Peter John Wells faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday for the start of a committal hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial for alleged repeated sexual contact with five girls and indecent assault of two others.
Wells was the head physiotherapist for the Australian swimming team at the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
He is accused of maintaining unlawful sexual relationships with five girls in Brisbane over varying multi-year periods between 2003 and 2009.
Wells is also accused of indecently assaulting two girls in 2002 and 2004.
He was not required to enter a plea to any charge on Monday.
Queensland Police child protection unit's Detective Senior Constable Michael Jenkinson was cross-examined about his emails on efforts to speak to other physiotherapists about Wells's alleged massage techniques.
"'I asked the question as to whether Swimming Australia were able to provide the name of a physio who can provide us a statement to say the massage technique used by Wells was not the same thing'. Did you send that email?" defence barrister Craig Eberhardt said
"If that's what it says," Det Jenkinson said.
"You already decided you needed a physio who would say the massage technique was not the done thing, as opposed to an independent one who might say it was perfectly normal?" Mr Eberhardt said.
"I requested the same information from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency," Det Jenkinson said.
Wells was arrested in May 2022 and charged with 14 offences including sexual assaults and indecent treatment of children under 16.
Crown prosecutor David Nardone on Monday discontinued multiple sexual assault and indecent treatment charges against Wells and charged him with different offences.
Det Jenkinson was also asked about his notes on phone and video call contact with alleged victims.
"She told you he touched me on my pectoral muscle, tapping me on the bum, checking hamstring and making me touch my toes while he stood behind my butt. No reference to touching the nipple?" Mr Eberhardt said.
"Yes, that is my handwriting," Det Jenkinson said.
He said Wells was not named by one alleged victim to Swimming Australia as someone requiring immediate investigation via its independent panel on experiences of women and girls within the sport.
Following Detective Jenkinson's testimony, court was then closed to the public to enable one of the alleged victims to give evidence via a remote link.
The committal hearing would likely last all week and hear from 26 other witnesses, magistrate Peter Saggers heard.
Mr Saggers continued Wells' bail, including one for the new charges.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
