An internal investigation by the Swedish Swimming Association has revealed widespread dissatisfaction within Swedish swimming, SVT reports.
Former national team captain and legend Ulrika Knepp Lindberg is receiving heavy criticism.
In the survey, which was not public, Swimming Federation business developer Susanne Meckbach interviewed 60 active coaches.
Just over half, 32, have national team experience and 25 of them said they were unhappy with the environment and report a culture of silence and a lack of leadership.
Ulrika Knapp Lindberg, who won gold at the Olympic Games and the World Cup in high jumps, for 16 years was the national captain and sports director of the national ski jumping team, and, according to the investigation, must have ruled with an iron fist. She resigned after the Olympics in Tokyo last year.
“You want to defend openness”
Ulrika Sandmark, the swimming federation’s athletic director since last fall, says of what has emerged:
There are a lot of different parts to this examination that come to light. Which has to do with education and forms of competition. But also views on leadership. And of course we want to advocate openness, high ceilings, everyone has an opinion and so on. I want to work for it in the future,” she told SVT.
Ulrika Knape Lindberg told SVT that she herself tested that there are opinions about the national team’s selections, but not on her as a person.
I know people have opinions that they weren’t chosen. They were very upset and cursed me for not taking them out. My driving certainly wasn’t perfect, but I don’t think it was a culture of silence. But it should be for those who responded to it, says Knapp Lindberg.
no alternative
Her daughter and former co-star Anna Lindbergh took over as national team captain in November last year, but withdrew after just four months, when she thought she had not been given the right terms. And denied that the investigation had anything to do with the split.
– No, not at all, she tells SVT.
No new captain has since been appointed and at the current World Cup in Budapest, the national team is led by club coach Chris Ray.