Overview

• Michael Phelps publicly accused USA Swimming of weak leadership and called the organization broken in a detailed Instagram statement on August 13–14.
• He proposed measures including a 360-degree independent review of the board, improved athlete services, increased grassroots investment, and offered his own assistance.
• Phelps highlighted a drop in U.S. Olympic medal share from 57% in Rio 2016 to 44% in Paris 2024 and noted operational strains at the World Championships in Singapore during a team illness outbreak.
• USA Swimming defended its direction, cited the impact of illness in Singapore, expressed openness to engagement but has not committed to a formal independent review.
• Former alums such as Ryan Lochte mocked the federation’s state while Rowdy Gaines and others publicly supported Phelps’s call for accountability and structural reform.