Disgraced swimmer pleads guilty to bashing

Swimmer Nick D'Arcy has pleaded guilty to assaulting former Olympian Simon Cowley which resulted in him being axed from the Australian swimming team for the 2008 Beijing games.

D'Arcy's lawyer, Jack Leitner, said a deal had been struck with prosecutors and his client had pleaded guilty to recklessly causing greivous bodily harm.

D'Arcy was not at the Downing Centre court this morning when the guilty plea was announced.

Cowley, 27, had five titanium plates fitted after suffering fractures to his jaw, eye socket, hard palete, cheek bone and nose in the attack in March, which occurred while D'Arcy was celebrating his selection for the Olympics.

D'Arcy was stood down from the team before being ousted by the Australian Olympic Committee.

That decision was upheld on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

- with AAP

- © Fairfax NZ News