USA Swimming’s International Relations Committee Pushing Major Revamp of FINA Bureau

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, November 19. DURING a conference call that took place on Nov. 15, the USA Swimming International Relations Committee voted 14-6 to go forward with ASCA Executive Director John Leonard's proposal for a massive overhaul of the FINA Bureau

The motion, which will now move to the USA Swimming Board of Directors for approval to be proposed to FINA, calls for a 15-member FINA Bureau comprised of five continental presidents, an elected elite athlete from each of the five disciplines and an elected elite coach from each of the five disciplines.

Leonard cited Fran Crippen's recent death during a FINA Open Water Competition as reason enough for these requested changes.

In the letter, which is included in full in the link below, Leonard writes "the tragic death of Fran Crippen is a direct result of the culture of ‘go along to get along' that has been FINA's primary method of operation for decades."

Leonard further writes:

Neither the UAE Federation, nor the FINA Open Water Technical Committee fulfilled their obligations to the safety of athletes. The Executive Director was told on multiple occasions by athletes, coaches and observers, that safety precautions in open water swimming were inadequate. He did not take this seriously. As we all know, appointments from the Executive Director to committee members to represent FINA at FINA events are social and political "plums" that he awards to gain political favor and the ONLY expectation that he ever has of these "representatives" is that they compliment the host and speak well of the FINA office. No oversight responsibilities are ever assigned. We all know that that is the truth and the way that everything operates at FINA is to appease and satisfy the Executive Director.

For the complete minutes from the conference call, including John Leonard's full letter behind the proposal, click here.

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