Declan Crosbie, from Leeds, lurked in a women’s toilet to carry out his nefarious activities, but was snapped by the team as he peered over cubicles as they were getting changed at a Leeds sports centre.
When staff went to find the 25-year-old, he hid in a cubicle and tried to answer them in a woman’s voice.
He then emerged to beg staff not to call the police before running away.
Crosbie later handed himself in to police and pleaded guilty in July to trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.
He has previous form, being jailed for three years in 2009 after being found standing over a sleeping student, whose trousers had been pulled down.
Crosbie also has convictions for voyeurism from 2005 and 2006.
Judge Peter Collier QC, queried if Crosbie’s case should be fast-tracked under Olympic rules, but was told Crosbie had not specifically targeted the Chinese team members.
“This offence is technically an Olympic offence because the victims were members of the Chinese swimming team who were training at facilities here in Leeds,” he said.
Crosbie will be sentenced on September 17 after being assessed for a sex offenders’ programme.
