The U.S. Center for SafeSport has appointed a new CEO, former Olympic gold medalist and chief of sports performance for USA Track & Field, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley.
The organization was created by the federal government in 2017, after staggering reports of athlete abuse, to focus on abuse prevention, education, and accountability in youth, college and professional athlete-coach relationships.
"We have an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine what excellence in athlete protection looks like," Mosley told ESPN. "And I am deeply confident that we can build something stronger, steadier, and more hopeful than ever before."
Mosley comes from a background of Olympic excellence, both on the track and working behind the scenes.
Mosley won a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles in the 1984 Olympic Games. In her professional career, Mosley served as chief operating officer for the U.S. Olympic Committee, chief of sports performance for USA Track & Field, and the CEO of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA.
“As an athlete, I felt safe, supported, and strengthened in my career, and I am committed to helping all athletes within the Olympic and Paralympic movement feel that same sense of support. While the Center has moved the needle on athlete safety nationally, my vision is to ensure we are building an organization that athletes can believe in, the staff can be proud of, and the public can trust and respect,” said Mosley.
While SafeSport looks toward a future of rebuilding trust with athletes and fostering a culture of authenticity regarding reporting inappropriate behavior from coaches and teams, Mosley will advance the center’s mission and prepare it for the next decade of service.
"She is well-positioned to advance the Center's mission as the organization completes its first nine years of operation and prepares for the next era," Chicka Elloy, vice chair of the SafeSport board and head of its search committee, said in a statement announcing the hire.
