After Expulsion Threat, Swimming Australia Averts Crisis By Finally Agreeing To World Aquatics’ Orders

All hope might not be lost for Swimming Australia after all! After almost a year of a tug-of-war between the country’s swimming apex body and the World Aquatics, it seems like Ariarne Titmus & Co. can finally have a good night’s sleep. While the Australian swimmers’ stellar 18 medal-hauling Parisian campaign was scintillating to witness, the possibility of watching the stars having to compete as ‘neutrals’ in upcoming competitions was also daunting. Thankfully, it looks like an amicable solution has been reached.

The international governing body for swimming was on the verge of taking stringent action against Australian swimmers because the country’s top authorities failed to implement several points of the World Aquatics Constitution. However, it seems that such drastic measures might not be necessary after all, thanks to Swimming Australia’s current CEO.

Swimming Australia and AQUA meet in the middle

According to a report by Swimming World from October 21, two-time Olympian Rob Woodhouse, the top boss at Swimming Australia, has taken measures to restore peace between the AQUA and the Golden Warriors camp. Taking a common sense approach, Woodhouse has vowed to implement the World Aquatics’ regulations straight away. An official statement on the matter read, “Swimming Australia, World Aquatics and the Australian Sports Commission have agreed to a path forward regarding the constitutional requirements after meetings in Sydney today.”

A lack of voting power on the Swimming Australia Board was the main point of concern for AQUA, but it seems like that has been finally resolved. “The expanded voting structure will apply from the 2025 AGM and sees the current Member Organisations, including the seven State and Territory Member Organisations, Swim Coaches and Teachers Australia  and the Australian Swimmers Association, retain 40 per cent of the voting rights, and will now include 5 per cent for any Australian World Aquatics Bureau member and 5 per cent for Swimming Australia’s Affiliate Members,” affirmed the official statement, as per the latest report.

The additional 50 percent voting rights will be split between the clubs and the athletes. With the agreement now on paper, Swimming Australia will retain its member status within the confines of the World Aquatics. “We look forward to finalising this prior to Christmas and moving forward in a positive manner,” said Hayden Collins, the co-chair of the Swimming Australia Board. Naturally, the spirits are high, considering that Australian swimmers don’t have to face a fate similar to that of their colleagues from other countries.

A close save for the Aussies

The ongoing global conflict in Europe caused a massive blow to the guts for Russia and Belarus. Just days before the 2024 Paris Olympics, the IOC issued a ban on several Russian wrestlers, including internationally acclaimed stars like Zaur Uguev and Abdulrashid Sadulaev. However, it looked like the Russians were determined not to let the directive blow their confidence and the athletes did everything they could to keep their smiles on. Many wrestlers were advised to compete as “Allied Independent Athletes”, or neutrals, the same possibility that loomed overhead of Swimming Australia. As a protest, the entire Russian wrestling contingent pulled out of the 33rd Games in the City of Love.

Luckily, the folks over at Swimming Australia decided to take a more sensible approach to the matter at hand and will be continuing its dominance in the sport as a venerated member of AQUA. “We are pleased with the outcome from today’s conversations and believe that the new constitution sets the sport up in Australia for future success,” said Brent Nowicki, Executive Director of World Aquatics. How relieved does this statement make you feel? Tell us below!