Swimming World Presents “Voice for the Sport: Tim Hinchey Reflects on Year 1 as CEO”

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Voice for the Sport

Reflecting on the First 12 Months as Head of USA Swimming

Commentary by Tim Hinchey III, USA Swimming President & CEO

Twelve months after taking over the reins at USA Swimming, I am incredibly excited about our future.
Although I grew up a swimmer, I have spent the last year learning more than I ever knew about the sport of swimming. I’ve been humbled by witnessing the dedication of not only my teammates in Colorado Springs, but our incredible volunteer army that makes our sport so special. I am motivated beyond words to grow the sport at all levels and improve the experience for the swimmers todayand tomorrow. We have strived to elevate the offerings and experiences for all our members and to find creative ways to welcome new ones.

As important as looking ahead, I have also spent a significant time examining the sport’s history, more specifically reviewing its Safe Sport abuse-prevention program and efforts. I have strived to understand all facets of our program, whichhas been in place since 2010, and to provide a fresh perspective to help us outline priorities and initiatives moving forward.

I have stated this before, and I will continue to do so at every opportunity: ourtop priority is the safety and well-being of our members, and that is paramountin everything we do. USA Swimming strives to better educate about and prevent abuse within the sport and to provide the best possible experience for its members in the safest possible environment. We will continue to be leaders in this movement across all national governing bodies and the Olympic world.

The key to our future success lies in education and prevention. Together we will strive to ensure that all members know the rules, are comfortable talking aboutthem, and are empowered to recognize and report red-flag behavior, boundaryviolations and misconduct. There are many important resources available to every member at www.usaswimming.org/protect.

The success of our members and our sport only truly happens when everyone feels safe and supported. We will balance this daily commitment to our members, with a focus on growing our membership, improving the welfare of our athletes and expanding our fans and viewers.

With our new Flex membership—offered across the country in September2018—we are inviting new families and swimmers to give our sport a try. It is the most progressive new membership category developed in years and is designed to make entering the sport easier for today’s busy families. This new membership also provides children the opportunity to make swimming one of the many athletic endeavors they undertake growing up, embracing the benefits for children of being multi-sport athletes.

We are complementing this grass-roots initiative with a re-energized focus onelevating our major event experiences throughout the country.

Our “Trial-ize” strategy is to expand the number of USA Swimming events that offer greater fan experiences, unparalleled in-venue entertainment, increased grass-roots initiatives and more.

We are taking a full-circle approach. The more assets we can create, the more sponsors we can attract, the more we can offer thefans, the more the fans will attend…the more the returns will benefit the athletes.

Everyone can be a champion for our sport, and we hope you will all come along for the ride!

To learn more about Hinchey’s, check out the July 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

[PHOTO BY JD LASICA]

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Take a look inside Swimming World’s July 2018 issue:

FEATURES

016 RIPPLE EFFECT?
by Dan D’Addona
When Gregg Troy announced his retirement from the University of Florida in April, the sport’s immediate focus was how it would impact the Gators. But the real ripple effect of Troy’s retirement could be seen in American swimming from now through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics—and it might even change the way professional swimming is approached in the United States.

018 HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
by David Rieder
National teams that will compete at major international meets the rest of this year and next will be selected at this summer’s U.S. nationals. But for those swimmers who miss making Team USA at this year’s meet, don’t lose hope—many swimmers have made their breakthrough two years later at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

020 OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
by David Rieder
Team USA has long dominated the men’s 4×200 meter freestyle at major international competition. Although the Americans failed to win at Worlds in 2015 and 2017, last year’s performances at the college level in the 200 yard freestyle provide reason for renewed optimism.

022 THE “ART” OF SWIMMING
by Bruce Wigo
In the first half of the 20th century, sports cartooning was one of the most entertaining mediums within the spectrum of the graphic art world, and no American newspaper of any size was without its regular sports cartoonist.

024 FREE TO MAKE HISTORY
by Annie Grevers
Olympic gold medalist Blake Pieroni of Indiana University became the first man ever to break 1:30 for the 200 yard freestyle. With the kind of training he’s putting in with coaches Ray Looze and Mike Westphal—not to mention being a part of a training group consisting of many of the world’s best 200 freestylers—it’s exciting to think just how fast he can be.

028 NUTRITION: AROUND THE TABLE WITH CULLEN JONES
by Annie Grevers and Dawn Weatherwax

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: ED SOLOTAR
by Michael J. Stott

014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMAL MODEL FOR TECHNIQUE: PART I—BODY SIZE AND SHAPE
by Rod Havriluk
Conventional wisdom relies on modeling the technique of champions. A scientific approach considers the biomechanical principles that optimize performance. Application of these principles can develop an optimal model for swimming technique based on clear and demonstrable factors.

032 DO IT RIGHT, OR DO IT OVER
by Michael J. Stott
This is the first installment in a multi-part series on swimmer motivation and how coaches approach the often-vexing issue of unsatisfactory practice performance.

035 SPECIAL SETS: SOMETIMES IT’S NOT ABOUT THE WATER
by Michael J. Stott
Summer league swimming is many things to many people. In some locales, it is no big deal. In other areas of the country, it is quite a different story. Here are some sample sets—and some fun activities—from Southampton and Westwood swim clubs in Virginia to help prepare for your summer league championships.

049 Q&A WITH COACH KEN HEIS
by Michael J. Stott

050 HOW THEY TRAIN JAKE AND CARSON FOSTER
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

038 DRYSIDE TRAINING: STROKE AND DISTANCE STRENGTH SERIES—DISTANCE FREESTYLE
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

030 GOLDMINDS: UNDERSTANDING MOTIVATION
by Wayne Goldsmith
Why do you swim? This is probably the most important question you can ask yourself. Understanding your answer is even more important. It will tell you what you really need to know: what motivates you to be the best you can be.

053 UP & COMERS: SCOTT SOBOLEWSKI
by Taylor Brien

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
013 BEYOND THE YARDS
039 2018 AQUATIC DIRECTORY
048 DADS ON DECK
052 THE OFFICIAL WORD
054 GUTTER TALK
056 PARTING SHOT

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