Swimming chief quits as exodus continues

THE head of Swimming Australia has announced she is quitting next month, continuing the flood of leaders leaving Australia’s most successful Olympic sport.

In a surprise announcement, less than a year before the postponed Tokyo Olympics, CEO Leigh Russell has told the board she will step down at the end of November.

“With the revised timelines pushing Tokyo out by a year, meaning an immediate kickoff post games to preparations for Paris (in 2024), I felt it was in the best interests of the organisation and the sport to allow a new CEO to take the reins now,” Russell said.

“I’m proud of what has been achieved over the past three years and I feel Swimming Australia is now in the strongest position it can be going into Tokyo and Paris.”

Swimming Australia’s deputy board chairwoman Tracy Stockwell said an interim CEO would be appointed while the board begins the search for a new boss.

“As Australia’s number one Olympic sport, we are well placed going into a disrupted but highly anticipated Tokyo Olympics and the Paralympics in 2021 and then on to the 2024 Games,” Stockwell said.

“The board and Leigh agreed that the revised timing of the Tokyo Games means that now is the right time to find a new CEO with the passion and drive to lead the sport into the future.

“Leigh’s leadership and commitment to high-performance and integrity has driven major changes in the organisation and has set Swimming Australia up for success both in the pool and out of it.

“As one of the few female sports leaders in the country, Leigh has championed inclusion and a culture of highperformance, support, mentorship and leadership that is underpinned by strong values.”

Russell’s shock departure comes just a week after Swimming Australia president John Bertrand departed after seven years at the helm.

Less than five months ago, Australia’s head coach Jacco Verhaeren also stepped down, announcing he was returning to Europe for family reasons.