Michael Palfrey, a member of the Australian Olympic Team coaching staff reportedly told South Korean media of his hope that 400m freestyle world champion Kim Woo-min take gold ahead of Australians Sam Short and Elijah Winnington.

The three athletes are all former world champions and will go head to head in the men's 400m freestyle on the opening day of Olympic action but the “un-Australian” Palfrey might not be there to see it with calls for him to be sent home.  

Palfrey mentored South Korean Kim Woo-min while he was training in Brisbane ahead of the Games but has been working with Australian swimmers Zac Incerti, Alex Perkins, and Abbey Connor.

He now finds himself in hot water for not only openly expressing a desire that Woo-min win gold but for also shouting "Go Korea" while being interviewed wearing Australian team colours.

Australia’s head coach Rohan Taylor, who recently emphasised the Aussie potential to challenge American swimming supremacy at the Paris Olympics, is now faced with deciding on Palfrey’s future amidst discontent within the squad.

“A coach on our team promoting another athlete ahead of our athletes is not acceptable,” said Taylor. “Promoting an athlete who’s not Australian is just un-Australian, to be honest.

Taylor will address members of the Australian Olympic Swimming Team to make a "pragmatic" decision "sooner rather than later."

"The options are he either goes home or he stays, and what is the impact on the performance of the team,” he said.

“If he goes home we have to find other coaches to pick up the load and our coaches are really stretched. If he stays, it's about the team dynamic and whether the other coaches can support that and the athletes can go about their business and not be distracted."