Swiss synchronised swimming: problems beneath the surface.
Keystone / Sam Mooy
An internal report has confirmed media revelations about abuse and structural problems in the sport of synchronised swimming. Various reforms are planned.
The report mandated by Swiss Aquatics concluded that the sport is plagued by unethical training methods, chaotic organisation, cronyism and conflicts of interest, public broadcaster SRF wrote on Tuesday.
“Many unresolved conflicts and unprofessional practices have over the years led to the current unsatisfactory situation. The badly functioning co-directorship and the severe lack of administrative resources tipped things over the edge,” the report stated.
The criticisms come after an investigationExternal link by SRF in June this year which claimed that the sport was “corroded by an atmosphere of fear and nepotism”, and that training sessions included threats, insults, and physical over-taxing of athletes.
Indeed, the treatment of the athletes also came in for criticism in the latest findings: swimmers are often unfairly criticised for their appearance, weight, and their performance, said the three sports psychologists who drafted the report.
They also highlighted the favouritism which hampered competitions, speaking of the “unfair activities of individuals who largely showed favour to their own clubs and athletes – unfortunately some parents [of athletes] belong to this category.”
More
More
Olympic Games: when the dream becomes a nightmare
This content was published on
Young elite athletes dream of Olympic glory. But for some, success goes hand in hand with trauma.
While an internal inquiry has been ongoing since May, the two co-presidents of the synchronised swimming federation stepped down from their roles following the SRF revelations in June. A new leadership team is to be elected this week, according to the public broadcaster.
Looking further ahead, Swiss Aquatics has pledged to enact various reforms to change the culture in the sport: measures suggested include banning parents and trainers of athletes from judging competitions, improving the recruitment and training of coaches, and overhauling the structure of the synchronised swimming federation itself.
Popular Stories
More
Climate change
Switzerland turns train tracks into solar power plants
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
This content was published on
Primary school children in the Swiss canton of Nidwalden will not be allowed to use mobile phones and other electronic devices..
This content was published on
Switzerland has increased maximum possible output from hydropower by 43 megawatts compared to last year, according to the Swiss energy ministry.
This content was published on
Trainers for the Swiss Gymnastics Federation’s women’s team have resigned en masse following an ethics investigation into psychological abuse.
Abuse of young sportspeople is frequent, says survey
This content was published on
One in five young sportsmen and women in the French-speaking part of Switzerland has suffered some form of violence, according to a new survey.
Sports ministry takes steps to tackle abuse of young athletes
This content was published on
The Swiss sports ministry wants tougher action to deal with ethics violations and to better protect young athletes in the future.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.