Olympian Davey Hearn Dismisses Allegations of Vandalizing Washington's Reflecting Pool
Washington, D.C. – Former Olympic canoeist Davey Hearn, 67, was detained by US Park Police and National Guard forces on Friday near the reflective water that stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Police claimed Hearn had touched a section of the pool’s surface, a move that the former athlete insists was innocuous and brief.
Hearn explained that he had removed his cycling glove only to touch a strip of rubbery material he felt had "delaminated" from the pool’s bottom. He asserted that he did not destroy, rip, tear, peel, or remove any paint. The incident occurred just weeks after a multi-million‑dollar restoration project that aimed to seal and repaint the pool with Trump‑selected "American Flag Blue" paint.
The 13‑million‑dollar project is still plagued by algae, leaks, and a new paint that appears to be peeling. Photographs have shown the new blue paint detaching from the pool’s base, sparking criticism of the contractor’s quality control. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that vandals were targeted and has claimed that the pool’s maintenance would advance to safeguard national monuments.
After the arrest, Hearn was placed in handcuffs and detained for roughly five hours, during which he could not make a phone call. He later told BBC News that the incident was "arbitrary, capricious prosecution," and that he believed someone high up was making an example of him to set a warning for others.
Despite a reported delamination, Hearn maintains that the pool’s condition did not change. He described the Reflecting Pool’s beauty as deriving from its reflective surface regardless of under‑sea algae or paint color. Hearn, who competed in three Olympics and earned two world championships in slalom canoeing, was reportedly curious about the materials used in the new paint.
He also noted that a national journalist had touched a similar area in a televised report, suggesting that the material was not an indicator of vandalism. Hearn said the vandals likely touched the hose while it lay across a footpath, but he did not confirm any theft or damage. The episode arrives amid ongoing debates over the pool’s historic integrity and Trump’s no‑bid contracts that the works received.
While no evidence of chemical pollution or severed tools has emerged, President Trump warned that the pool might need to drain and relimit, hinting that further repairs could require swift and extensive measures. The pool’s political significance as a U.S. landmark will likely keep it under scrutiny as the nation approaches its 250th birthday celebrations.
