British open water swimming coach Alan Bircher was not nominated to the Team GB 2021 Olympic staff, despite initially being selected for the spot in 2019, following a 12-month welfare investigation, multiple British outlets reported Friday. The news was confirmed to SwimSwam by British Swimming.
The investigation reportedly heard allegations of a “toxic culture of bullying, fat-shaming, defying Covid restrictions, and failing to report safeguarding concerns” from Bircher at his club, the Ellesmere College Titans, where he’s the Director of Swimming.
Bircher, 39, was also suspended by Swim England, along with some other members of the club’s coaching staff, with numerous complaints from member parents prompting the organization to launch an immediate review of the club which was found to back up several of the claims made.
The Titans are among the top clubs in England, with three alumni, Freya Anderson, Cassie Wild and Hector Pardoe set to represent Great Britain in Tokyo.
As a consequence of the review, Bircher was not nominated to the Tokyo Olympic coaching staff in 2021. In October of 2019, Bircher was selected to lead the British open water swimmers in Tokyo.
A joint statement from British Swimming and Swim England told SwimSwam that an independent review took place between July 2020 and June 2021 after the concerns raised by parents.
Swim England said that all of the recommended changes were made immediately following the review, including a “complete change of the governance structure of the club” and Swim England officers working alongside members to put a revised structure and procedure in place.
With some members of the coaching staff suspended, including Bircher, coaching support for the team has been secured by Swim England, and the suspended staffers “will not return to the program until such time as all conditions set out in the report have been met to the satisfaction of Swim England.”
Full Statement
“Swim England was extremely concerned to receive notification of welfare issues from parents of swimmers in Ellesmere College Titans Swimming Club and on receipt of these notifications instigated a thorough independent review, which was conducted in partnership with the relevant Statutory Agency and the Local Authority Designated Officer.
“The report identified welfare and governance issues and immediately the review was concluded, Swim England implemented all the recommendations in the report to ensure a safe, supportive and positive environment for everyone in the club.
“This involved a complete change of the governance structure of the club and Swim England Officers working alongside members to put in place a revised structure and procedures. An independent welfare officer is supporting the club and as the programme coaches are currently suspended, coaching support has been secured for the programme, overseen by an experienced Swim England Talent Coach.
“Swim England will remain working with the club until such time as we are content our robust safeguarding and welfare procedures and policies are embedded within the governance of the club. The suspended coaching staff will not return to the programme until such time as all conditions set out in the report have been met to the satisfaction of Swim England.
“The welfare and safety of all of Swim England’s members and British Swimming’s athletes is of paramount importance and we continue to prioritise our duty of care to all within our sport.
“British Swimming is supportive of the action taken by Swim England and, as a consequence of the review, coach Alan Bircher was not nominated to the Tokyo Olympic coaching team for 2021 and will not be part of the team at the Games.”
Bircher represented Great Britain at six World Championships in open water from 2003 to 2008, winning silver in the men’s 10km at the 2004 championships in Dubai.
SwimSwam has reached out to Bircher for comment.
I can’t help feeling all this blog is going in wrong direction and being aimed primarily at the coach? The original articles talked about failings of governance at the club and the coaches not following through. If that’s the case what’s the value of Swim Mark? Doesn’t the governing body sign off on governance in that? Have they not failed? Why did it take a complaint to decide something was wrong.
Child welfare is there for a very good reason, but it is sad that this can be so easily hijacked from it’s intended purpose and used so easily as a weapon against coaches. Coaches are employed by amateur committees and get very little support, in real terms, from either… Read more »
Your first paragraph was good, the rest couldn’t be further from the truth.
Ultimately, the buck stops with the head coach but he is one part of a much bigger organisation. Welfare and governance issues mentioned , what was welfare officer and rest of committee doing to protect swimmers or listen to concerns?
I spent 2 years at Titans being coached directly by Alan. It’s not an exaggeration when I say that he’s one of the most kind, supportive and motivating people I’ve ever met, much less been coached by.
I don’t know the exact case or swimmer/parent(s) the “investigation” refers too (none of us do). What I can say is that I didn’t see any bullying, fat shaming, toxic culture from Alan. I saw swimmers being supported in fulfilling their dreams, many of which achieved their dreams.
It is sad that someone didn’t enjoy their time at the program, be that because of their own attitude or a genuine problem with the club and it’s staff.
I will sing… Read more »
It’s disgusting to see presumably one of the complainants comment on here that ‘justice has been served and it tastes delicious’. This says a lot. As a parent of a Titans swimmer, who also boards at the school we have NEVER had any problems with the club, let alone concerning welfare. In my experience Alan always has the children’s best interests at the heart of everything he does. Based on my experience we will be fully supporting Alan 🖤💜
I was one of those children. It’s good to hear that your child hasn’t experienced any of it however
Think about your own child and how much time and effort they have presumably put into their swimming career thus far. All of the friends and happy memories they have made along the way. As someone that has gone through the lifestyle that is swimming competitively, consider just how much someone would have to affect them, their self esteem and happiness in order for them to even consider quitting the sport they have put so much dedication into and enjoy so greatly. It is not bitterness nor a dislike of ‘hard work’ that has caused numerous people to speak out on the failures of the Titans, but the feeling of the joy swimming has given each and every one of… Read more »
Your quotes are not quotes from me and in no way do I invalidate the negative experiences of others. I can only speak from our experience as is the same for you. Mine is an extremely positive experience of Titans that will continue for another year.
By claiming he has the ‘children’s best interests at heart’ you really are invalidating their experiences – I highly doubt the children affected appreciate you claiming that their misery caused by their coach was in good spirit.
I’m not claiming anything….. I am speaking on experience and that alone. Alan has the children’s best interests at heart in my experience. No one can change that and I won’t be influenced by others experience.
So basically what you’re saying is that, because it’s never happened to you, you’ll refuse to acknowledge that it’s happened to others? Great empathy!
Could everyone please stop this. Past swimmers and parents are of course able to express their opinion about their coaches but please stop second guessing what is happening and please don’t post abusive messages. There are many parents who have been involved in this investigation with many children affected over a number of years. Some of those children are reading these comments from people who have no idea what’s happened to them. Please be sensitive to this and bear in mind that Swim England would not have done a 12 month investigation, written such a lengthy report and imposed such sanctions if this was one or two parents.
Swim England would rather through a coach under the bus, than dare those 2 or 3 disgruntled posh kiddy members. You do understand they are very close to going under financially?
The fact that you say ‘2 or 3’ highlights how unbelievably ignorant you are regarding the investigation and its findings
If it weren’t for Alan Bircher, I wouldn’t have quit swimming.
reason for stopping was you didn’t like hard work?
So you’re saying it took me 10 years to realise that swimming is hard work?
justice has been served and it tastes delicious
Ooooooh
Are you the upset mummy, daddy or the kid psychologically damaged by the afore mentioned?
This isn’t justice this is a parent with a grudge’s crusade to destroy a coach’s career and try to damage the reputation of the school in some weird pursuit for revenge. He went to great lengths to drum up evidence and even tried to create it where there wasn’t any to add weight to his claims. I saw this first hand.
Unfortunately in sport not everyone’s career ends positively, often as athletes are unable to acknowledge their own failings. It’s easier to blame a coach than face their own failure.
Literally every word in this is incorrect.
I will stand by Alan Bircher as a coach and a person who looked out for his summer’s in and out of the pool