On the heels of an impressive Olympic trials showing, University of Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving team is under external review by Ropes and Gray LLP. Reports of cultural issues were reported earlier this summer, leading the university to request an external review of the team.
Notre Dame's student-run newspaper, The Observer, reported that in an email to team members, Pete Bevacqua, Notre Dame athletic director, wrote, “It is important that you are aware of this unfortunate matter and the external review being conducted in connection with issues that recently came to our attention.”
What issues? It’s unclear.
There has been no official word from the university or the independent firm completing the investigation, so Fighting Irish fans are left to speculate about what could be going on within the swimming and diving team ranks.
Bevacqua’s email went on to say that, “We take seriously our obligation to foster a community of student-athletes who not only compete and perform at the highest level academically and athletically, but whose conduct is exemplary in all aspects of student life.”
The review by Ropes and Gray LLP is expected to be complete by the end of August. While legal counsel is investigating, Notre Dame star swimmer Chris Guiliano will be competing.
Guiliano is officially Notre Dame’s first Olympic swimmer. He won the men’s 100 freestyle at the Olympic Trials, and he took second place in the 50 and 200 freestyle. Guiliano is the first American to achieve this triple crown since 1988 when Matt Biondi achieved the same record. Guiliano's coach, Chris Lindauer, will serve as one of the assistant coaches for U.S. Olympic team staff. Lindauer is the head coach of the men’s swim team at Notre Dame.
Lindauer and Guiliano have also yet to comment on the ongoing investigation.
