{{Short description|New Zealand sportsperson}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Simon James Latimer | image = SLat.jpg | imagesize = | caption = | nationality = | country = New Zealand | sport = Diving, High Diving | disability = | disability_class = | event = | club = | coach = | citizenship = New Zealand, Ukraine | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|11|4|df=y}} | birth_place = Dunedin, New Zealand | death_date = | death_place = | retired = | height = 184 cm | weight = | pb = | medaltemplates = }} '''Simon James Latimer OLY''' (born 4 November 1981<ref name="Olympedia">{{Cite web |title=Olympedia – Simon Latimer |url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/5004432 |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=www.olympedia.org}}</ref>) is a former New Zealand champion and Olympic representative in springboard and platform diving.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 February 2016 |title=Simon Latimer |url= https://www.olympic.org.nz/media/images/games-100-latimer-simon-04-11-1981-nzl-jpg/ |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=New Zealand Olympic Team |language=en}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Latimer is also a three time Olympic diving judge and referee having officiated in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympedia – Simon Latimer |url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/5004432 |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=www.olympedia.org}}</ref> He also represented New Zealand at three consecutive Commonwealth Games from 2010 to 2018. In 2015, Latimer was the recipient of a Prime Minister's Scholarship<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johannsen |first=Dana |date=2022-07-12 |title=Kiwi diving official replaced on FINA committee after blowing the whistle on one of the sport's most powerful figures |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/129208582/kiwi-diving-official-replaced-on-fina-committee-after-blowing-the-whistle-on-one-of-the-sports-most-powerful-figures |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> for service to sport. Latimer was previously a member of FINA's Technical Diving Committee between 2017 and 2022, and specialized in the psychology of judging diving.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Live session – Replay – Simon Latimer (NZL) {{!}} FINA Learning Platform |url=https://learning.fina.org/live-session-replay-simon-latimer-nzl/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |language=en}}</ref> He is currently a judge on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series since 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Bull Cliff Diving – About Us |url= https://www.redbull.com/nz-en/event-series/redbull-cliffdiving/about-us |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=www.redbull.com |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2021 Latimer wrote a formal whistleblower complaint to the World Aquatics (previously FINA) Chief Executive Brent Nowicki accusing World Aquatics' Vice President, Zhou Jihong from China, of unethical behavior.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramsay |first=George |date=2022-05-12 |title=She apologized for verbally abusing an Olympic judge, but questions over the conduct of China's 'Iron Lady' of diving remain |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/sport/zhou-jihong-diving-fina-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Latimer alleged that Zhou manipulated judging panels in favor of China and bullied judges in the diving events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simon Latimer letter to Brent Nowicki.docx – AnonFiles |url=https://anonfiles.com/h3q9Lfp5za/Simon_Latimer_letter_to_Brent_Nowicki_docx |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=anonfiles.com}}</ref> Zhou was subsequently ordered by World Aquatics' Ethics Panel to apologise for her behaviour in writing and a recommendation was made to disestablish her position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hack |first=Raymond |first6=Raymond |date=December 2021 |title=FINA Ethics Panel Decision Zhou Jihong |url=https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2022/04/06/151cc7a0-5b84-45d2-820e-72943af4cce6/2021-FINA-Ethics-Panel-Ms-jihong-Zhou-.pdf |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=World Aquatics}}</ref>
Latimer also claimed that Zhou's unethical behavior extended to coaching Chinese divers at the 2020 Olympic Games while concurrently a World Aquatics Vice President and this was corroborated by video evidence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sutherland |first=James |date=18 April 2022 |title=Video Shows FINA VP Zhou Jihong Coaching Chinese Diver At Tokyo Olympic Games |url=https://swimswam.com/video-shows-fina-vp-zhou-jihong-coaching-chinese-diver-at-tokyo-olympic-games/ |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2022, World Aquatics' By Laws were updated to state that the Bureau Liaison position that Zhou holds should not interfere on the field of play during competitions and that individuals holding that position shall not act as a Team Leader or coach at international events including the Olympic Games.
Latimer has held senior roles in relation to United Nations Human Rights Conventions in New Zealand. He was previously a Senior Advisor under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-persons-disabilities |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=OHCHR |language=en}}</ref> In 2023 he became the Principal Inspector under the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/optional-protocol-convention-against-torture-and-other-cruel |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=OHCHR |language=en}}</ref> Latimer has also been an advocate for health and disability initiatives in New Zealand, including fronting a campaign for social change through sport, and education around safe sexual health practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Health Is My Greatest Asset condom packet |url=https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/1964757 |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=collections.tepapa.govt.nz |language=en}}</ref>
As of 2022, Latimer is a Life Member of Diving New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DNZ BOARD AWARDS |url=http://www.divingnewzealand.org.nz/dnz-board-awards.html |access-date=7 May 2023 |website=DIVING NEW ZEALAND |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Latimer, Simon}} Category:New Zealand male divers Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Dunedin Category:Olympic divers for New Zealand Category:New Zealand whistleblowers Category:New Zealand LGBTQ sportspeople Category:1981 births Category:New Zealand sports executives and administrators Category:Olympic officials Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen