What Awaits Kevin Ring as New CEO of USA Swimming
As he prepared to move into a new role guiding USA Swimming into an all-important home Olympics and beyond, Kevin Ring explained that the role felt like a great fit despite having no experience working in swimming. Ring told Swimming World that during his time with the PGA of America, he learned to embrace “a mission-based background,” and he is eager to return working closely with “those people who are that tangible connection to the sport.”
When Ring officially begins in the role September 17, he will meet a collection of swimming’s stakeholders with immense passion for their sport and its community — and no shortage of ideas for what should change and what should remain the same. Ring, a complete outsider, was brought in and given the keys to the organization to make these difficult decisions, of which there will surely be plenty.
Among his top priorities will be building and expanding USA Swimming’s base. The national organization works in conjunction with individual clubs and local swim committees (LSCs) to promote learning to swim and participation in the competitive side of the sport. This is an area where Ring will need to adapt quickly to the sport’s landscape and determine what works in attracting new families to the sport and retaining current swimmers.
Previously, USA Swimming has explored different levels of membership to expand accessibility to a sport that frequently requires large investments of time and money. It would be no surprise if the organization implemented further strategies along those lines in the future.
Ring also now holds responsibility the U.S. national team, although the specifics will be left to Greg Meehan, hired to chief that division of the organization in April. The CEO will not be involved with coaching or race strategy but rather providing the platforms and financial support required to maximize performance at major competitions.
Building a professional swimming career remains an immense financial challenge for those who are not established international medalists. Keeping swimmers in the sport, particularly those at the end of their college careers but still with untapped potential, should be a paramount focus as USA Swimming has sights on rebounding from a recent string of somewhat-disappointing performances at global-level competitions.
Big picture, Ring’s job is to give swimming a domestic platform on which it can expand and thrive. That means building correctly-targeted and well-funded corporate partnerships. Collecting international medals at one meet is great, but a meet is even more successful if it can grow membership and inspire swimmers to pursue those same lofty goals. Long-term, the organization aims to create a self-perpetuating cycle of success, just like what was in place during the first decade-and-a-half of the 21st century.
None of this is to suggest that swimming has fallen off a cliff in recent years. The 2024 Olympic Trials, held in front of world-record crowds at an NFL stadium, provided evidence to this while also masking significant gaps in the sport’s foundation.
Now, the authority to determine what works and what needs change belongs to Ring. He is charged with bringing his vast multi-sport experience, listening to swimming insiders about what has worked before and make decisions that could set the course for USA Swimming for decades to come.
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