November 2. JUST one month after Canadian swimmers turned in one of their most disappointing performances in recent Olympic history, Swim Canada–the national governing body in that nation–has unceremoniously dumped its CEO, Harold Cliff.
After winning three medals at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, Canada earned only one medal this year in Sydney–a bronze by Curtis Myden in the men's 400 meter individual medley.
Swim Canada officials confirmed yesterday that the decision to dump Cliff came amid a sweeping review of the role of the CEO "in order to more effectively meet the needs of its swimmers, coaches and volunteers." Officials said that, effective immediately, Cliff's contract had been "terminated without cause."
Cliff appeared surprised and upset by the decision: "They can put it (Canada's failure at the Sydney Games) on my shoulders, but it's not like I
was out there on the deck. It's not like a general manager of a hockey team that goes out and hires the players he or she wants," he said.