Statement about the Loughborough Swim Programme

We want all members of our sport performance programmes to have a positive experience that challenges them to achieve their absolute best.

In high level sport, resources have to be focussed on those with the very best performance potential, which means we are not able to offer all athletes the same level of access to facilities and coaches. We understand some athletes find this disappointing, but this is a transparent process with clear ways for them to progress.

Body composition is one of many important factors potentially affecting performance in high level sport and something that must always be treated sensitively. Our polices around body composition and nutrition are in line with those adopted by Swim England. Poolside weighing was stopped in 2021, ahead of national guidance, and since then athletes need to opt in to receive any body composition testing – it is not compulsory. We are constantly learning and adapting our approach in this area, following new advice, evidence, research and experience, but we recognise that we do not always get things right.

Each year anonymous surveys are conducted with athletes from our performance programmes, including swimming, enabling them to give feedback and raise any concerns or issues. There is a dedicated welfare team for our performance athletes and a Performance Athlete Committee that is independent of coaches. Students are also encouraged to raise any concerns (including anonymously) through our online Incident Reporting Portal, which is monitored daily. Finally, there is a dedicated student wellbeing team which operates in collaboration with, but independently from, sport.

Where concerns are raised, they are acted upon, and as a responsible centre for high performance sport we will be looking further into the issues put forward by the BBC for any lessons that can be learnt.