Chrissi Rawak, a former swimmer turned athletic director, has resigned from her position as CEO of USA Swimming less than two weeks after her appointment, following the revelation of an abuse allegation against her, according to SafeSport.
The official, who was named the new Chief Executive Officer of USA Swimming on 19 February, stepped down just nine days after her appointment was announced. The federation’s decision came after it was revealed that Rawak was under investigation by the US Center for SafeSport, an organisation responsible for investigating allegations of abuse in Olympic and federated sports.
In a statement released on 28 February, USA Swimming announced that Rawak would not be taking on the role due to “unforeseen personal circumstances” that came to the organisation’s attention later that week. The federation clarified that while the allegation in question was brought to USA Swimming’s attention, it was after the announcement of her appointment as the new CEO and not prior to her hiring.
“These issues, which we are only beginning to understand, were not previously known and were not disclosed during the thorough selection process for Ms. Rawak,” USA Swimming said in an official statement. The allegation falls under the jurisdiction of SafeSport, which investigates potential abuse and misconduct within Olympic sports.
Rawak’s departure marks another chapter in a series of challenges USA Swimming has faced in recent years regarding its handling of abuse allegations within the sport.
The federation has yet to name a permanent replacement for Rawak, who had served as athletic director at the University of Delaware since 2016, where she was the first woman to hold the position on a permanent basis. Prior to that, Rawak was a collegiate swimmer and assistant coach at the University of Michigan.
Although Rawak was a well-respected figure in the world of collegiate swimming, her resignation has left a void in the organisation, which must now find a new leader to replace Tim Hinchey, who left his position last autumn.
USA Swimming is currently searching for a permanent replacement, with Shana Ferguson serving as interim CEO.
This episode underscores the importance of full transparency and diligence in leadership selection processes within sports organisations, particularly when it comes to athlete safety and maintaining community trust.
Rawak’s resignation highlights how an unresolved allegation can affect the career of any figure in sport, even after a thorough selection process.
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