Scott resigns as British Swimming Performance Director
24th November 2012
National Performance Director Michael Scott has resigned following the conclusion of a performance review into British Swimming’s results at the London 2012 Olympics.
British Swimming and Scott were left disappointed after failing to meet their medal target at this summer’s Games and, as a result, Scott initiated an in-depth performance review to fully understand the reasons.
While the findings of the report will be announced fully next month, one key recommendation involves the National Performance Director residing in the Britain.
Scott, who lives in Australia where he has been based since 2009, was unable to meet this recommendation and therefore offered to step aside to allow British Swimming to begin the search for a new performance director as soon as possible as they look towards Rio 2016.
Scott, who leaves British Swimming on 30th November, explained: “I respect this conclusion from the performance review I initiated following our results in London. I wanted to make sure we left no stone unturned in understanding why we didn’t achieve our goals.
"One of the key findings of the review requires a change to my current working practice by being based in Britain. However, for personal and family reasons, I’m unable to meet this recommendation and therefore offered my resignation.
“I’d like to thank British Swimming, the swimmers and the coaches, for the opportunity to lead the programme and wish all involved the very best for the future.”
Commenting on Scott’s decision, British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes said: “We are sorry to be losing Michael at this time and wish to pay a tribute to all of the hard work he has put into the programme since joining British Swimming in 2007.
“Michael’s leadership has delivered some of the best results we have seen in recent years at Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth level. He leaves Britain with our sincere thanks and we wish him well for the future.”
“The hunt will now begin to find a new Performance Director to initiate the recommendations within the Olympic Review and to make the next big step change towards Rio in 2016.”
British Swimming won three medals in the pool at the London Olympics - two short of their target of five. The team had 23 finalists but were unable to convert two fourth and six fifth place finishes into medals. The performance review was initiated to understand the reasons behind this.
