A new Bureau was elected by World Aquatics this week at its Ordinary General Congress, held as part of the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. The new slate includes active and former athletes in positions of influence and maintains key figures from the organization’s leadership core.
Dylan Carter, an active swimmer from Trinidad & Tobago, was elected to the Bureau as one of 16 World-at-Large members.
A sprint freestyle and butterfly specialist, Carter had been racing at the World Championships in Singapore for the last week while the Congress was meeting, making him one of only a handful of active swimmers ever to be elected to the Bureau while still competing at a World Championships. Carter is a three-time Short Course World Championships medalist and holds 14 individual Trinidad and Tobago swimming records across both short course (25m) and long course (50m). Carter finished 21st in the 50 fly and 41st in the 50 free at last week’s World Championships.
Matthew Dunn, a three-time Australian Olympian (1992, 1996, 2000), was promoted from Second to First Vice President. Dunn holds 21 international gold medals, including golds in the men’s 200 IM and 400 IM at three consecutive Short Course World Championships (1995, 1997, 1999).
Meanwhile, European Aquatics President Antonio Silva (Portugal) was announced as the Second Vice President. Dunn and Silva were unanimously endorsed by the national federations in their appointments.
In addition to the appointments and athlete additions, there were also multiple reelected officials to the Bureau. Notably, Husain Al-Musallam was re-elected as President; his focus continues to be an athlete-focused mindset.
“We must continue over the next four years, because our work will lay the foundation for our ultimate goal: to serve our athletes. This is what we can achieve together. I need everyone in this hall to support me and support the new Bureau.” Al-Musallam said to the General Congress.
Dale Neuberger was reelected as Treasurer, a role he has held since 2021, and was re-elected again in 2023 in Fukuoka.
The Bureau is comprised of 40 members: the President, 22 continental representatives (5 from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, and 2 from Oceania), 16 World-at-Large Members, and one seat for the Chair of the Athletes Committee.
World Aquatics also noted that of the 40 members, 42% are women (16 members), a focal point in World Aquatics’ efforts in gender equality.
Full List of World Aquatics Bureau Members:
Continental Representatives:
- Africa (Five Representatives)
- Yasser Mohamed Ibrahim Idris (EGY) – World Aquatics Vice President
- Thauriya Ahmed Diria Bharmal (TAN)
- Monica Amon Changnamuno (MAW)
- Mohamed Diop (SEN)
- Donald Rukare (UGA)
- America (Five Representatives)
- Maureen Croes (ARU) – World Aquatics Vice President
- Cheryl Gibson (CAN) – 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist, women’s 200 IM
- Rafael Radhames Tavarez (DOM)
- Fernando Terrilli (ARG)
- Dale Neuberger (USA) – World Aquatics Treasurer
- Asia (Five Representatives)
- Jihong Zhou (CHN) – World Aquatics Vice President
- Digamber Vasant Kamat (IND)
- Somsak Leeswadtrakul (THA)
- Shakhnoza Mirziyoeva (UZB)
- Mohsen Rezvani (IRI)
- Europe (Five Representatives)
- Antonio Silva (POR) – World Aquatics Second Vice President
- Kyriakos Giannopoulus (GRE)
- Otylia Jędrezejczak (POL)- 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, women’s 200 butterfly
- Sarah Keane (IRL)
- Josip Varvodic (CRO)
- Oceania (Two Representatives)
- Matthew Dunn (AUS) – World Aquatics First Vice President
- Judy Otto (PLW)
World-at-Large Members
- Africa (Three Representatives)
- Zouheir El-Moufti (MAR)
- Jayseelan Naidoo (RSA)
- Doreen Tiborcz (MRI)
- America (Four Representatives)
- Dylan Carter (TTO)
- Diana Dominguez (PAR)
- Ana Fortin (HON)- 1984 Olympian
- Jorge Soto (COL)
- Asia (Four Representatives)
- Khaleel Al Jabir (QAT)
- Joo Hee Park (KOR)
- Daichi Suzuki (JPN) 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist, men’s 100 backstroke
- Kwai Mae Tang (MAS)
- Europe (Four Representatives)
- Pernille Blume (DEN)- 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist, women’s 50 freestyle
- Camelia-Alina Potec (ROU)- 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, women’s 200 freestyle
- Vanja Udovicic (SRB)
- Erkan Yalcin (TUR)
- Oceania (One Representative)
- John West (NZL)
Vanja Udovicic, one of the four European “At-Large” representatives, was under investigation by the Serbian Anti-Corruption Agency in 2018 for fraud. While serving as the Minister of Youth and Sports, Udovicic transferred 143 million dinars (approximately 1.4 million USD) from budget reserves to an illegally created company “European University Games 2020”.
He also was reportedly involved in the creation of an EUSA master plan that the government paid 572,000 Euros (662,000 USD) for, but only cost 30,000 Euros (34,000 USD) to create.
Despite this investigation, he continued to serve as Minister of Youth and Sports until 2022.
More about Udovicic https://www.blic.rs/vesti/drustvo/ministar-na-ispitivanju-udoviciceve-sumnjive-transakcije-istrazuje-agencija-za-borbu/sbshgtm
A classic hire.
Matthew Dunn seems to be a controversial figure for Swimming Australia as the dispute concerning Chris Fydler seems to be linked to him .. can someone investigate this storyline ?
He is also a “yes” man. Weak at the top table.
Love him as a swimmer but won’t be surprised if he’s actively trying to inch his way to the top of the totem pole whether that’s World Aquatics or IOC.. where people peel grapes for you to do them favours .. it’s a dirty game at the time and it’s a shame if he’s getting himself involved in game of thrones
A bunch of people with snouts in the troth at the very top.