KR says it is devastated after swim coach attacks Grótta colleague

KR is “devastated” after one of the club’s swim coaches allegedly attacked a coach from Grótta outside the ÍSÍ building on Engjateigur in Reykjavík, mbl.is reported. The coaches had gone there to attend a meeting organised by the Icelandic Swimming Association.

According to a police log, the KR coach threatened the Grótta coach with a knife. Sources told mbl.is that the incident followed an assault in which the KR coach allegedly knocked his colleague to the ground and repeatedly struck him.

A 19-year-old man who happened to arrive on a bicycle intervened and managed to pull the KR coach away. The coach then ran to his car, retrieved a knife and behaved threateningly, according to the report. He chased the Grótta coach, who ran away.

Police had been called by then. The KR coach drove away and failed to obey officers’ orders to stop. Police eventually had to drive into his car before arresting him.

In a statement, KR chair Þórhildur Garðarsdóttir said the sports and youth activities communications adviser had been called in to assist.

“A serious incident involving coaches from KR and Grótta occurred at an Icelandic Swimming Association meeting yesterday. We are all devastated by this,” she said.

Willum Þór Þórsson, president of ÍSÍ, arrived at Engjateigur after the incident. “This is a tragedy,” he said.

“The case is being handled as professionally as possible. It is important to support everyone, whether they are witnesses or the person who was attacked,” Willum said.