A Paralympian turned physiotherapist has avoided a conviction after filming a half-naked teenaged patient.
Cameron Rahles-Rahbula, 39, has a decorated past as an alpine skier, having competed in four Paralympics and taken home two bronze medals from the 2010 Winter Paralympics at Vancouver.
He became qualified as a physiotherapist in 2007, and in recent years began treating students at Geelong Grammar School – where he was formerly a student – as a football physiotherapist.
A senior student in 2021 became suspicious of Rahles-Rahbula when he was treating her neck and back during an appointment.
She noticed a mobile phone propped up against a tissue box with a wallet supporting it after re-dressing herself, and wondered if Rahles-Rahbula could have placed it there while she was facedown.
When the appointment ended, the Paralympian walked out of the room and she checked the phone to find it was recording.
Rahles-Rahbula insisted in Geelong Magistrates Court he must have accidentally hit record on his phone, and the device was on its side to get better reception as the room had poor signal.
He was tidying up equipment when he placed his phone on a table, and was monitoring his diary on the device through the day, he said.
Rahles-Rahbula unlocked his phone to find a camera page open, which he thought was unusual, and deleted the recording after seeing a thumbnail for it, he said.
He had no idea what the video was, but realised it was accidental regardless, he told the court.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie noted videos started playing once a phone user selected a thumbnail, and said it would have been obvious to Rahles-Rahbula that he recorded a consultation.
“There is no doubt in my view that is what you expected to find,” Mr Guthrie said.
Rahles-Rahbula knew if he deliberately committed such an act, it could mark his reputation for the rest of his life, the court was told.
Mr Guthrie found the Paralympian guilty of using a device to record a private activity and attempting to produce child abuse material, but did not convict Rahles-Rahbula.
The magistrate noted the physiotherapist was a family man and unquestionably “a man of high achievements”, and ordered he pay a $5000 fine and sign a two-year undertaking.
He will have to appear before the court again in two years’ time if called upon.
The incident might be described as poor judgement, or something that was poorly planned, Mr Guthrie said.
Rahles-Rahbula was the Australian flag bearer at the 2014 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony in Sochi and at the 2010 Vancouver Games closing ceremony.
He was named Young Victorian of the Year in 2004.
