{"id":620567,"date":"2025-08-08T09:51:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T16:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=620567"},"modified":"2025-08-09T06:39:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T13:39:25","slug":"usa-swimming-responds-to-legends-criticism-michael-phelps-refutes-outreach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/usa-swimming-responds-to-legends-criticism-michael-phelps-refutes-outreach\/","title":{"rendered":"USA Swimming Responds to Legends’ Criticism; Michael Phelps Refutes Outreach"},"content":{"rendered":"

USA Swimming Responds to Legends’ Criticism; Michael Phelps Refutes Outreach<\/strong><\/p>\n

USA Swimming on Thursday released a statement saying it was \u201csaddened and disappointed\u201d by alumni of the program who have in recent weeks criticized it.<\/p>\n

The organization has been roiled by criticism from the outside on a multitude of issues, which came to a head during last week\u2019s World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Olympic gold medalists and program legends like Rowdy Gaines, Michael Phelps<\/strong> and Ryan Lochte<\/strong> criticized the performance of the program in Singapore<\/a>. This has all come against the backdrop of the governing body failing to fill its CEO position for nearly a year. The criticism has been aimed at the organization’s leadership.<\/p>\n

USA Swimming released a statement at the TYR Pro Swim Series meet, attributed to interim CEO Bob Vincent,<\/strong> its second interim CEO. The statement does not appear anywhere on the USA Swimming website (nor has USA Swimming made new national team managing director Greg Meehan<\/strong> or any other leading figures available for interviews save for a brief television spot with Peacock during Worlds.)<\/p>\n

It was first reported by the Big Friendly Swim Podcast.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Ahmad Zeid \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf49 (@bigfriendlyswimpodcast)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n