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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:33 a.m., Friday, February 20, 2009

Swimming: Olympic swimmer apologizes to victim for assault

Associated Press

SYDNEY — Swimmer Nick D'Arcy will have to wait a few more weeks to find out whether he'll spend any time in jail for his assault of former Commonwealth Games medalist Simon Cowley in a barroom fight last March.

D'Arcy was subsequently dropped from Australia's Olympic team for the Beijing Games after being charged in the attack that left Cowley with fractures to his jaw, eye socket, cheekbone and nose.

The fight came on the night D'Arcy was named to the Olympic team after the Australian trials ended on March 30, 2008. He is the Australian record holder in the 200-meter butterfly.

The 21-year-old D'Arcy pleaded guilty last November to recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm on Cowley. Magistrate John Favretto said Friday that he would hear sentencing submissions next week and will hand down his decision at a later date.

The maximum sentence is 10 years in jail.

On Friday, D'Arcy apologized to Cowley in court: "I am extremely sorry, if there was anything I could do to take it back I would," he said.

Cowley, 28, earlier told the sentencing hearing Friday that D'Arcy's assault had a devastating effect on him.

"Before this criminal act I was an extremely fit, confident and happy person," Cowley said. "Sometimes I cannot relax as I am fearful I will be attacked again."