In a major development for the sport, Swimming Australia (SA) has reached an agreement with World Aquatics regarding governance issues that could have led to the nation’s swimming federation being suspended. This agreement marks a significant shift in power dynamics within the sport, placing a greater emphasis on athlete and club representation.
The new agreement will see a revised constitution for Swimming Australia, granting athletes and clubs 50% of the voting rights at future annual general meetings. This move signals a significant step towards increased athlete and club voice in the decision-making processes of the sport.
“We are delighted to have been able to reach this outcome today and thank the member organisations for their support in bringing this to a resolution,” said Hayden Collins, co-chair of the SA board, in a news release. “We look forward to finalising this prior to Christmas and moving forward in a positive manner.”
Brent Nowicki of World Aquatics echoed the sentiment of satisfaction with the outcome. “We are also pleased that 50% of the voting rights now sit with the community the sport is there to serve, the athletes and clubs,” he added. “This model will become one which we consider best practice across the world.”
The agreement represents a significant victory for athletes and clubs within Australian swimming, granting them a more substantial role in shaping the future of the sport. This model of increased athlete representation is expected to be adopted as a standard practice by other aquatic governing bodies globally.