A Letter from the CEO Regarding the Arent Fox Community Report

The law firm Arent Fox was retained by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee in January 2021 to conduct a review and assessment of the processes, mental and physical health resources, allocation of resources, and reporting structure at USRowing.

The USRowing leadership thanks the athletes who came forward to be interviewed for this assessment and contributed to improving our sport at the highest levels of competition.

As stated in the report, the USRowing board, staff, high performance committee, and other internal stakeholders fully cooperated with the assessment.

After a preliminary internal review of the report, there are several areas where USRowing recognizes the need to implement meaningful changes. The USRowing leadership and board have already begun the process in some of these areas and will continue to address the other areas as we move forward in the new quadrennial. We will fully review the report and have a thorough and comprehensive response in the near future.

We want to send along a first response to the report in a timely manner, however; and below are some key areas where we intend to improve the athletes' experience and change our high performance culture for the better.

Athlete Feedback

As an organization, we will ensure that there are clear protocols both for how athletes report concerns and how we address them, including what is escalated to the new head of high performance, CEO, or the Board of Directors. We will create a centralized record of this feedback that includes any actions taken. Within this reporting, the strictest rules of confidentiality must be implemented and enforced.

Confidentiality

Our community is close knit, and there are often few degrees of separation from one rower to another. USRowing must continue to communicate the strict confidentiality standards laid out in our protocols on the board, within committees, and our staff, and there must be transparent consequences when these protocols are violated.

Athlete Feedback

All critical feedback about our coaching staff must be addressed quickly and appropriately. We must make the definition of retaliation clear, share it broadly, and ensure that there are no acts of retaliation against athletes.

Formal Evaluation Process for Coaches and Staff

USRowing has implemented a formal performance review process for our national team coaches and staff that began in November of 2021. This will be used with all coaches and staff moving forward.

Selection Procedures

Athletes have asked for more control within their performance journey and a more objective selection process. We have addressed this issue through the increased impartiality of the "selectors" under the proposed selection procedures for 2022. We also will continue to run more in-depth, public comment periods intended to improve on all proposed changes.

High Performance Committee

There is confusion over the role of the High Performance Committee, as well as concerns around perceived conflicts of interest within the group. In consultation with the new head of high performance, the board and CEO will establish clear goals and mandates for the HPC that will align with our path moving forward.

Communications & Collaboration

Our athletes need more consistent and improved communications -- regardless of where they are training. USRowing is focused on creating a collaborative and clearly understood pathway for athletes to find the best training environment possible through our High Performance Partner Clubs. The clubs will work in coordination with USRowing's new head of high performance on the national training program, monitoring of athletes, and events, while providing support for the athletes in locations that best suit their long-term training and needs.

Onboarding of Athletes

While there are materials in place to help onboard athletes regardless of where they are training, USRowing is creating an in-person orientation process that is interactive and run by a single point person. It is essential to lay the groundwork for athletes to have a successful and rewarding experience with USRowing. This process will provide answers to questions, show the ways in which athletes are supported, and give them safe pathway to voice concerns.

The Board of Directors, staff and high performance personnel look forward to the work ahead. We are moving to make the changes necessary and embrace the challenges.

Please click here to read a summary of the Arent Fox review.