Erik Vendt’s Agent Weighs In On TYR Lawsuit

SANTA CLARA, California, May 16. FOR one of the few times this year, the action in the water is not the biggest buzz at a swim meet as the various Olympians and other competitors at the Santa Clara International Invitational get to watch the swimsuit wars continue to exacerbate.

Inflaming the issue with some incendiary remarks is Evan Morgenstein of Premier Management Group (PMG) as quoted in the Los Angeles Times. Morgenstein, who is the agent of Erik Vendt, named in yesterday's lawsuit filed by TYR against Speedo, USA Swimming, Mark Schubert and Vendt, is quoted as saying that PMG athletes will no longer work with TYR.

"It is unconscionable to think that a company such as TYR has so badly misread their own contract," he wrote.

He did not elaborate.

Reached by telephone, Morgenstein was still seething.

"This is what it's become," he said. "As far as signing new athletes, the group of options is one smaller. This is my response."

Vendt, meanwhile, had a much more relaxed response while letting his agent do the heavy lifting with the media.

"You can't do anything," he said. "I can't control anything except myself and just in between my head and what's in between the lane lines.

"Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the swim. I don't think it'll be much of a distraction…There's not much I can do."

"I'm pretty confident with how my training's been going and excited with how my season's been going," Vendt said. "I'm not going to let this affect me in a negative way."

The rest of the international field of competitors from Australia, Japan and other countries taking part in the meet probably had no idea that they would be getting front row seats to what is surely to be the biggest soap opera in swimming at least until Trials – where the drama is typically in the pool.

Morgenstein later told SwimNews: "I felt like it was time as a company to make a statement. We will continue to work with our athletes who work with TYR and make sure they get what they need, but in the future we will not be pursuing them. The backlash from the swim community will be huge. Erik is iconic with swimmers and coaches alike and I think as this unfolds it will show a real misreading of the tealeaves by the company."

Full text of Los Angeles Times article.

Full text of SwimNews article.

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