In brief
After being stopped by US Park Police and National Guard troops for allegedly touching a strip of rubbery material on the Reflecting Pool’s bottom, former Olympian Davey Hearn says he only briefly touched the surface and was not responsible for the paint peeling that has been a persistent problem. Despite a $13 million refurbishment that included a new blue paint job, the pool continues to suffer from algae, leaks and paint deterioration. Hearn, who was detained for about five hours, describes the arrest as an arbitrary prosecution and claims he was targeted to make a point. The incident reinvigorates debate over the pool’s maintenance and the political rhetoric surrounding its restoration.
Former Olympian denies vandalising Washington Reflecting Pool after arrest
A former U.S. Olympian, former canoeist Davey Hearn, was arrested on Friday for allegedly vandalising the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., but he denies any wrongdoing.
Hearn, 67, was detained by workers at the pool’s edge while finishing a long bike ride. He says he removed his cycling glove to “simply touch a long strip of rubbery material…that appeared to have delaminated from the bottom of the pool.” He was subsequently placed in handcuffs and detained for about five hours.
The incident comes after a $13m refurbishment of the 2,030‑ft pool, which still suffers from leaks, algae growth and a newly applied paint that is already peeling.
Hearn told BBC News he didn’t “destroy, rip, tear, peel or remove any part” of the paint and that the condition of the pool “didn’t change.” He calls the arrest an “arbitrary, capricious prosecution” and claims someone high up wanted to make an example of him.
The pool has long been a source of controversy. President Donald Trump promoted it as part of a beautification campaign but critics point to the costly project’s lack of lasting results.
Hearn’s arrest highlights the ongoing struggles to maintain the Reflecting Pool and questions surrounding the use of public funds and political messaging.
