Here’s Virginia Trioli summing up my thoughts precisely. Read from the bottom.
Well I have just finished watching the single most baffling press conference in the history of man.
Some quick background:
- Last year at the London Olympics the entire Australian Swimming team performed well below expectations.
- Post-Olympics it became clear that there had been a shift in the way the team had been managed in recent years and this had affected the general happiness and well-being of swimmers on the team and consequently, their performance at the Olympics.
- Two reports (The Bluestone Review and an Independent Review of Swimming) were released this week that simply confirmed what everyone pretty much already knew – there was (among other things) a lack of leadership at all levels within the team and this needed to be remedied.
So what was the first thing that was done to address this lack of leadership?
Well someone in a leadership position decided it was appropriate that the six members of the men’s 4x100m relay team should front up to a press conference, ‘explain themselves’ and ‘take responsibility for their actions’ (actions relating specifically to one night of ‘team bonding’ involving the use of the prescription sleeping pill Stillnox).
Someone in a leadership position thought it was a good idea to hang six guys who yes, had behaved poorly, out to dry.
Now I don’t pretend to have inside knowledge of the workings of the Australian Swimming team but things that were revealed post Olympics reminded me of a memorable night I spent in 2006.
It was the final night of the Manchester Commonwealth Games and I had hooked up with some friends on the Australian athletics team. We’d all been at the Closing Ceremony and upon returning to the Village were prowling around looking for some fun. We made the mistake of prowling a bit too close to where all the Australian swimmers were tucked up in bed because they had training the next morning (I repeat, it was the night of the Closing Ceremony!) One of the several Australian swimming coaches who were patrolling the area told us in no uncertain terms to go find somewhere else to have our fun.
This incident always comes to mind whenever I think of what’s going on with the Australian Swimming team at the moment because it’s clear that over the last few years, the team has not been managed as tightly as they were in those days. The two reports released this week confirmed this. And one would think that things are now being put into place to address the findings of these reports. Reports that also confirmed the change in culture in the swimming team was not the ‘fault’ of any one person (and certainly not the fault of the men’s 4x100m relay team).
For this reason, if I was one of those swimmers who got trotted out for the media today, I would be feeling pretty bloody aggrieved. Some of the questions in the press conference defied belief for their inanity – almost like the journos were thinking ‘gawd they’ve called a press conference so we need to find a kick ass story in here!’ And make a story they will. And now these guys’ names are going to be mud for a little while.
Well Swimming Australia, that’s a bloody amazing start you’ve made to improving team morale and improving the culture within your team.
PS: Also good to see the Age’s Richard Hinds agrees
Such a ridiculous presser. What movie did you see? Gah!
Carli recently blogged: Kids are people too
I could not believe the absurd inanity of the questions. What the actual!!!
Kelly Exeter recently blogged: Dear Swimming Australia. What. The. Heck.
Oh Kel. This sums up my thoughts 100% in a blog post.
(yunno, ‘cept for the part about competing in a marathon for Trinidad and Tobago because I can power walk to the corner store with the dog to get milk and that’s about it….)
What. The. Actual. Crap?
All I got from today’s events was that some young men were acting like….uh, stupid young men, and Swimming Australia has decided that knocking on someone’s door and making prank calls is worthy of a presser. If I had to hold a press conference for every ridiculous stunt everyone at my work did during the day, I’d have to double book the two conference rooms and run them simultaneously.
(Yesterday, someone rigged up a little something in the main hallway so that whenever you pushed the button for the lift, it made a sheep noise. And there’s a serial ‘where’s wally bandit’ who places Wally stickers ALL AROUND THE BUILDING. THE MADNESS!)
But seeing as these are now serious offences, I should probably admit that as an elite junior swimmer, I sometimes used to lie about the amount of warmup laps I had done. And I once also was late to marshalling. And my best friend and I ate a whole bag of lolly snakes before a big swimming meet.
Emma recently blogged: what i know about…the first look
Honestly. I realise that the actions of these boys is part of a much bigger culture and leadership story, but still can’t think why they were trotted out for this presser.
Kelly Exeter recently blogged: Dear Swimming Australia. What. The. Heck.
Didn’t see it but watched the Twitter feed and feel that may have been a better way to do it anyway.
Emily recently blogged: Watching your child learn things on their own is amazing
Yep – you are 100% right there Emily!
Kelly Exeter recently blogged: Dear Swimming Australia. What. The. Heck.
Totally taking the fall. It was such a bad move.
Lisa Lintern recently blogged: Exclusive feminism
Typical corporation bullshit was what that was. Blame the worker bees and wash your hands of it. x
Maxabella recently blogged: Pin of the Day: Print on paper bags
Yep. Exactly! Can’t believe I am seeing Swimming Aus pull that kind of stunt!
Kelly Exeter recently blogged: Dear Swimming Australia. What. The. Heck.
i thought they were going to announce a new olympic village pantsing record set by The Missile.
Ah Yoyo it’s been a long time!
Kelly Exeter recently blogged: Dear Swimming Australia. What. The. Heck.
Totally agree with you Kelly. I felt sorry for those boys. They messed up but I don’t think the whole world needed to know about it. Their names aren’t mud to me.
Thanks Minna
As you say, they messed up big time, but their actions are indicative of much wider problems in the team. Not sure why these 6 guys specifically had to front up for a press conference.
Kelly Exeter recently blogged: Dear Swimming Australia. What. The. Heck.