Tuesday, May 18, 2021
CEO Corner: Creating Opportunities
Today officially marks 17 days to the start of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming. I’d wager to say, the longest awaited Trials event in the history of our sport. The pace is frenzied, and the preparations are reaching a fever pitch. But, as the organization has always done, regardless of what will be different in 2021, we will once again stage the greatest swimming event on U.S. soil.
In addition to all the work being done to ready us for Trials, equally important governance work has been ongoing since 2020 and was heavily discussed during the May 7 USA Swimming Board of Directors meeting.
The Board’s Governance Cowmmittee, the Working Groups and members of all ranks have worked together to find the best and most effective way for our organization to remain compliant with Federal and USOPC mandates, and to remain an active and successful NGB.
We believe they have gotten us there.
It is now the duty of the leaders within this sport to act responsibly and to put the future of the athletes above all else.
Creating greater opportunities for athletes was an important theme this spring, as we excitedly introduced the first-ever TYR 18&Under Spring Cup. In collaboration with the Senior Development Committee, USA Swimming introduced a new wave of long course meters events to provide more competitive opportunities for our rising stars who had been greatly impacted by pandemic schedule reductions. This was a purposeful redirecting of programmatic funds to invest in our athletes at the Futures level and above.
The events in Irvine, Calif; Des Moines, Iowa; Richmond, Va.; and Orlando, Fla were very successful and well received, and we look forward to hosting future iterations of these meets. Additionally, we were happy to announce that we will be combining this summer’s senior-level and junior-level meets at the Speedo Summer Championships, slated August 3-7 in Irvine, Calif. and Greensboro, N.C., to provide another impactful National-level opportunity.
Lastly, though one that is certainly near and dear to me, was the launch of our new Supporters Club. As a former club swimmer, coach, and now a father of three young swimmers, I know first hand that there are many people like me who have a love and appreciation of swimming but do not fit within one of our traditional membership groups and could not officially be part of our organization. This fan-centric club will give supporters an opportunity to get involved and show the world why they #LoveThisSport, all while helping to support the sport of swimming at all levels.
I cannot wait to show my support for our swimmers in Omaha in June, and then wave the red, white, and blue as our team takes on the world in Tokyo.
Here’s to some fast swimming and great successes.
Until next time.
Tim Hinchey III
In addition to all the work being done to ready us for Trials, equally important governance work has been ongoing since 2020 and was heavily discussed during the May 7 USA Swimming Board of Directors meeting.
The Board’s Governance Cowmmittee, the Working Groups and members of all ranks have worked together to find the best and most effective way for our organization to remain compliant with Federal and USOPC mandates, and to remain an active and successful NGB.
We believe they have gotten us there.
It is now the duty of the leaders within this sport to act responsibly and to put the future of the athletes above all else.
Creating greater opportunities for athletes was an important theme this spring, as we excitedly introduced the first-ever TYR 18&Under Spring Cup. In collaboration with the Senior Development Committee, USA Swimming introduced a new wave of long course meters events to provide more competitive opportunities for our rising stars who had been greatly impacted by pandemic schedule reductions. This was a purposeful redirecting of programmatic funds to invest in our athletes at the Futures level and above.
The events in Irvine, Calif; Des Moines, Iowa; Richmond, Va.; and Orlando, Fla were very successful and well received, and we look forward to hosting future iterations of these meets. Additionally, we were happy to announce that we will be combining this summer’s senior-level and junior-level meets at the Speedo Summer Championships, slated August 3-7 in Irvine, Calif. and Greensboro, N.C., to provide another impactful National-level opportunity.
Lastly, though one that is certainly near and dear to me, was the launch of our new Supporters Club. As a former club swimmer, coach, and now a father of three young swimmers, I know first hand that there are many people like me who have a love and appreciation of swimming but do not fit within one of our traditional membership groups and could not officially be part of our organization. This fan-centric club will give supporters an opportunity to get involved and show the world why they #LoveThisSport, all while helping to support the sport of swimming at all levels.
I cannot wait to show my support for our swimmers in Omaha in June, and then wave the red, white, and blue as our team takes on the world in Tokyo.
Here’s to some fast swimming and great successes.
Until next time.
Tim Hinchey III