Swim Ireland has set up its first Athletes’ Commission for Swimming, Para Swimming and Diving, co-chaired by Olympians Gráinne Murphy and Nicholas Quinn.
The Commission was appointed in 2022 with the first in-person meeting taking place last month and it will act as a consultative body of Swim Ireland and a voice for Irish athletes within these aquatic disciplines with a Commission for water polo athletes to follow later this year.
A release from Swim Ireland said:
“It will ensure that strong channels of communication are in place for athlete-specific issues at the appropriate level and that the athletes’ views are heard and considered in Swim Ireland decision-making.
“The Commission will also ensure respect for the rights and well-being of the Athletes and to draw up recommendations to that effect as required.”
Murphy – who won European 1500 silver in 2010 and competed at London 2012 – and Rio 2016 Olympian Quinn will be joined by seven additional members representing the disciplines including Adrianna Kazimierczak (swimming), Cadan McCarthy (swimming), Calum Bain (swimming), Clare Cryan (diving), David Thompson (swimming), Erin Riordan (swimming) and Patrick Flanagan (Para Swimming).
Murphy said:
“I am delighted to co-chair the commission with Nick Quinn, a new venture for Swim Ireland which I am thrilled to be part of.
“The voice of the athlete is important, and I am looking forward to giving the members of Swim Ireland the platform and opportunity to have their voice heard.”
Quinn added:
“The Athletes’ Commission is an exciting new venture for Swim Ireland, and we’ll work hard to listen to our athletes and ensure their views and opinions are heard over the next two years.
“On a personal level, I’m delighted to co-chair the Commission and I’m excited to get to work representing our swimmers, divers and para swimmers.”
Swim Ireland CEO Sarah Keane commented:
“We are delighted to have established our Athletes’ Commission and to have an effective voice for our swimmers, para swimmers and divers in Ireland. It is important that our athletes have a say and we look forward to working with them in the coming months and years to help ensure that we have happy, healthy, supported athletes across our disciplines.”
National Performance Director Jon Rudd added
“To have a formal vehicle by which our athletes can express their thoughts and views as Irish aquatics progresses is a vital element for all modern-day sport and I am very pleased to see this come to fruition after extensive work and consultation to put it into place.
“When you look at who the constituent members are at this time, it is immediately apparent that they have much to offer us and we all look forward to working with them in the weeks and months to come”