According to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, Chrissi Rawak, a former swimmer and CEO of USA Swimming, has been forced to step down less than two weeks after her appointment in the wake of an abuse allegation against her.
Prior to becoming CEO, Rawak was a collegiate swimmer and Assistant Coach at the University of Michigan. She was then Athletic Director at the University of Delaware from 2016, the first woman to hold this title on a permanent basis.
Rawak officially became CEO of USA Swimming on 19 February. She stood down nine days later. On 28 February, USA Swimming stated that Rawak would no longer serve as CEO due to “unforeseen personal circumstances.”
The day after her unexpected removal, USA Swimming confirmed that it had learned that a complaint against Rawak had been filed with the SafeSport Center, after her hiring had been announced.
“These matters, which we are only now coming to understand, were previously unknown and were not disclosed to USA Swimming during the rigorous vetting process of Ms. Rawak,” USA Swimming stated.
The complaint concerning Rawak and filed with SafeSport pertains to her time as an Assistant Women’s Swimming Coach at Michigan, according to swimming news organisation SwimSwam. After competing for the Wolverines as a member of the swimming and diving team, Rawak coached at the program from 1992 to 1997.
USA Swimming stated that it “raised the matter” with Rawak, “at which point Ms. Rawak informed us of her decision to resign.”
However, Inside the Games has reported that the federation knew that the allegation against Rawak had been made to SafeSport before Rawak was hired, but the allegation was dismissed during the selection process.
A permanent replacement for Rawak has not yet been named. Shana Ferguson is serving as interim CEO.
SafeSport said the case is under its jurisdiction.
