After just nine months at the helm, Tracy Stockwell (née Caulkins) is out as President of Swimming Australia.
The organization announced the election of Dr. Michelle Gallen as president on Friday, briefly thanking Stockwell for her contributions at the end of the press release.
Stockwell was appointed president of Swimming Australia this past February, taking over for another swimming great, Kieren Perkins, who transitioned into a new role as CEO of the Australian Sports Commission after 16 months as president.
Stockwell, who has served on the Swimming Australia Board of Directors since 2016, has a decorated swimming resume, including winning three Olympic gold medals at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles while representing the United States. She also won five World Championship titles and 48 U.S. National Championship titles, and went on to become an incredibly successful sports administrator in Australia after marrying Aussie Olympic medalist Mark Stockwell.
While things were seemingly going well for SA during Stockwell’s tenure, the Board has given her the axe and replaced her with Gallen, who becomes the organization’s third female President, joining Evelyn Dill-Macky and Stockwell.
Gallen is the Director of Strategic Projects for the Queensland Government’s Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport and has been on the SA Board since October 2021.
A former elite triathlete, Gallen currently serves as the Chair of Swimming Australia’s Integrity & Ethics and Constitutional Review Committees and has a PhD in International Sports Law from Melbourne Law School.
“It is an honor to be elected as President of Swimming Australia,” said Gallen. “We are in a very exciting phase of regeneration and growth of our sport as we turn our attention towards Brisbane 2032 and maximize the opportunities for our community across the country.
“We have a strong vision and strategic plan that we look forward to delivering on for everyone involved in our sport.”
In addition to the announcement of Gallen’s appointment as president, SA also added three new board members in Susan Smith, Tim Ford and Iain Melhuish.
In acknowledging Stockwell, the SA offered the following statement: “Swimming Australia would like to express its gratitude to former President Tracy Stockwell for her immense contributions as a Director since 2016, and President for the past 12 months, particularly her invaluable relationships across international swimming where she is held in the highest regard.”
