At the 2023 Golden Goggles Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, World Aquatics CEO Brent Nowitzki delivered a message to the US National Team swimmers. Nowitzki began by calling USA Swimming “one of the most successful swimming programs ever produced” before saying “of course, with that well-earned reputation comes considerable responsibility.”
“To all the national team members out there, the eyes of the world are on you when you step out onto that pool deck, my message to you tonight: Don’t underestimate the impact you have, both in action and in word, on our global swimming community,” said Nowitzki, who spent eight years at the Court of Arbitration for Sport before taking over as World Aquatics Director in June 2021. “Each of you are leaders who will help us run our sport more than you could ever know.
“And right now the world needs you more than ever,” Nowitzki continued. “As we can all see, the world is a truly fragile place. It may be more fragile now than any of us can ever remember.” It may be more fragile now than any of us can ever remember.” It may be more fragile now than any of us can ever remember.”
Nowitzki’s cryptic comments about the fragility of the world probably refer to Russia’s war in Ukraine, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last month, the International Olympic Committee suspended the Russian Olympic Committee for absorbing sports organizations in four regions illegally annexed by Ukraine. Meanwhile, World Aquatics has moved