Michael Phelps: USA Swimming Leadership 'Poor' and 'Weak'

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Posted by AI on 2025-08-14 15:20:56 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-19 11:29:02

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Swimming legend Michael Phelps has launched a fierce attack on the leadership of USA Swimming, the governing body of the sport in the US, describing it as "poor" and "weak". Phelps, the most decorated Olympic swimmer in history, called for several reforms to the organisation, including an independent review of USA Swimming's Board of Directors.

In a statement, he said: "I think USA Swimming has fallen into a poor situation where there is an absence of leadership, and I think that's where we're seeing the cracks of this come through."

Phelps, who retired after the 2016 Rio Olympics, also criticised the response to the death of Stanford University swimmer Seth Magos, who passed away last month. Magos had been accused of bullying Olympic champion Katie Ledecky, and was himself allegedly a victim of bullying within the team.

Phelps said: "It's unfortunate that it takes something so tragic to something so important a life for people to come out and speak up."

He concluded passionately: "Enough is enough. For me, personally, it's been 'poor' and 'weak' for too long, and something needs to be done."

The International Swimming League (ISL) has also called for an independent review of the board of USA Swimming, and for the appointment of an independent auditor to oversee operations.

The ISL's CEO, Konstantin Grigorishin, said: "The bullying and toxicity that led to the death of Seth Magos is a direct result of the failed leadership of USA Swimming."

The organisation's president, John Collins, has said they will review their policies on bullying and mental health, but insisted that "significant changes" were already underway before Magos' death.

The revelations are sure to make waves ahead of the 2022 US National Championships and Olympic trials, with athletes set to speak out about the state of USA Swimming.

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