How Hawthorn, McLaren F1 team and SAS helped rebuild Swimming Australia’s batter reputation

AFTER the disaster of the London Games, Swimming Australia turned to global sporting organisations to help rebuild its battered reputation.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Cameron McEvoy of Australia celebrates winning the Men's 50 Metre Freestyle during day seven of the 2016 Australian Swimming Championships at the South Australia Leisure & Aquatic Centre on April 13, 2016 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

SWIMMING Australia has turned to three-time reigning AFL premier Hawthorn, Formula One team McLaren and the SAS for help in rebuilding its entire organisation ahead of the Rio Olympics.

SA president John Bertrand believes its culture - which was dubbed “toxic” by a damning review into a disastrous 2012 London Games - has been revolutionised and he’s seen evidence on the pool deck at this week’s national championships.

Its high performance team including Mr Bertrand, head coach Jacco Verhaeren and team leader Wayne Lomas met with Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson and his leadership team in the Hawks’ ‘war room’ just weeks after they clinched their third straight AFL flag last year.

John Bertrand turned to Hawthorn to help fix Swimming Australia’s culture.

Mr Bertrand has also had extensive discussions with Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos, who is now at Melbourne, and Geelong chairman Colin Carter who ran a two-day think-tank for the SA board.

The team also spent two days with McLaren during last month’s Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne and the head of the SAS is on Mr Bertrand’s advisory board helping plan logistics for the Rio Games which are less than four months away.

“Every decision we make we ask ourselves, is this world’s best practice?” said Mr Bertrand, who famously skippered Australia II to America’s Cup glory in 1983.

“We’re benchmarking against the world of Formula One racing, in military operations ... and Australian rules football, particularly Hawthorn, Geelong and Sydney and driven by their leadership teams.

“We looked at professional sports globally, NFL football in the US and soccer throughout Europe, and we think that Australian rules football is a leader in leadership team concept.”

Mr Bertrand pointed to greater communication between coaches and increased camaraderie and respect among swimmers at this week’s selection trials in Adelaide as evidence the rebuild is taking shape.

James Magnussen was at the centre of the infamous Stilnox saga.

But he knows the real test will come under the high-pressure environment of the Olympics.

“This organisation has not been proof tested yet and that will be Rio,” said Mr Bertrand who took over as president two-and-a-half years ago.

“That will be the strength of our organisation, including the inner workings, the culture and the values.

“It’s a work in progress but I’m comfortable with the progress we are making.

“There are five links in the chain that have to be solid - the athletes, the coaches, the parents, technology - that we are technology led - and administration.

“All of those elements have to be world class if we’re to play the game on the global stage.”

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Originally published as How Hawthorn, McLaren F1 team and SAS helped rebuild Swimming Australia’s batter reputation