Two of the biggest names in the history of American swimming have voiced frustration at the performance of Team USA in Singapore this week at the World Championships.
Ryan Lochte, a 12-time Olympic medalist, posted a photograph of a funeral that included a tombstone that reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
UNITED STATES SWIMMING
1980 – 2025
Aged 45“They set the bar high-until they stopped reaching for it”
He added a caption that said “Call it a funeral, or call it a fresh start. We’ve got 3 years.”
Michael Phelps, the most-decorated Olympian in history with 28 medals, shared that post, adding “Is this the wake up call USA swimming needed? Let’s find out…..”
It’s the most direct public rebuke from arguably the two most mainstream names in American swimming in the last 30 years.
The U.S. performance at the World Championships this week has been marred by “acute gastroenteritis” that has impacted almost the entire team (with the rare exception including the top American swimmer of this generation, Katie Ledecky).
In spite of that, the U.S. moved into the top spot in the medal tables on Friday, both by the traditional gold/silver/bronze sort and the most total medals. The women, which have experienced some of the highest-profile challenges from the GI issues, have managed to medal in every single event so far to carry the load for Team USA. The men, meanwhile, have broken a lot of streaks to the negative, including not having a man make the semi-finals of the 100 back for the first time in a global competition since 1908 and missing a medal in the 800 free relay at Worlds for the first time since 1998.
The men’s 400 medley relay also doesn’t have an obvious path to the podium, and will probably be forced to use some of their top performers in prelims to even have a chance at the final.
The voices of Lochte and Phelps, which almost five million combined Instagram followers, will bring increased pressure and attention to USA Swimming’s challenges this week and over the last few years. While the raw numbers on the medals table haven’t been that bad, those obscure the overall performance coming up shy of expectations for the third straight year.
With USA Swimming limping along for almost a year with interim CEOs, weak membership numbers, and a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a home Olympics looming, the organization is running out of grace with its fans and stakeholders – remembering that much of the swimming industry in America is driven by the success of the National Team.
While Phelps has stayed engaged in swimming behind-the-scenes, it is rare for him to make a public statement, so when he does, it carries a lot of power behind it. Will this be the one that forces a culture shift within the organization? Or will it wistfully blow past the Los Angeles Olympics with a mounting pile of excuses that are allegedly outside of its control?
As a mom of age-group swimmers, I’m calling for real reform in USA Swimming—or a bold move to bring the AAU model to the forefront.
I nominate Chris Davis and Thomas Ugast to lead this movement, beginning with a series of focus groups that include people like me, parents, and small-town coaches. Ask us directly: What are the pain points in supporting our swimmers? What do we need from leadership to make this sport sustainable? Start by training our coaches and creating strong, replicable business models that local programs can franchise. Stop pouring our membership dollars into high CEO salaries. Instead, invest in what our communities actually need: pools and training. Build them in the towns where swimmers and… Read more »
The team had a training camp to get accustomed to the time change which takes a while but they had to swim as well. They should have had a nutritionist be present for all food prepared and served by that hotel staff Would have saved alot of anguish. If anyone ate or drank outside of that hotel then that’s on them to take that risk. Could this have been communicated better probably but it is what it is. Still proud of how we did all things considered.
If I were Ryan Lochte, I would spend my time working on my finances and private life before taking shots at what other people are doing. BTW unless your divorce is final you’re still married.
As for Phelps, is he helping out in any way or just being a jerk?
Positive reinforcement might be better served than throwing out memes. Seems a little arrogant and self serving. I’m guessing Phelps isn’t replacing Rowdy Gaines.
Arrogance and Vanity has been the downfall of USA swimming. The rest of the World has shown they don’t need the appreciation or approval of narrow-minded attitudes of their competitors. Our competitors have surpassed our self centered standards of excellence. The Bar is set higher because of the merit of our competitors we like it or not.
I’m sorry, where do you see a downfall? Arrogance and vanity? Wut?!
This is just not a fair criticism at all. The rest of the world has just caught up to us. We had advantages before and they essentially copied what we were doing. Apple used to make the best phones. Then everyone copied and improved them. There are more people swimming faster than ever. The top 8 are much faster then in 2016, 2012, or 2008. Its getting closer and denser at the top. The talent is remarkably higher and there are a lot more of them. Technique hasn’t even changed a ton. They are just physically way stronger, skinnier, and more athletic.
As an example. Caleb Dressel wasn’t even the best swimmer. He just could jump way further and… Read more »
Lochte’s 200 IM World Record was just broken 14 years later by someone we have all definitely heard of.
Taking public shots at the team just makes Phelps and Lochte look very small. It wasn’t constructive at all. Apparently Lilly King clapped back.
I truly don’t think these “public shots” are at the team athletes so much as the organization! You clearly think that the athletes are the targets but I think you’re missing the HOT MESS of an organization that is failing the athletes.
Give 9 and under swimming back to swim schools. Greedy ass teams are trying to convince parents that their 30 person group will help 9 year old Sally Anne learn fly or breast. Good luck.
#clubgreed
Hey swim coaches, you guys need to stop taking swimmers from swim schools. You guys don’t know how to coach 6-11. Every kid that I coach has the worst technique know to man kind you guys use to reject swimmers who didn’t learn all 4 strokes.
#greed.
Wow! So much to sort out.
1. People want to stop foreign swimmers from training in the US but in the same breath say “iron sharpens iron”. So only American iron can sharpen American iron? American swimming is based on free enterprise which includes foreign athletes.
2. It’s funny that the spokesperson for mental health is adding more potential pressure to our swimmers with such harsh criticism of American Swimming. The blame game affects everyone. Does anyone really think swimmers won’t take the criticism personally as well?
3. Yes, we have a leadership void right now. Who will be the optimistic visionary to take the lead when the constituency is mired in the past and not thinking about… Read more »