Michael Phelps launches scathing attack on ‘failing’ USA Swimming | Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps launched a scathing attack on the leaders of USA Swimming, with the 23 -time Olympic gold medalist, the body’s gold medalist brand of the body is weak and demanding radical reforms after which he considers years of organizational decline.
“I saw too many teammates having trouble participating in a sport they like without the support they need,” wrote Phelps, who retired from competitive swimming in 2016, in a long Instagram post. “I also saw the sport fight to return its membership numbers to pre-pale levels, and I have finished claiming that this system works simply because it produces medals.
The 40-year-old man, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals, delivered his wide while revealing that he did not want his four young sons to participate in the sport given the current state of swimming in the United States.
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Phelps retraced his frustrations throughout his competitive career, saying that he often felt that his voice was unknown, was “invited to be grateful for the possibility of competing” and that it was more important to remain silent and maintain peace.
“First of all, I must be clear that I have the greatest respect for American swimmers who participated in the world championships,” wrote Phelps, who retired in 2016.
“My criticisms are in no way directed against them – I know how hard they work and how honored they are to represent the American national team. My criticisms concern the system, its leadership and how it fails. There has always been cracks in the system but in the past nine years, I saw these cracks develop.”
Phelps volunteered to help solve the problems it has raised and also proposed several solutions, including increased support from young swimmers and a priority of the needs of elite swimmers on coaches.
“My door is open and there is work to do,” he wrote.
Phelps is not the only American swimmer to criticize the organization recently. During the recent world championships, the former Phelps teammates, Ryan Lochte, published an image of simulated funeral for swimming of the United States.
Phelps compared the success of the American swimming team at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, where they won 33 medals, at the Paris Games last year when they fell to their lowest transport of medals in the swimming pool (28) since the 2004 Games in Athens.
