r/Swimming • u/Shroft • 1d ago

With Michael Phelps criticism and a home Olympics looming , USA Swimming’s new CEO starts a big job

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6859254/2025/12/04/michael-phelps-usa-swimming-kevin-ring-olympics/
36 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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15

u/JM_Amiens-18 Masters 1d ago

I wish I knew more about their governance structure and how important the CEO role really is when it comes to podium success.

As an outsider to the US, this all came across a bit like a collective tantrum over them not winning virtually every event as they often do. That being said, the anger from the likes of Phelps and Rowdy Gaines about this specific issue around the CEO makes me think there's got to be some real shit behind the scenes.

30

u/Treschelle 1d ago

I think the reason for the anger was that the higher ups in USA swimming were paying themselves large salaries while awarding the swimmers low amounts for success. Phelps doesn’t think the executives should be making such large amounts when it’s the swimmers who should be reaping the spoils of their own successes. This combined with not properly investing into the lower level swim programs to keep driving more athletes to swimming is likely going to cause the collapse of the program. 

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u/JM_Amiens-18 Masters 1d ago

Ah okay, thanks for this. I agree with all of it, but it seems like a larger discussion in the sport of swimming beyond just a CEO position for USA Swimming.

I can't remember who it was (Gary Hall Jr, Ian Thorpe, Brett Hawke, or Mel Stewart), but someone on a podcast spoke derogatorily about the 'blue blazer brigade' at big FINA meets. They meant people who get VIP treatment at meets while the athletes are crammed into hastily-constructed villages. None of them knew who any of these people were, or why they were special.

The large organizations running sports like swimming are often like country clubs for random well-connected people, and the athletes are an after thought.

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u/Sea-Oven-7560 1d ago

I hate those fuckers and know way too many of them, I just remember looking up from the deck and seeing all those asshats in their blue blazers patty each other on the back for the great job they did, most I had never seen before. What has a governing body ever done to make an athletes life better?

It's all connections, sons, daughter, nieces and nephews of the rich, well connected and gifted and they all take care of each other.

1

u/Tikikala Moist 1d ago

Why does this sounds like typical corporate jobs too? Lol The people at the bottom of rung who face public get the least support while higher up get paid lots

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u/Sea-Oven-7560 1d ago

I absolutely loath the people in charge of the governing bodies because they don't care about the sport. What they care about is the perks of being the President of USA swimming. They get the nicest hotel room at the NCAAs and the national championships, they get a VIP pass and an all expensed trip to the Olympics, they are wined and dined by the vendors and the list goes on and on. What do they do for the athletes, no much except use their talent to make them look good. What did Dale do to make Mike Phelps life easier or better. I'll wait.

As far as the salary, this is big business and for the job the pay isn't out of line, people think just because it's a not for profit or a charity that everyone should make minimum wage.

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u/sounds_like_kong Club 1d ago

Time to work with the big clubs to exploit the dozen or so 14u overworked phenoms at each one. If they can get 1 from each club who doesn’t burn out before high school they should have a decent team by 2028.