Andrew Alderson: Sink or swim time looming

Jan Cameron. Photo / Paul Estcourt

There is deep-seated disenchantment within swimming's ranks and it's increasingly obvious things need to change.

Swimming New Zealand's cover-up and the consequent revelations Daniel Bell had, in fact, drunk more than "a couple of beers" to break the team's zero-alcohol tolerance policy at the Delhi Commonwealth Games unearthed a seam of poison within the sport.

Since a story in the Herald on Sunday on October 24 about what punishment Bell might be dealt, countless Deep Throat-type messengers from within the swimming community have come forward to describe a sport they claim is in disarray.

None wanted their names used because of what could be summed up as a culture of fear. If names were printed, there was a feeling they, or people they know, would never get to work for, or compete within, the New Zealand system again.

That is sad. If it was one or two jilted troublemakers, you could ignore it as a personal snitch or unrequited love.

But the volume and vehemence of complaints has been astounding.

To his credit, Moss Burmester last weekend became the first of the current athletes to speak out publicly. Unfortunately, his doing so coincided with his retirement. Others continue to stay mum in the system.

Those athletes are muzzled by a series of "thou shalt nots" in SNZ's code of conduct.

They include clauses such as "to not speak to any media in a negative way regarding Swimming NZ Inc". Trying to run a sport with such rigid control smacks of a siege mentality.

Former head coach Mark Regan appeared on the cusp of speaking up. Sources said he even spoke with elite swimmers about his disillusionment with the job.

He is understood to have been under instruction from his lawyer to consider with great care the decision to take his new pool deck coaching job. He eventually signed on Thursday, meaning SNZ will appoint no official head coach between now and the London Olympics. Regan will still be wary of becoming, as one source described him, "another puppet in the regime".

Some argue New Zealand had relative success at the Delhi Commonwealth Games - or at least parity with Melbourne - after securing four silver and two bronze medals.

Others say it was despite, rather than because of, the current management structure.

The common thread binding such furtive but vigorous exchanges is a desire for SNZ's general manager of performance and pathways, Jan Cameron, to either instigate change or resign.

Cameron is a passionate swimming fan.

She has submerged herself in the sport over a lifetime, having been an Australian Olympic silver medallist in the 4x100m freestyle relay at Tokyo in 1964, through to being New Zealand head coach and now, post-Beijing, working in a high performance role.

Her determination and dedication over years of service demands respect but she needs to take heed of the current position. To 'lose the dressing room' is a cliché in sporting parlance but it holds true in this case. If you lose the respect of your charges, you enter a damaging downward spiral.

Swimming New Zealand is on the cusp of this.

There is ill-feeling among swimmers who, it's understood, even considered striking to get better contractual conditions.

There is limited room for democracy or freedom of thought, as shown by the draconian zero-alcohol policy at the Commonwealth Games. There is a concern swimmers are putting too much emphasis on following the black line at the bottom of the pool rather than becoming independent thinkers.

As in any sport - and most situations in Western society - the ability to think logically and rationally for yourself is a commendable cornerstone from which to work.

Chief executive Mike Byrne and the board seem powerless to act. Some say it's out of fear of Cameron; others say it's because they fear Sparc's high performance handout might be reduced.

It's an unfortunate position if you are only prepared to limit damage rather than make bold, necessary decisions on how to better your sport's structure.

While Sparc provides high performance funding (in 2010, it was $1.35 million) they may also need to play a guidance role with SNZ to justify continued taxpayer investment.

Swimming's medal haul in Delhi means a similar investment is likely and 10 individuals will get $20,000-$40,000 in PEGs to match their world ranking.

But Sparc will also need to be convinced SNZ's governance is sound leading to London if they are to maximise their support. Lingering in the background is the fact swimming is the only one of the six targeted Olympic sports not to win a medal in Beijing.

The worst part is this current mess could deteriorate further. Unless drastic action is taken to resolve a Cold War spat between management and athletes, Danyon Loader's two gold medals at Atlanta in 1996 will remain New Zealand's last significant aquatic achievement on the world stage.