What They Said in 2010

"I have attached a letter concerning some of the issues surrounding the current state of open water swimming. I hope we can work together to solve some of these problems." —Swimmer Fran Crippen to Chuck Wielgus, executive director for USA Swimming, two weeks before his tragic death while competing in an open water event

"I have personally reached a point where ‘go along, get along' is no longer possible. When incompetence and corruption result in the death of an athlete, we are no longer debating stupid sport politics; we are failing in our duties to our athletes by ‘go along, get along.'" —ASCA Executive Director John Leonard on the need for changes within FINA

"I believe, in part, that this has been overlooked because it is a widespread problem, and coaches have been more concerned with the success rate of the swimmers than the well-being of these young people." —Deena Deardurff Schmidt, a 1972 Olympic champion swimmer, in reference to her claim of being repeatedly molested during a four-year period by her swim coach

"You want me to apologize?" —Chuck Wielgus on sexual abuse issues within USA Swimming. Wielgus later added, "This is a topic that USA Swimming takes very, very seriously."

"Coaches who I know and respect have told me this was the right fight at the right time." —Mike Saltzstein on challenging USA Swimming's policies and procedures regarding sexual abuse

"Hiring protocol was followed when he was initially hired, including a thorough background check prior to his first day of employment. This included a positive reference with USA Swimming. The Club was previously unaware of the allegations in today's news report. The Country Club of Colorado takes the welfare of its guests very seriously and took immediate action in regards to this matter." —Country Club of Colorado spokesperson Jordan Blakesley on the hiring of Everett Uchiyama, former USA National Team Director, after he was issued a lifetime ban from USA Swimming for sexual misconduct

"USA Swimming has succeeded in removing me from coaching, but they will not succeed in silencing me from advocating on behalf of children that are sexually molested due to USA Swimming's inadequate policies, procedures and background checks." —Ken Stopkotte in reference to his two-year ban for falsely reporting entry times and four weeks before SwimmingWorld.com reported, "Ken Stopkotte, the former Fishers area swimming coach, has been arrested in Tennessee on eight counts of felony theft from Hamilton Southeastern Schools."

"According to an internal USA Swimming memo acquired by Swimming World, the United States Olympic Committee has rejected the USA Swimming Athlete Partnership Plan proposal." —SwimmingWorld.com

"If the athletes and coaches want me back, and the executive director wants me back, I'm ready to go back to work." —Mark Schubert, former USA Swimming national team head coach

"With nearly a year's worth of discussion and compromise put into the process, USA Swimming has finally released the updated—and approved—Athlete Partnership Agreement (APA) to the public." —SwimmingWorld.com

"USA Swimming has posted its opening to replace Mark Schubert as its national team director." —SwimmingWorld.com