Statement on the Heart of Water Sports report

After Swimming in England published her book Research Report on Listening to the Heart of Water Games Today, we issued this statement.

“Today’s publication of the Listening to the Heart of Watersports research report represents a turning point moment, both for Swimming England and all those involved in the sport more widely.

“The report, commissioned by Swim England as a condition of the funding agreement with Sport England, details abuse, racism, bullying, poor practices, negative experiences and a poor culture within sport.

“The experiences shared by so many swimmers, coaches and volunteers are powerfully presented in the report. No one in sport should ever be subjected to this kind of treatment, and we thank those who have come forward to tell their stories.

“Sport England is committed to supporting governing bodies to promote a culture in their sport that upholds the highest standards of ethics, integrity and wellbeing, both on the world stage and at community level.

“We are not a regulator of sport and physical activity in England, but we use the powers we have to maximize positive change.

“In this case, we are clear that our continued funding of Swim England must focus on tackling important issues within the sport.

“Swimming England has a new chief executive and the opportunity to look fresh at many issues. We welcome this and will now work with and support this new leadership team to decisively and quickly enact the report’s recommendations and move the sport forward.”

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in the Listening to the Heart of Aquarium research report, there are a variety of support services available.