Guy Toib, an Israeli swimmer studying at Saint Thomas University in Florida, claims he was excluded from the conference championship and team practices after complaining to the university president about a Palestinian swimmer being invited to team events and the political atmosphere created by her visit. "The coach apologized – but it was too late. The damage cannot be fixed," the swimmer told Israel Hayom.
This follows a weekend interview with Valerie Tarazi, a Palestinian swimmer, in which she complained about the lack of Olympic-sized pools in Palestinian Authority territories. Following the interview, Toib – a 22-year-old Israeli swimmer – revealed for the first time what he experienced at St. Thomas University in Miami: systematic exclusion for political reasons, politicization of the locker room, and ongoing professional humiliation.
Tarazi, who finished in last position at the Tokyo Olympics and previously swam at Auburn University, was invited for a full weekend with the St. Thomas swimming team. "She participated in three practices, in the ring ceremony we held after winning the 2024 NAIA championship, and in another recognition ceremony at the university's football game," Toib explained.
According to him, her presence was accompanied by unmistakable political messages: "She removed the university cap and swam with a Palestinian cap right in front of me and the entire team. The coach praised her, asked the swimmers to 'show her respect,' and within moments the whole team was following her. The team's official Instagram page even shared her profile – without any oversight."
Toib noted this wasn't a one-time invitation: "When rumors started circulating that she would be invited again, I realized it wasn't coincidental. Later, I discovered she had even taught the team technique during one of her previous visits. At that point, I felt I had to stop it, and I went directly to the university president."
The coach apologized – but it was too late
Following the complaint, the head coach, who, according to Toib, actively supported pro-Palestinian posts on social media, including some with Hamas symbols and slogans like "From the river to the sea," began to distance Toib from the active roster.
"He claimed it was a professional decision, but that's simply not true," Toib said. "When other swimmers stopped coming to practices close to the conference championship, he removed them from the lists. I continued training even when it was clear I wasn't selected, but I didn't get an opportunity. It was settling scores, period."
Toib emphasized: "The coach justified inviting Tarazi by saying she's 'a swimmer at the highest level,' but that's simply untrue. We have Olympic swimmers on the team, and female swimmers who are much better than her. There's no athletic reason to invite her – except wanting to send a political message."
Eventually, following an official inquiry with the university president, after mediation by Israeli Professor Hagai Gringarten, the coach apologized to Toib, both for bringing Tarazi and for the situation created around him. He was also reprimanded.
"But the apology came only a week after the team had already left for the championship," he said. "I met with the president only on the day they departed, meaning at a stage where it was no longer possible to fix the injustice. The result on the ground was clear: I was left out." Toib, who represents Maccabi Haifa and is considered one of the leading swimmers to come out of Israel in recent years, requested a transfer to another college but was unsuccessful. "In the NAIA league without results, you have nothing to show. No statistics – no transfers," he explained.
Now, he is expected to remain at the same university next year, despite everything. "All I wanted was to compete," he concluded. "But the moment I dared to complain, I became the problem. At least today, I'm no longer staying silent. This isn't just about me – it's about everyone who believes sports should remain free from politics and hatred."
