Thursday, February 22, 2018
Safe Sport Senior Director Susan Woessner Resigns
USA Swimming today announced the resignation of Safe Sport Senior Director Susan Woessner.
Woessner recently provided USA Swimming with information regarding a personal interaction with coach member Sean Hutchison dating back to 2007. This interaction took place at a time when Woessner worked as the USA Swimming Times Database Coordinator. The incident in question did not conflict with any organizational rules prior to her subsequent position working in Safe Sport in 2010. Considering Woessner’s Safe Sport role, a disclosure of this interaction should have preceded an investigation involving Hutchison in December 2010.
“Since its inception, the effort and work of the Safe Sport program have been among the leading initiatives in amateur sport,” USA Swimming CEO and President Tim Hinchey said. “We are committed to carrying on with the efforts Susan led, supported by the Board of Directors and the organization, to create a safe environment for children and swimming families across the country.”
Safe Sport milestones since 2010 include mandatory reporting, creation of the national Safe Sport Committee, pre-employment screens for clubs, release of online athlete protection training, creation of Safe Sport Leadership conferences, independent reviews, creation of anti-bullying policies and materials, launch of SwimAssist survivor aid, USOC Safe Sport audit and more.
Woessner requested a copy of her resignation letter be made public and it is available at the following link: https://view.publitas.com/letterofresignation/_/.
Woessner recently provided USA Swimming with information regarding a personal interaction with coach member Sean Hutchison dating back to 2007. This interaction took place at a time when Woessner worked as the USA Swimming Times Database Coordinator. The incident in question did not conflict with any organizational rules prior to her subsequent position working in Safe Sport in 2010. Considering Woessner’s Safe Sport role, a disclosure of this interaction should have preceded an investigation involving Hutchison in December 2010.
“Since its inception, the effort and work of the Safe Sport program have been among the leading initiatives in amateur sport,” USA Swimming CEO and President Tim Hinchey said. “We are committed to carrying on with the efforts Susan led, supported by the Board of Directors and the organization, to create a safe environment for children and swimming families across the country.”
Safe Sport milestones since 2010 include mandatory reporting, creation of the national Safe Sport Committee, pre-employment screens for clubs, release of online athlete protection training, creation of Safe Sport Leadership conferences, independent reviews, creation of anti-bullying policies and materials, launch of SwimAssist survivor aid, USOC Safe Sport audit and more.
Woessner requested a copy of her resignation letter be made public and it is available at the following link: https://view.publitas.com/letterofresignation/_/.