Notre Dame’s swimming program had a great week last week. [autotag]Chris Giuliano[/autotag] qualified in three freestyle events for the Paris Olympics, and coach [autotag]Chris Lindauer[/autotag] was named an assistant to the U.S. team. But all of that now be coming under a cloud.
In an email obtained by Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated, Notre Dame athletic director [autotag]Pete Bevacqua[/autotag] wrote the following to the university’s athletic employees:
Sources: Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua has informed all athletic staff at the school via email that an external review of potential “culture issues” within men’s swimming and diving is underway. Bevacqua met with the team this afternoon, according to an email obtained by SI: pic.twitter.com/FQVrRz3CEl
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) June 25, 2024
Notre Dame recently was made aware of this matter, and the outside firm is expected to finish its review by the end of August. This makes it rough timing for Giuliano and Lindauer as they now will have to deal with this distraction when they go overseas with no resolution in sight.
It’s hard to tell what these issues could be right now, but a hazing scandal within Northwestern’s football program that was uncovered last summer cost program legend Pat Fitzgerald his job as coach. There’s at least that precedent in the recent past that’s been set should similar circumstances be revealed here.
Stay tuned to Fighting Irish Wire for updates on this developing story.
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