Open Letter to USA SWIMMING
To: Mr. Tim Hinchey, USA Swimming
From: Kara Lynn Joyce, CEO/Founder, LEAD Sports Co., 3-time US Olympian
CC: Morgan Weinberg, Shayna Ferguson, Lucinda McRoberts
Subject: LEAD Summit, She LEADS/We LEAD Summit
On behalf of LEAD Sports Co. and the LEAD Summit, I urge you to stop using “LEAD Summit” to promote your educational seminars for teenage swimmers.
Since formally launching in April 2017, the LEAD Summit has mentored, supported, and educated hundreds of teenage girl swimmers through our yearly Summits and online Academy. The LEAD Summit is my property, as is my company, LEAD Sports Co. As a US National Team alumna and 3-time Olympian, I did not anticipate conflict from the governing body I represented for 21 years when I built my business in the service of young female athletes. The decision to infringe on the intellectual and creative property of an alumna of your organization, as well as a woman-owned small business, is inexcusable for a national governing body of your size and recognition.
From the initial launch of the USA Swimming She LEADs and We LEAD Summits, I have had countless private conversations with your organization respectfully requesting that you rename your initiative because of the obvious confusion and harm your organization was outwardly causing to our brand. Every single request was met with flagrant dismissal and indifference. I have never asked for you to cancel these opportunities for swimmers, simply that you change a name that you have the resources to easily rebrand.
This open letter to USA Swimming has two requests:
Immediately cease the use of “LEAD Summit” to promote your educational seminars to teenage swimmers.
Make a commitment to former, current, and future members of USA Swimming that the organization will not infringe on another business or property founded by members of this community.
Representing the United States of America as part of the National Team is one of the highest honors of our participation in the sport. This relationship should not end upon our retirement from the pool. In order for USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation to successfully and meaningfully achieve the mission of engaging your National Team alumni, your actions need to match your intentions.
This is your chance to do the right thing by the LEAD Sports Co., the LEAD Summit, and one of your longtime National Team swimmers to show my fellow alumni that you will continue to support and respect them both during and after their careers in the pool.