Olympic champ backs swimmers’ rebellion

Four-time Olympic medallist Chad le Clos has thrown his support behind a planned new competition that’s leading top swimmers to rebel against their own governing body.

The International Swimming League, which aims to launch next year, “will benefit swimming with a new dynamic approach,” Le Clos said on Monday.

The ISL is privately owned and outside the control of Switzerlandbased governing body FINA. It also aims to pay higher prize money and involve athletes more in making decisions.

“Why should athletes not shape their own series like so many other Olympic sports?” the 2012 Olympic 200-metre butterfly champion wrote on Twitter.

In an escalating dispute, ISL organizers cancelled a swim meet this month in Turin, Italy, after FINA threatened to ban those taking part.

In response Friday, three swimmers — Hungarian great Katinka Hosszu, and American teammates Tom Shields and Michael Andrew — filed an antitrust suit against FINA in a California court. FINA allegedly asked for US$50 million over 10 years to let the ISL operate, before organizers called off talks.

Le Clos said he’s “so disappointed that our sport is not open to change” and that it needs innovation.”

The South African star fuelled the dispute ahead of competing in FINA’s short-course world championships in China.

FINA said in a statement Sunday it was focused on its 25-metre pool event rather than the legal challenge.

“As always, FINA remains open to proposals that would genuinely enhance — rather than conflict with — the current and planned competition calendars,” the governing body said.