Overview

• Michael Phelps publicly accused USA Swimming leadership of being “broken” and failing to support athletes effectively after the team’s struggles in Singapore
• He cited a drop in medal conversion from 57% in Rio to 44% in Paris as evidence of systemic leadership failures—the lowest U.S. pool performance since 1988
• Phelps proposed a 360-degree independent review of the board, streamlined athlete services, and strengthened grassroots development, offering his personal resources to drive the changes
• Former teammates Ryan Lochte and Rowdy Gaines echoed Phelps’s critique, amplifying calls for transparency and accountability within USA Swimming
• Interim CEO Bob Vincent acknowledged widespread illness among U.S. swimmers at the World Championships and invited alumni dialogue without committing to an independent review