USA Swimming Names Athlete Protection Committee

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, November 30. EARLIER this week, USA Swimming named an 11-member Athlete Protection Committee. This committee will work towards making sure that USA Swimming's policies enacted to prevent any future sexual abuse scandals are effective.

The committee is comprised of Olympic swimmer Margaret Hoelzer, Olympic cross country skier Nina Kempell, Child Welfare League of America's Andrea Bartolo, Connecticut Department of Children and Families' Mike Schultz, Potomac Valley's Greg York, former USA Swimming Board member Jim Crampton, Rockwood Swim Club's Mary Liston, USA Swimming General Counsel John Morse, former USA Swimming president Ron Van Pool, USA Swimming official Bob Merchant and Montana's Sarah Huckeby.

Here is the complete press release announcing the newly-formed committee:

Continuing its efforts to foster a safe and positive environment for all its members, USA Swimming today named an 11-member Athlete Protection Committee. The Committee, which includes athletes, coaches and experts in the field, is charged with regularly reviewing and evaluating USA Swimming's Athlete Protection Programming.

Serving on the Committee are two Olympic athletes. Two-time Olympian and swimmer Margaret Hoelzer and four-time Olympian in cross country skiing Nina Kempell will donate their time. Hoelzer is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who has shared her story and has worked extensively with the National Children's Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Ala. Kempell chaired the recent U.S. Olympic Committee task force on Safe Training Environments.

Providing industry expertise to the committee are the Andrea Bartolo, Director, Consultation for the Child Welfare League of America and Mike Schultz, Director of Quality Assurance for the State of Connecticut's Department of Children and Families.

"We are grateful to all the members of the Committee for volunteering their time and effort to this important topic," said Susan Woessner, Athlete Protection Officer for USA Swimming. "I am especially pleased that we can include two such respected Olympic athletes, as well as true experts in the field of child welfare. They, together with the representatives of our membership, will provide important and balanced perspective as we continue to work to foster safe and positive environments."

Coach representatives include Potomac Valley General Chair Greg York, former USA Swimming Board member Jim Crampton and longtime coach of Rockwood Swim Club and member of the Senior Development Committee Mary Liston.

At-large members include John Morse, General Counsel to USA Swimming and former chair of the National Board of Review, Ron Van Pool, past president of USA Swimming and Bob Merchant, a volunteer and official. Sarah Huckeby, an athlete member from Montana, is the third athlete member of the committee.

The Committee will meet several times each year via in-person and conference call meetings and will report to USA Swimming's Board of Directors annually. Each member of the Committee is serving a voluntary term.

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