving New Zealand.[9]
References
- "Olympedia – Simon Latimer". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- "Simon Latimer". New Zealand Olympic Team. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- "Live session – Replay – Simon Latimer (NZL) | FINA Learning Platform". Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- "Red Bull Cliff Diving – About Us". www.redbull.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- Ramsay, George (12 May 2022). "She apologized for verbally abusing an Olympic judge, but questions over the conduct of China's 'Iron Lady' of diving remain". CNN. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- "Simon Latimer letter to Brent Nowicki.docx – AnonFiles". anonfiles.com. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- Hack, Raymond (December 2021). "FINA Ethics Panel Decision Zhou Jihong" (PDF). World Aquatics. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- Sutherland, James (18 April 2022). "Video Shows FINA VP Zhou Jihong Coaching Chinese Diver At Tokyo Olympic Games". SwimSwam. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- "DNZ BOARD AWARDS". DIVING NEW ZEALAND. Retrieved 7 May 2023.