Olympic icon Michael Phelps has issued a stark warning about the state of USA Swimming, calling for immediate action to address what he describes as a "leadership crisis" within the organisation. The most decorated Olympian in history has raised serious concerns about the governing body's ability to protect athletes and uphold SafeSport protocols.
Phelps Blasts "Broken System"
In an explosive interview, the 23-time gold medalist didn't mince words: "We're failing our athletes at the most fundamental level," Phelps stated. "When multiple Olympians don't feel safe coming forward with concerns, that tells you the system is broken."
SafeSport Failures Exposed
The swimming legend highlighted several alarming cases where athletes reportedly faced retaliation for reporting abuse or misconduct. Phelps emphasised that these aren't isolated incidents but rather symptoms of a wider cultural problem within American swimming's power structure.
Calls for Structural Reform
Phelps outlined three critical changes needed:
- Complete overhaul of the reporting process for athlete grievances
- Independent oversight of SafeSport investigations
- Term limits for board members to prevent power consolidation
The swimming great warned that without these reforms, USA Swimming risks losing a generation of talent as parents increasingly steer children away from competitive programmes.
Olympic Legacy at Stake
With Paris 2024 approaching, Phelps expressed concern that the leadership turmoil could undermine Team USA's performance. "How can athletes focus on medals when they're worried about whether the organisation has their back?" he questioned.
The revelations come at a sensitive time for USA Swimming, which has faced mounting criticism over its handling of athlete welfare issues in recent years.
