Swimming Australia president acknowledges ‘issues’ across the sport

Swimming Australia’s member organisations have voiced their serious concerns with the executive branch, leading to an urgent independent review into the proceedings of the sport.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – DECEMBER 16: Emma McKeon of Australia reacts in the Women's 50m Freestyle heats on day four of the 2022 FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on December 16, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Swimming Australia has agreed to an urgent review into the way the sport is being managed after hearing first hand just how frustrated member organisations are with the current executive.

As previously revealed by News Corp, there are major problems bubbling under the surface of Australia‘s favourite Olympic sport after a breakdown in relations between Swimming Australia and key stakeholders, including elite competitors, coaches and state bodies.

It is understood that some Swimming Australia board members had no idea just how serious the rift was until they were told at a face-to-face meeting during this week’s world’s shortcourse championships in Melbourne.

Now that they know, Swimming Australia has agreed to an immediate and fully independent review to ensure nothing is swept under the carpet at a time when transparency in taxpayer funded sports is being heavily scrutinised.

Swimming Australia‘s newly elected president Michelle Gallen acknowledged there were some “communication” problems that needed fixing but expects they can be resolved.

“I‘m aware that there’s some tensions going on that I don’t think are unnatural in the nature of the relationship,” she said.

“Each of the states have to look after their cohort … and each state is very geographically different. What works in Tasmania doesn‘t work in Queensland.

“But we‘re here for the sport and so we’ve got that different viewpoint. Both our board and our executive and CEO have that remit to look after all of the sport so there’s always going to be natural tensions with that.”

New president of Swimming Australia Michelle Gallen says there are communication problems across the sport. Photo: Supplied.

While it is true that there have always been feuds within Australian swimming, long-time insiders say the latest fallout is the most damaging they’ve ever encountered because it comes at a time when the sport should be flourishing because of the incredible performances of swimmers.

Highly-placed sources who were involved in the meeting, said stakeholders have run out patience so didn’t hold back or sugar-coat the issues they wished to be raised, including concerns about the leadership style of Swimming Australia’s new CEO Eugenie Buckley.

A letter, seen by News Corp, details dozens of complaints that member organisations have about Buckley’s approach to management, the extent of communications with stakeholders and collaboration on some major decisions. The stakeholders also want more clarity on contractual and financial deals.

As one member organisation president – speaking on condition of anonymity because of feared repercussions, told News Corp: “There’s a culture of fear and intimidation running through the place. If you‘re not on Eugenie’s team, then you’re dead.”

Swimming Australia CEO Eugenie Buckley is under pressure due to her management style. Picture by Michael Klein

On Wednesday, the same day Swimming Australia’s meeting with stakeholders took place, Buckley – right in front of international media – entered the press room at the world championships and appeared to mock journalists covering the story about the sport’s problems – then acted out a mic drop as she departed.

Swimming Australia later apologised for their CEO’s behaviour.

Gallen said she would not comment on individuals within Swimming Australia – or anything that was aired at the confidential meeting – saying it was improper to do.

“That would not have been an inappropriate forum to receive those sorts of complaints,” Gallen said.

“It was a very large forum with presidents of organisations. If there were complaints about specific individuals, we‘ve got processes for that but that meeting would not have been appropriate to receive those.”