Michael Phelps slams USA Swimming leadership, calls for urgent overhaul
Highlighting the team's lowest Olympic medal haul since Athens 2004 — 28 medals at Paris 2024 — Phelps contrasted it with their peak of 33 medals at Rio 2016. He claimed that a letter he sent to USA Swimming outlining his concerns 'fell on deaf ears.''This isn't on the athletes — they're doing the best they can with what they've been given,' Phelps added. 'This is on the leadership. Poor leadership trickles down and impacts every level. Money is a factor, but poor operational controls and weak leadership are at the core.'PROPOSED CHANGES AND SUPPORT FROM LOCHTEPhelps' recommendations include an independent review of the Board of Directors, improved athlete services, and stronger grassroots programs to reverse declining membership. He also offered his own expertise to help drive change.His comments follow a similar outburst from six-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte, who posted an image of a tombstone reading: 'In loving memory of United States Swimming. They set the bar high — until they stopped reaching for it.' Phelps shared the post, adding: 'Is this the wake-up call USA Swimming needed?'Despite recent struggles, the U.S. still topped the medal table at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, securing nine golds and 29 medals overall.- Ends
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
I really hope I could have helped Vece Paes get replica of his lost Olympic bronze medal
DR VECE Paes, a member of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games bronze-winning India's men's hockey team and father of legendary tennis player Leander Paes, passed away at the age of 80 on Thursday morning. I still cannot believe that he is no longer with us. It was him who supported me morally and helped me grow as a hockey player when I joined Kolkata's Mohun Bagan in 1969. He was senior to me but made every effort to make sure I gained confidence and polished my skills as well. More than a couple of years ago I met him when Mohun Bagan organised a function in Kolkata to felicitate him, Gurbux Singh and me. I received a call from Paes a few days before the function. He asked me to bring the Olympic bronze medal when I visit Kolkata and I was more than happy to do it. Paes had lost his medal and wanted to get a replica prepared, that's why he wanted that medal. My medal was with him for around four-five months but he could not find someone who could prepare the replica. He told me that he tried finding some good replica artists in Mumbai and Kolkata but failed. He passed away today and it's unfortunate that he did not have that bronze medal, his biggest sporting success, with him in his last moments. His son Leander also won an Olympic bronze in 1996 Atlanta Games and he was a proud father. I really hoped I could have helped him get a replica prepared. I still remember Leander accompanying him to Mohun Bagan ground during matches and practice sessions. At that time, he was not sure which sport he would choose. Sometimes he will play hockey with us and on some days he will bring bow and arrows. These days parents go to any length to make sure their children succeed as athletes but it was Paes and his wife Jennifer, also a former India basketball captain, who probably started that trend. They left no stone unturned to make Leander a successful tennis player.
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Phelps calls USA Swimming leadership weak, demands systemic overhaul
Michael Phelps has launched a scathing attack on USA Swimming's leadership, with the 23-time Olympic gold medallist branding the body weak and demanding sweeping reforms after what he sees as years of organisational decline. The 40-year-old American, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals, revealed he might not want his four young sons competing in the sport given the current state of swimming in the United States. Phelps traced his frustrations back through his competitive career, saying he often felt that his voice went unheard, that he was 'told to be grateful for the chance to compete,' and that it was more important to stay quiet and to keep the peace. 'First, I must be clear that I have the utmost respect for the U.S. swimmers that competed at the World Championships,' Phelps, who retired in 2016, wrote in a lengthy Instagram statement. 'My criticism is in no way directed at them—I know how hard they work and how honoured they are to represent the U.S. National Team. My criticism is about the system, its leadership, and how it's failing. 'There have always been cracks in the system but in the last nine years, I've seen those cracks grow.' Reuters has contacted USA Swimming for comment. ALSO READ | I don't lose 800 metre, says Ledecky after another gold medal Phelps compared the success of the U.S. swim team at the Rio Olympics in 2016, where it won 33 medals, to the Paris Games last year when it slumped to its lowest medal haul in the pool (28) since the 2004 Games in Athens. 'Poor leadership' Phelps also revealed that he sent a letter to USA Swimming earlier this year addressing his 'frustrations with the current state of the sport,' which was shared with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, outlining his concerns. He said he had the support of former Olympic medallists, world record holders, coaches and current and former staff members but added that the letter 'seemed to fall on deaf ears'. 'I've asked myself what's changed in our sport, and the answer is clear... this isn't on the athletes, as they continue to do the best they can with what they've been given. This is on the leadership of USA Swimming,' he added. ALSO READ | United States breaks mixed 4x100m freestyle relay world record at World Swimming Championships 'Poor leadership trickles down and can impact an organisation at every level. 'Money is a factor. But poor operational controls and weak leadership are a cornerstone of the sport's problems.' Phelps proposed a series of reforms, including an independent review of USA Swimming's Board of Directors and its organisation, improving athlete services and strengthening grassroots efforts to reverse membership decline and foster growth. 'I offer up my service to be a resource in these proposed initial steps and I am hopeful that the USA Swimming community will accept my offer,' he added. Lochte criticism Earlier this month, Phelps, along with six-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte, made their disappointment clear after the U.S. team's performance at the World Championships in Singapore. Lochte shared an image on social media of a tombstone with the inscription: 'In loving memory of United States Swimming. They set the bar high -- until they stopped reaching for it.' FILE PHOTO: Earlier this month, Phelps, along with six-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte (left), made their disappointment clear after the U.S. team's performance at the World Championships in Singapore. | Photo Credit: REUTERS Lochte added a caption referencing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, saying: 'Call it a funeral or call it a fresh start. We've got 3 years.' Phelps shared Lochte's post and added: 'Is this the wake-up call USA swimming needed?' Despite early struggles in Singapore, the U.S. finished top of the medals table with nine gold medals and 29 medals overall. Related Topics Michael Phelps
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Playing County Cricket For Hampshire Taught Me Lessons I Will Carry For Life: Tilak Varma
India's left-handed batter Tilak Varma said his short spell of playing county cricket for Hampshire has given him lessons he will 'carry for life'. Varma's time at the club ended with him being dismissed for a duck as Hampshire suffered a five-wicket defeat to Worcestershire in Group A of the One-Day Cup. "Growing up, I dreamt of playing County cricket. This year, that dream came true with Hampshire - my first red ball experience here, along with the ODI games, taught me lessons I will carry for life, not just as a cricketer but as a person. Thank you, Hampshire," Varma wrote on his Instagram account on Thursday. Varma, 22, joined Hampshire last month on a four-game County Championship deal, having already made 29 appearances for India across both white-ball formats. He featured in seven matches across formats for Hampshire, scoring 412 runs with two centuries and two fifties, and a highest score of 112. He also claimed one wicket in his three List A outings. Hampshire also said in the same post that Varma gave the club so much more than they ever imagined. "From his maiden red-ball century to those sublime innings in Hampshire colours, he's shown exactly why he's one of cricket's brightest talents." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) "Beyond the statistics, it's been Tilak's character and warmth that have truly impressed everyone at Utilita Bowl. He's embraced Hampshire cricket with open arms. Thank you for the magic, Tilak. Once a Hampshire player, always part of the family," said the club. On return to India, Varma is slated to lead South Zone in the 2025/26 Duleep Trophy, starting on August 28 in Bengaluru. The zonal tournament will mark the start of the domestic season in India. But Varma might miss the competition if he's picked in India's squad for the Men's T20 Asia Cup, to be played in the UAE from September 9-28.
