The duty of care scandal engulfing Olympic and Paralympic sport has plunged to a new low as British Swimming admitted disabled swimmers, including vulnerable teenagers, were subjected to a “climate of fear” while training for Rio 2016.

The former head coach of British Para-Swimming, Rob Greenwood, has left his post and the governing body took the rare step of publicly apologising to athletes he was found to have verbally abused and used discriminatory language about, as well as their families.

The Guardian understands the situation was deemed so serious that a group of affected athletes, which includes Paralympic champions, were offered complimentary psychotherapy sessions if they required help coping with the trauma of the abuse and subsequent investigations.

The performance director, Chris Furber, has also faced internal disciplinary action although this is in regard to management failings and a “lack of empathy” towards athletes. He is not accused of abuse or discrimination. […]

The swimmers were enormously successful, winning 47 medals, 16 of them gold, and finishing second in the medal table, contributing to Greenwood being handed the High Performance Coach of the Year award by Sports Coach UK in November 2016.

Months later he was gone in a cloud of controversy and suspicion. The chairman of British Swimming, Maurice Watkins, said: “On behalf of British Swimming I want to apologise to the British Para-Swimming athletes and their families who have faced unacceptable behaviours and comments. I have written to those athletes and their families I understand have been affected by this.

“In the pursuit of excellence, we recognise there have been failings in the culture and communication within British Para-Swimming. We are correcting that, recognising the need to ensure strong athlete welfare in our sport. British Swimming has in place a robust action plan, which follows a lengthy and detailed inquiry designed to make sure transparent procedures are followed and adhered to. These procedures are being widely communicated. We want to ensure a closer working relationship with the British Athletes Commission. Our goal continues to be medal-producing performances, consistent with medal targets, in a positive culture.”

Read The Guardian and see interviews on BBC

Photo by Ben124.

Mr. Paulo Frischknecht has been the Executive Director of LEN since 1st October 2013.
In his capacity, Mr. Frischknecht has provided a much-appreciated leadership and actively participated in the improvement of LEN’s strategic modern positioning at all specific levels under his control and responsibility.

That being said, Mr. Frischknecht and LEN President Paolo Barelli both felt recently that undertaking further discussions about the Executive Director’s career path, operational role and practical aspirations were of adamant significance for the immediate future of the parties involved, mainly due to some upstretched personal reasons.

Following this, a joint decision of mutual consent was taken where Mr. Frischknecht would no longer cultivate his present duties and position as LEN Executive Director.

Yet, in view of his recognised professional knowledge, utmost expertise within the administration of Sports Organisations and respected and qualified supervising skills, LEN would be interested to keep his cooperation in different capacities – presumably as a Sports Management Consultant and/or Special Projects Senior Advisor. The main features of this forthcoming collaboration bond are yet to be determined in full.

“The LEN Family really appreciates what Paulo Frischknecht has done for European Aquatics in the past four years and all of us are really grateful for his commitment and professionalism” LEN President Paolo Barelli said after announcing the agreement described above to the LEN Bureau at its latest meeting in Ostia. “LEN went through tremendous growth in recent years, it’s a common success of the National Federations, our great athletes, coaches, officials and the LEN leadership, the LEN Bureau and the LEN Office which has been headed by Mr. Frischknecht since 2013. Thanks to the joint efforts, Europe is maintaining its position as the most successful continent in the world of aquatics.”

This is what Paulo Frischknecht had to say: “I truly feel blessed and grateful for the great opportunity that was presented to me back in 2013… other than, of course, rather proud, privileged and flattered, for the enduring professional trials assigned to me during these last few years, whilst keenly experiencing being part of LEN’s most recent organizational improvements, event developing upgrades, and ongoing sample setting showcases, also before different reference sport international federations.

Evidently, none of the above outlooks would have been possible without the permanent sustenance of an overzealous President, an enthusiastic Bureau, precisely competent Technical Committees and Commissions, and an everlasting devoted and skilful Staff, at every moment of such a bumpy but challenging road.

However, it was mainly due to the highest support, uppermost assistance, and absolute companionship, that unselfish true sport loving folks representing LEN’s 52 affiliated National Federations across Europe (their Athletes, Coaches, and Officials), continuously and thoughtfully inspiring us along the way with their outstanding performances and results, that most of our paramount efforts made full sense.

Trusting on an even brighter future for European Aquatics, while keeping our Continent’s leading example, and firmly believing in the Executive righteous appointment of Mr. Minervini, I wish my friend Gianni all the best in this very demanding position.”

The LEN President also announced that effective 1 October 2017, Gianni Minervini, currently LEN Office and Financial Manager, is appointed LEN Executive Director and that Marco Birri, LEN Operations Manager will maintain his current role aimed at continuing the fruitful work in favour of the development of the LEN disciplines.

As former swimmer, Mr. Minervini competed in three consecutive Olympics (1984, 1988, 1992). He won a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 1986 World Championships in Madrid and a bronze medal in the same event at the 1991 World Championships in Perth. He also won a total of five bronze medals at European Championships (100m breaststroke: Strasbourg 1987, Athens 1991; 4x100m medley: Sofia 1985, Bonn 1989; 50m breaststroke: Gelsenkirchen 1991 Short Course).

After finishing his career as an athlete, in 1994 he joined Procter & Gamble where he held Domestic, Regional and Global roles on various product categories.

He was the Associate Director of the organising committee of the 2009 FINA World Championships held in Rome. He has been with LEN since November 2015.

“It is a great honour to be nominated for this very important position” Mr. Minervini said. “LEN’s most important role is to serve the athletes, the coaches, the officials and the National Federations in the most effective way possible. I am fully determined and committed to do my best in this new position to ensure that the LEN Member Federations, European Aquatics and the LEN Office continue to grow stronger and stronger and more and more successful globally.”

Press release from LEN