A decorated former American Olympic canoeist is fighting misdemeanor vandalism charges following his arrest last week at Washington DC’s iconic Reflecting Pool, a high-profile renovation project tied to the Trump administration’s preparations for the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations.\n\nSixty-seven-year-old Davey Hearn, a three-time Olympian and two-time world slalom canoe champion, was taken into custody Friday at the edge of the landmark pool just after completing a long-distance bike ride. He has publicly pushed back against the accusation that he damaged the newly refinished structure, telling reporters his only action was touching a loose, delaminated strip of paint that had already separated from the pool’s bottom.\n\nThe 2,030-foot Reflecting Pool, positioned between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, has suffered decades of systemic issues including chronic leaks, crumbling infrastructure, clogged pipes, persistent algae overgrowth and accumulated bird waste. To revitalize the historic site ahead of the upcoming 250th Independence Day celebrations, the Trump administration backed a $13 million resealing and repainting project, which the president has personally promoted as a centerpiece of his initiative to beautify the nation’s capital. Trump personally selected the custom “American Flag Blue” paint color for the renovation, and awarded the work through no-bid contracts to selected vendors.\n\nHowever, even before the project was finalized, problems emerged. Visitors and journalists have widely documented large patches of the new blue paint peeling away from the pool’s base, and persistent algae blooms have continued to plague the water despite the overhaul. Just days before Hearn’s arrest, media and visitors repeatedly shared images and footage of the peeling paint and discolored water, sparking public criticism of the costly renovation.\n\nIn a Saturday post on his Truth Social platform, Trump confirmed that multiple people had been arrested for vandalizing what he called the “nation’s magnificent Reflecting Pool.” He called the alleged acts “very serious crimes against national monuments” and announced that immediate repair work would get underway, sharing a story about Hearn’s arrest to his followers. Without providing verifiable evidence, Trump also claimed that unknown vandals had poured corrosive chemicals into the pool and used sharp blades to damage surrounding lawn areas. He added that contractors inspecting the site over the weekend would likely drain most of the pool’s water to complete repairs, with work slated to proceed as quickly as possible. As of Monday, U.S. Park Police had not responded to multiple requests for comment on the case.\n\nHearn, who has decades of experience designing watercraft, paddles and waterproof outdoor gear, told BBC News that he never damaged, removed or altered any part of the pool’s paint or structure. “The condition of any part of the reflecting pool didn’t change,” he said. “It wasn’t affected. It was the same before I got there as when I walked away from it.” He added that he was merely curious about the materials used in the new paint coating, after seeing a national news anchor touch the same loose material during a televised report on the pool’s problems. A park worker cleaning algae from the pool asked him to stop, he said, and he complied immediately.\n\nFootage of the arrest circulating on social media shows Hearn speaking to a bystander near a water pumping hose laid across a footpath, before he walked away to retrieve his bike. Two National Guard troops then approached him, placed him in handcuffs, and U.S. Park Police officers took him into custody. Some social media posts have claimed Hearn grabbed the hose from a park worker, but Hearn denied this to The Washington Post, suggesting his bike tire may have accidentally shifted the hose as he moved past. Hearn told reporters he took a photo of the peeling paint just minutes before his arrest, which matches the timeline of the incident.\n\nHearn said he was detained for roughly five hours in jail before being released, and was not permitted to make a phone call during that time. He dismissed the charges against him as an “arbitrary, capricious prosecution,” suggesting that “somebody high up decided to make an example of me.” Despite the controversy, Hearn maintained that the Reflecting Pool remains a striking landmark, noting “it’s really pretty regardless of the colour of the water. It’s the reflective surface that gives it its most important quality, especially when it’s not windy.”\n\nIn recent statements, the Trump administration has pushed back on criticism of the renovation, with the president saying Friday that 75% of the algae problem has been resolved, and that all remaining issues will be fully fixed soon. Crews have already begun pumping out discolored water for cleaning ahead of the planned repairs.
Former Olympian denies vandalising Washington Reflecting Pool after arrest
