USA Swimming Announces Appointment of Chrissi Rawak as President and Chief Executive Officer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Swimming, the national governing body for the sport of swimming in the United States, today announced the appointment of Chrissi Rawak as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.
Rawak comes to USA Swimming with decades of experience leading successful sports organizations. Most recently, she served as Athletic Director for the University of Delaware for more than eight years. She was the first woman to hold the role and was awarded the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics’ Athletic Director of the Year in 2024 for her achievements. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade at the University of Michigan, where she served as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and played a critical role in the school’s development office.
“Chrissi brings a proven track record of leading organizations and building winning teams,” said Chris Brearton, Chair of the USA Swimming Board of Directors. “She has first-hand experience with our sport, both as a successful athlete and a coach. Her vision will help write the next chapter of American swimming excellence.”
Rawak grew up swimming at Germantown Academy and was a member of the 1987 National Championship team. She was a Division I athlete and coach at the University of Michigan, competing on the Swimming & Diving team from 1988-1992 and serving as the Assistant Women’s Swimming Coach from 1992-1997. During every season of her nine years at Michigan, the team were Big Ten champions and finished top 15 at the NCAA Championships.
“I’m grateful to the USA Swimming Board for this incredible opportunity and the trust they've placed in me,” said Rawak. “I can't wait to collaborate with our coaches, athletes, staff, alumni, volunteers, sponsors, and fans to strengthen the USA's position as the world's top swimming nation. We will focus on growing our sport across the country, continuing to prioritize athlete safety and education, and preparing for a historic performance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.”
Rawak will guide the organization during a pivotal stretch leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and will play a crucial role in equipping USA Swimming member clubs to capitalize on the opportunity a domestic Games offers.
The selection concludes an extensive search process led by NU Advisory Partners and their founder/CEO, Nada Usina, a former Florida State swimmer, in collaboration with a Board-appointed CEO Search Task Force led by Katy Arris Wilson and Sabir Muhammad. The Task Force included representatives from the USA Swimming Athletes’ Advisory Council, Coach Advisory Council, Zone Directors' Council, USA Swimming Foundation, and the National Team Steering Committee. The team started their process by hosting listening sessions and town halls with USA Swimming stakeholder groups to gather input. The search ultimately brought in a diverse pool of candidates, spanning various industries and areas of expertise from around the world.
