August 23, 2024 – The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) has joined with other college coaching associations to call on Congress to take immediate action to protect Olympic sports on college campuses. With increasing concerns about the future of these sports due to financial pressures and changing priorities in college sports, the CSCAA and its partners are advocating for measures that will safeguard the development of future Olympians and ensure the continued success of Team USA on the world stage. Representatives from the respective associations will meet with members of Congress in September as part of their joint efforts to protect Olympic sports at the collegiate level.

“This collaborative effort is critical to the future of Olympic sports in America,” said Samantha Barany, executive director of the CSCAA. “We are deeply grateful to the other sports organizations that have joined us in this mission, as well as USA Swimming and our dedicated sponsors who have continually supported our efforts to ensure the sustainability of swimming and diving. This is an endeavor in which we should all be united, as it affects not only the athletes and programs we represent, but the entire legacy of American excellence in Olympic competition.”

This joint effort, in collaboration with the Intercollegiate Coach Association Coalition (ICAC), underscores the critical role that college sports play in preparing athletes for Olympic competition. As highlighted in a recent joint statement, the lack of congressional intervention could jeopardize the United States’ dominance in the Olympic field and significantly jeopardize the U.S. team’s successes. The CSCAA is committed to preserving these opportunities for student-athletes and ensuring that Olympic sports remain a vibrant and integral part of college sports.

Open letter from ICAC to members of the US Congress