Swimming: Cameron resigns high-performance role with SNZ

Jan Cameron is stepping down. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Swimming New Zealand will today announce the departure of a second high-profile administrator, with Jan Cameron stepping down from the organisation as the fallout from the Ineson report continues.

Cameron's position as general manager of performance and pathways was made virtually untenable after the Sparc-initiated report into the sport was critical of Swimming New Zealand's "negative" and "dysfunctional" high-performance culture.

Cameron refused to comment when contacted by the Herald yesterday but confirmed she had resigned and a formal statement would be released by Swimming New Zealand (SNZ) today.

One of the key recommendations in the June report, penned by former Sports Foundation honcho Chris Ineson, was for a thorough review into Swimming New Zealand's leadership structures and the establishment of a high-performance advisory committee.

The committee wants to create two positions to replace Cameron's role. The first is an Olympic campaign manager to look after the team's preparation for the London Games. The second is an athlete support and development manager. It is unknown whether Cameron is interested in either of these roles.

Should she cut all ties with the national body, a great deal of experience and expertise will be lost.

A silver medallist for Australia in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Cameron is recognised as the driving force behind the establishment of New Zealand swimming's first high-performance programme.

In 2008 she was shifted from national coach to a high-performance role at SNZ.

But her move did not go smoothly. Her combustible relationship with head coach Mark Regan, who has since resigned, created deep divisions.

Cameron's departure follows that of Swimming New Zealand chairman Murray Coulter, who stood down on Friday.