Swimming Australia CEO Alex Baumann announces immediate resignation

Canadian swimming champion Alex Baumann has stepped down from his role as Swimming Australia’s chief executive.

Just one day after the curtain came down on the Tokyo Olympics, Swimming Australia chief executive Alex Baumann has announced his resignation.

Baumann assumed the role in May but has stepped away after just three months, citing health concerns.

Baumann, a two-time swimming Olympic gold medallist for Canada, has twice beaten cancer and said his decision to leave the role was family-focused.

“I’ve been so pleased with the performance of our Olympians and excited for our para swimmers who depart for Tokyo next week. I recognise the timing is difficult, but I know I must take this time for myself and my family now,” Baumann said in a statement released on Monday.

“I’m proud of my contribution to swimming. My time at Swimming Australia, including the results at the Tokyo Olympics, will forever be a career highlight.”

Baumann represented Canada at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where he won two gold medals.

Swimming Australia president Kieren Perkins said Baumann’s resignation was “a great loss for our sport”.

“We’re sad to see Alex go,” Perkins said.

“We understand his reasons for leaving and thank him for everything he has done at Swimming Australia.

“Alex has been integral to our success from his experience in high performance as well as his leadership within our organisation.

“We understand health is more important than anything else. We wish him and his family all the best for the future.”

Under Baumann’s watch, the Australian swimming team produced its equal greatest Olympic performance — the Aussie swimmers took 20 medals home from Tokyo, nine of which were gold.

Emma McKeon was Australia’s most decorated swimmer in Tokyo, winning seven medals. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images)

As it prepares for the start of the Paralympic Games on August 24, Swimming Australia is set to name an interim chief executive as Baumann’s replacement.

The organisation will then recruit a permanent appointee to oversee its preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Our next CEO will be tasked with leading Swimming Australia into the new era of swimming, with a focus on safe, elite performance and community engagement as we turn our attention to Paris 2024,” Perkins said.

Prior to his appointment as Swimming Australia boss, Baumann had served as the executive director of the Queensland Academy of Sport and the chief executive of Queensland Swimming.

He has also worked as Swimming Australia’s chief strategist and as the chief executive of High Performance New Zealand in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Originally published as Swimming Australia CEO Alex Baumann announces immediate resignation