Swimming news: Tarnished FINA brand to be known as Water Aquatics as part of extreme makeover

Its global brand has been struggling to keep its head above water for decades. But ditching its name is just a small part of the sweeping reforms as swimming commits to a new dawn.

Swimming’s global governing body has dumped its notorious 114-year-old name as part of a sweeping reform package that other sports need to sit up and take notice of.

From January 1, 2023, swimming’s ruling body FINA will be no more.

Instead, swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming will be ruled by ‘Water Aquatics’ after a historic vote to change the name in Melbourne on Monday.

But it’s not just the tarnished FINA brand that has been ditched and replaced with a new modern look.

As exclusively revealed by News Corp, the sport has also adopted a new constitution to reform the ageing organisation, which was formed in 1908 and in desperate need of change.

Under the new changes, an additional 15 members will be promoted to the sport’s ruling board, including nine women, to raise the percentage of females running the sport to 38%.

“This is a big and significant step. Of course, there is more work to do; our target must be a 50-50 split,” FINA president Husain Al-Musallam told the extraordinary congress.

“Today’s vote brings us closer to this goal.”

FINA came under fierce criticism for allowing Sun Yang to race at the FINA world championships in 2019. The drawn out drama which followed was a significant black spot for the governing body.

The congress voted overwhelmingly to adopt the new constitution, which also included the creation of a new and independent integrity unit as well as rules restricting the power of ageing leaders.

Under the new regulations, all members have to step down once they reach 75 while presidents are restricted to two terms, totalling a maximum of 12 years in line with the International Olympic Committee.

And honorary life titles are to be abolished altogether, stopping the endless gravy train for elder statesmen.

Everyone who cares about clean sport should be celebrating the news that the tarnished FINA name is being consigned to history and overdue reforms are coming.

Gold medallists Shayna Jack, Meg Harris, Madison Wilson, Mollie O'Callaghan after winning gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay final at the 2022 FINA world championships in Budapest.

It has taken decades for the sport’s leaders to commit to a new era of independence and transparency but it’s also a timely reminder to other bodies still dragging their heels that it’s never too late to change.

And that means being completely transparent about all the sport’s dirty little secrets that have been swept under the carpet for far too long.

Swimming’s most successful countries, including Australia and the US, are still accused of ducking and diving whenever serious abuse claims surface, falling back on the tired old excuse that they couldn’t investigate something they didn’t receive a formal complaint about.

That’s just a cop out that has to stop because it doesn’t wash any more and if FINA can turn over a new leaf, then anyone can.