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/1 March p.m. update/New reports indicate that a U.S. Center for SafeSport complaint against USA Swimming CEO-to-be Chrissi Rawak emerged and she then chose to withdraw. A USA Swimming statement sent to Swimming World Magazine read:
“Today’s news is concerning and disappointing to USA Swimming and our broader community. The fundamental responsibility of USA Swimming, above all else, is to protect the safety and well-being of our athletes.
“In the past few days, USA Swimming was made aware, for the first time, of the existence of a report that was filed with the U.S. Center for SafeSport after Chrissi Rawak’s appointment was announced. These matters, which we are only now coming to understand, were previously unknown and were not disclosed to USA Swimming during the rigorous vetting process of Ms. Rawak. This process was led by a reputable search firm and a dedicated stakeholder task force, followed well-established best practices, and was conducted with the highest possible degree of due diligence, including external reference and background checks.
“Immediately upon receiving limited information from the Center earlier this week, USA Swimming raised the matter with Ms. Rawak (with approval from the Center, which has exclusive jurisdiction over this claim), at which point Ms. Rawak informed us of her decision to resign. We are and remain bound by confidentiality obligations under the SafeSport Code, which we take very seriously in order to protect the integrity of the reporting process and of any athletes involved. This matter remains exclusively with the Center. “
No more details were provided. SafeSport does not comment on such matters.
/1 March a.m. update/Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde obtained a text sent by Rawak to the Delaware athletic department which described the reasons for her withdrawal:
“It has been a very difficult last few days. My mother in law passed away unexpectedly and my father in law is not in a good place and will likely come back to DE with us. Because of this I have made the incredibly difficult decision to not become the CEO USA Swimming [sic]. While this is incredibly difficult there is nothing more important than my family and this is what is needed. This is going to be announced tonight and I wanted you to be aware. Not asking you to do anything just did not want you to be surprised. I will be out of the office next week working through this with my family.”
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A stunning announcement was posted Friday by USA Swimming:
“USA Swimming today announced that, due to unforeseen personal circumstances that we learned about late this week, Chrissi Rawak will not assume the role of President and CEO. Shana Ferguson remains in place as Interim CEO.
“While this outcome is not what we expected or hoped for, we maintain the utmost confidence in the strength of our organization, leadership team, staff, and strategic direction. The Board and leadership team of USA Swimming are working closely together to continue advancing the organization’s priorities including our search for the next National Team Managing Director where we are making very good progress.”
Rawak was announced on 19 February after a national search, and was slated to take over on 14 March.
The USA Swimming Web site announcement of her hiring has been deleted and she continues to be listed on the Delaware athletics site as the Athletic Director. She came to the Blue Hens in 2016 from Michigan, where she was the Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director. She was a swimmer at Michigan from 1988-92.
Rawak said that her first order of business was to be finding a new director of the national team, which the USAS Board will apparently now undertake, according to its statement.
The search effort that found Rawak was led by NU Advisory Partners, working in coordination with a USA Swimming Board of Directors task force led by At-Large members Katy Arris Wilson and Sabir Muhammad.
Ferguson was appointed as interim chief executive after Tim Hinchey’s departure announced on 29 August 2024, ending a seven-year term heading the organization. He replaced the late Chuck Wielgus, who was lost to colon cancer in April 2017, and had been the head of the federation since July 1997.
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