In the biggest escalation yet in the criticism from the Women’s Sports Foundation toward USA Swimming, the former has sent a petition to the International Swimming Hall of Fame asking them to remove USA Swimming CEO Chuck Wielgus from the 2014 induction class.
The letter is signed by a group referring to themselves as “Victims of Coaching Sexual Abuse,” as well as “Supporters of Victims of Coaching Sexual Abuse,” which includes the Women’s Sports Foundation as a whole and several Olympians, high level coaches, and victims in recent high-profile coaching abuse cases.
Among the signatories are Diana Nyad, who last year swam from Cuba to Florida and says that she was abused as a child by her swim coach; and Rick Curl victim Kelley Davies.
Included in the allegations in the petition are that “Chuck Wielgus Failed to Remove Known Serial Molesters from Swimming,” citing cases of Mitch Ivey, Rick Curl, Andy King, and Everett Uchiyama. In the cases of Ivey and Curl, accusations of long-ago abuse were well-known within the swimming community. In the case of Uchiyama, a letter of recommendation for a coaching job was written by Pat Hogan, USA Swimming’s director of club development, even after Uchiyama was added to a then-private banned list, according to the Associated Press.
Also among the 7 points outlined in the document, included below, are questions about Wielgus’ lack of leadership in sexual abuse prevention, hostility toward victims, and Wielgus’ refusal to apologize to victims of sexual abuse.
Wielgus was announced in January as part of a 14-member class of 2014 into the Ft. Lauderdale-based Hall of Fame.
A request for comment specifically from Wielgus, through a USA Swimming spokesperson, was not responded to. However, USA Swimming did release a comment from 5 current and former USA Swimming presidents who worked with Wielgus since 1994. That includes current president Bruce Stratton, and Carol Zaleski, who in 2009 was honored with a “Paragon Award” from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Those full comments are posted beneath as well, and were overwhelmingly in support of Wielgus’ induction into the Hall of Fame.
“Without hesitation, we attest that Chuck is a man of impeccable character who consistently exhibits a value system steeped in ethics and personal accountability,” the statement reads. “His integrity and leadership have been inspirational to us, and we have seen first-hand his positive impact on USA Swimming’s 400,000 members that include athletes, parents, volunteers, coaches and staff.”
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist in swimming and also the Senior Director of Advocacy for the Women’s Sports Foundation, says that the response from the former presidents does not “dispute any of the facts presented.”
“To be clear, victims are holding him accountable for what Wielgus has done and failed to do,” Hogshead-Makar said. “Some changes have been made, but only very recently, and at the point of a gun. It is not admirable leadership to move an organization that is under pressure from a Congressional investigation, an FBI investigation, lawsuits and constant media scrutiny. Instead, it takes leadership to avoid that level of inquiry.
Editor’s Note: SwimSwam cannot confirm there is an FBI investigation into USA Swimming. When contacted, the FBI responded that they will not comment on any ongoing or alleged investigations. A USA Swimming spokesperson says that “there is NO [sic] FBI Investigation [sic] into USA Swimming’s insurance practice.”
“We’re asking Chuck to step down from Hall of Fame consideration,” Hogshead-Makar continued. ” He is forcing the swimming community to take sides against itself, and it is not good for the Hall of Fame or the sport.”
Update: After publishing, the International Swimming Hall of Fame sent us their statement.
As for Bruce Wigo, the president and CEO of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, he says that the petition raises “disturbing” questions.
“The petition raises disturbing, grave questions that we take most seriously,” Wigo said in full. “The International Swimming Hall of Fame has great compassion and empathy for all survivors of sexual abuse and we are fully supportive of any effort that helps make our sport safe for young athletes. We have received and currently are reviewing the petition.”
The statement from the presidents of USA Swimming and the official protest, and exhibits, from the Women’s Sports Foundation, are attached below.
Statement from the presidents:
“Each of us has worked directly with Chuck Wielgus over the past 17 years and we wholeheartedly stand behind him and his outstanding accomplishments. His integrity and leadership have been inspirational to us, and we have seen first-hand his positive impact on USA Swimming’s 400,000 members that include athletes, parents, volunteers, coaches and staff.
“Without hesitation, we attest that Chuck is a man of impeccable character who consistently exhibits a value system steeped in ethics and personal accountability. A stalwart leader in the sport of swimming and amateur athletics, he possesses a history of honesty, compassion and success that merits his induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.”
Carol Zaleski, USA Swimming President (1994-98)
Dale Neuburger, USA Swimming President (1998-2002)
Ron Van Pool, USA Swimming President (2002-06)
Jim Wood, USA Swimming President (2006-10)
Bruce Stratton, USA Swimming President (2010-Present)
Women’s Sports Foundation petition below. Download the document here.
To Download the exhibits to the WSF’s petition, click here.
Am I going crazy? This well-stated, yet abbreviated list of cover-ups DOES amount to criminal complicity. It’s not just a matter of the ISHOF–that is a no-brainer–but these established facts should be tantamount to legal prosecution. What am I missing here? Wielgus not only protected these child rapists, but enabled them. A London deck pass for Rick Curl? A new job, with a US Swimming reference letter of support for Everett Uchiyama? This makes me want to puke. I am dumbfounded that this man isn’t behind bars, let alone still acting as the CEO of the organization. The fact that Wieglus’ board and team continue to vouch for some with such a non-existent moral compass–indeed call him, laughably, “impeccable” or… Read more »
While CW may have done some good things for USA Swimming, it is undeniable that he, at the very least, mismanaged the sexual abuse problems within USA Swimming. He showed insensitivity and did not act quickly and decisively enough, especially at the beginning. As a result, the victims suffered needlessly and the image of USA Swimming was tarnished more than if he had been more forceful immediately after learning about the problems. He may be a decent person, but that does not mean that he should be inducted into the HOF. We all have to own up to our mistakes and pay the consequences.
If you want to sign the petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/bruce-wigo-rescind-chuck-wielgus-hall-of-fame-nomination?recruiter=97753835&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition
Read the names of the women who were sexually abused as children. One name is tied very closely to the legendary and quickly removed coach from the NBAC Murray Stephens??
Murray has never been banned by USA Swimming because he stopped coaching. What stops him from coming back in the current USA Swimming Chuck run organization? Nothing
Read the names of the women (victims) who were sexually abused as children. One name comes up that is tied to “legendary” coach and quickly removed coach from the NBAC… Murray Stephens.
Knowing of the abuse of one person who was close to me was very damaging to myself as a young swimmer coached by Andy King. I still kick myself for not going to the authorities after finding out of the abuse. I did however go to the source, Andy King who didn’t deny any of it. He left less than a year after that confrontation and kept on with his deceitful ways. I am glad he is now behind bars where he belongs but am saddened to know that it took others to be abused before his sentencing. Those abused were affected in life altering ways and those around them that knew of it have been affected as well.
… Read more »
I admire you for owning your mistake and realizing its consequences, but also for doing something many lack the courage for, confronting the perp directly, which may have eventually helped overall. Unlike you, Wielgus had opportunities to admit his mistake and change course, but he repeatedly did otherwise. Thanks for supporting the victims and co-signers and if you want to join them yourself, there is a change.org petition, just scroll down a couple more comments where NeverSwimAlone has posted a link.
I signed it already.
The fact that the following people:
Carol Zaleski, USA Swimming President (1994-98)
Dale Neuburger, USA Swimming President (1998-2002)
Ron Van Pool, USA Swimming President (2002-06)
Jim Wood, USA Swimming President (2006-10)
Bruce Stratton, USA Swimming President (2010-Present)
Signed off on the defense Wielgus is exactly why USA Swimming leadership is going in the wrong direction. I’d like to see their replies to the allegations made by the WSF rather than read about some glammed over puff piece about why he’s a great guy. Answer the allegations directly and do it point by point – if the WSF had the courage to present their facts, the least the “past leaders” could do is have the decency to… Read more »
Chuck has been at USA Swimming for 17 years. Of the 19 survivors who signed the petition, at least 14 retired from the sport (and therefore endured abuse) before 1997 and before Chuck’s leadership. How does this make him personally responsible for the abuse they’ve suffered? Be angry with the sport, with the swimming community, with those coaches and athletes who were aware of the abuse and did nothing, at USA Swimming as the collective organization, but to vilify Chuck is misdirected.
Swammer72, you have it all wrong. The petition has nothing to do with survivors holding Chuck personally responsible. We don’t. The person responsible, in my case, was my coach and he is in jail for the rest of his life.
We are making no judgments on his character, but rather his ability to lead an organization which is entrusted with the care and safety of 1000’s of our youth every day. His track record in this area is poor at best. As a leader, Chuck has repeatedly demonstrated that, when it comes to that crucial moment when he has to decide to protect children or coaches, he chooses the latter. As a consequence, predator coaches have been enabled to… Read more »
In my opinion he lied and tried to cover up the abuse. Refer to the ESPN footage. People that do this do not belong in the hall of fame.
By the way SWAMMER72, I find it interesting that you continue to hide behind a username like you’ve done for the past several years. Oh, that’s right…. If you used your real name the parents of all the kids you coach would see where you stand on this subject. Way to take a stand. How awesome of you.