Lindsay Mintenko Resigns as USA Swimming National Team Director
Lindsay Mintenko has officially resigned from USA Swimming as the managing director of its national team, the organization announced Friday.
Mintenko’s departure, first reported by Swimming World in August, completes a house cleaning that includes the departure of USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey. Mintenko’s departure is effective Sept. 20.
Mintenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist under her maiden name of Lindsay Benko, has been with USA Swimming for 19 years. She assumed her current role in 2017, overseeing the U.S. national team at the Tokyo Olympics and a monstrously underwhelming performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“We are deeply grateful to Lindsay for her dedication and leadership throughout her decades as an athlete, Olympic team captain, and staff member of USA Swimming,” interim CEO Shana Ferguson said in a press release. “Her passion for the sport, coupled with her uncompromising commitment to our athletes, has left a lasting impact on the entire swimming community. We are a better sport and a better team because of Lindsay.”
No interim occupant of the role has been named, and a search for a successor will be conducted by the USA Swimming Board of Directors, Athletes’ Advisory Council, National Team Steering Committee and “other key leaders.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the athletes and coaches of USA Swimming and will forever be proud of their accomplishments,” Mintenko said. “I learned from them every day, from the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships trip to the 2024 Olympic Games. I will now be the loudest one in the stands, cheering for the athletes and coaches who have inspired so many people.”
Mintenko led the U.S. to a struggle of a performance in Paris, the U.S. to eight gold medals and 28 totals medals, atop the medal table but only just – in the case of golds, by one over Australia. The U.S. men didn’t win an individual medal until the last day, and the team set records for futility in reaching semifinals and finals.
Mintenko is unlikely to stay far from the sport: Her daughter Madi Mintenko is one of the country’s most promising junior swimmers and a junior national teamer.
Move on…
Using a woman in the breast stroke leg for the mixed relay has to be one of the dumbest moves in the history of swimming and she still kept her job for 3 more years. Useless DEI hire.
Saying Lindsey made that decision is just a stupid comment. You clearly don’t know swimming.
Ignorant white guy piping up to put down women that are more talented than him.
Mkcolo How do you know Wthree is white? You want Wthree to be racist and sexist to fit your agenda. Carry on parading your fabricated suffering!