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An Open Letter to:

President Marty Mankamyer

United States Olympic Committee

One Olympic Plaza

Colorado Springs, CO. 80909

August 20, 2002

Dear President Mankamyer,

     First, let us offer our congratulations on  your new Presidency of the USOC. The American Swimming Coaches Association and its Board of Directors  appreciate your willingness to serve our athletes. Our best wishes for every success.

     Swimming has been the most successful sport in American Olympic History. Our 5000 members include every USA Olympic Coach since 1960 and every one of those coaches have served on the Board of Directors of the American Swimming Coaches Association. We wish to respectfully offer a suggestion to you and to everyone working at the USOC either as a volunteer or as paid staff.

     As you well know, staff and volunteer turnover, the scandal and the focus on the machinations of the political process all have combined to damage the reputation and effectiveness of the USOC. The  many changes in leadership lead to a lack of focus and direction as well as a declining climate for sponsor confidence. The net result is increasing fund raising difficulties. 

     The USOC has been  far too centered on looking inward, for far too long.  This introspection makes the organization increasingly irrelevant to the NGB’s that it is supposed to serve, the athletes it is intended to serve, and the general public whom it must interest in Olympic Sport.

     It is time to right the ship. Our recommendation to do so, is to look outward. Look to what the USOC can do to improve sport in the USA. Focus on key issues of importance to the general public. The two most critical issues where immediate USOC leadership is needed are: the unintended consequences of Title  IX and Anti-Doping.

     There is an immediate  need for USOC action on the issue of Title IX, and a forceful statement and lobbying effort to get the OCR to provide fair treatment for male as well as female athletes. You sat in a conference in Indianapolis where Mr. Ward pledged attention and action. Where is that action?

     On the doping front,  the inexplicable continuation of Donald Fehr on the USOC Board of Directors as a public sector representative is anathema to the  USOC Anti-Doping efforts and continues to give the USA an international “black eye”. This is a man who is NOT standing up front and center  for drug testing with the potential Olympic athletes he represents. How can he serve on the USOC Board and not support USADA testing for potential Olympic Athletes?  Our entire sport system’s continuation depends on the reality and perception of clean sport. And Mr. Fehr is waffling on this issue. He cannot continue in both roles.

     When an organization has an inward focus, it worries about governance and how it will handle its work. Our experience in  sport suggests that such organizations are on the fast track to irrelevance.

     We respectfully request that the USOC focus on the most important issues that affect American  athletes. In so doing, the USOC will be forced to do all the inside work quietly and effectively. In so doing, the USOC will once again become an organization we can all point to with pride.

     America needs your strong leadership to create action on these critical issues. 

     We stand ready to assist you in any way that we can.

Best Wishes,

     John Leonard

For the Board of Directors of the American Swimming Coaches Association.