Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde has published a text message to University of Delaware athletic staffers that explains why would-be USA Swimming CEO Chrissi Rawak withdrew from the position a week after she was announced in the role.
“It has been a very difficult last few days. My mother in law passed away unexpectedly and my father in law is not in a good place and will likely come back to DE with us,” the message says. “Because of this I have made the incredibly difficult decision to not become the CEO USA Swimming [sic]. While this is incredibly difficult there is nothing more important than my family and this is what is needed. This is going to be announced tonight and I wanted you to be aware. Not asking you to do anything just did not want you to be surprised. I will be out of the office next week working through this with my family.”
Per source, this is a text Rawak sent to some Delaware athletic staffers last night: pic.twitter.com/P3APRf2YEC
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 1, 2025
Other individuals in the swimming community have confirmed that this was the reason given for Rawak’s about-face on the top job in Colorado Springs.
Both Rawak and her husband Glenn Hill are graduates of the University of Michigan, where Rawak swam and Hill was on the men’s gymnastics team.
USA Swimming announced Rawak’s withdrawal late Friday evening, citing “unforeseen personal circumstances that we learned about late this week.” A spokesperson for the organization has declined to elaborate, and USA Swimming has given no update or timelines on a replacement for the position.
SwimSwam has reached out to Rawak to ask if she intends to remain the athletics director at Delaware, but as of publishing have not received a response.
So when is USA SWIMMING going to recert its coach membership so it’s in good standing? Ive been recertifing every year since 2010 and I haven’t had NEARLY the troubles this scam organization has had. Im tired of pretending now. Can’t even get the leadership right. Smh.
BOYCOTT THIS CLOWN SHOW. For real.
Not sure what to make of all this, but it’s a mess.
Regardless, BOD is responsible for the mess that has been the last 18 months. KA the worst, pushing agendas that are misinformed, wreckless, and destructive. Resign, please.
Amen
You have no idea what you are talking about and your anonymous comment reeks of misogyny.
The misogyny card? When the truth comes out will you retract your accusation?
Well then…
Man. There are some genuinely awful people in the comments today. You can believe what you want to believe, but in the end you have to square that with yourself, your family, your faith.
I almost hope that there IS ‘more to the story’ and that the accusations against USA Swimming’s integrity hold even the tiniest bit of weight, so ya’ll don’t just come out of this looking like loudmouthed conspiratorial sociopaths. But who knows? (Not you.)
There is more to the story.
Expound, kind sir.
https://swimswam.com/chrissi-rawak-withdrew-as-usa-swimmings-new-ceo-after-safesport-complaint-surfaced/
She stated that her father-in-law MAY come to DE. She could have asked for an extension on her start date..Completely backing out doesn’t make sense. An elderly parent passing is a normal occurance. Would she have quit if her Mother- in- law passed 3 months from now? Maybe more going on that is private.
“Egg on your face”
I feel terrible for Chrissi’s family situation but I’m certain there’s more to the story related to failure to vet properly. Reality is because of the Board’s haste and blinders that USAS now has no CEO, no National Team Director, and likely our COO. Top 3 gone is a poof of smoke. Great job USA Board of Directors!
Have you had to take care of an elderly parent? That is a full time job and one that requires a certain amount of commitment.
It also takes a level of planning. Everyone with elderly parents knows that medical issues or death are coming and most plan for the scenarios – especially when making major commitments.
Stay tuned, this guy.
And maybe he has Dementia or Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. We have no idea!
We now have an idea.
And I would encourage everyone to just hit pause on fully forming their opinion on this until more information comes out.
Is she able to just walk back into her job at Delaware?