By Duncan Mackay

Julie Fabsik-Swarts head and shouldersNovember 26 - USA Synchro has appointed Julie Fabsik-Swarts as its new executive director, they have announced. 


Fabsik-Swarts was previously the director of development and marketing for EducationWorks in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

She holds a master's degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and worked as the sports manager for baseball at the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle. 

Fabsik-Swarts took part in synchronised swimming at the YMCA in Flushing, New York, and also competed in gymnastics and was formerly an assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania.

She also has a national level judges' rating with USA Gymnastics.

Fabsik-Swarts worked as an intern with the United States Olympic Committee in the Risk Management Department, and volunteered at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego.

America's synchronised swimmers are the second most successful country in Olympic history behind Russia having won nine medals - five of them gold - since the sport made its debut at Los Angeles in 1984.

But they have not won a medal since Athens 2004 when they claimed bronze in both the duet and team events.

The last time they struck gold was in the team event in Atlanta in 1996.

USA team wins gold medal Atlanta 1996The United States have won a synchronised swimming Olympic gold medal since Atlanta 1996

"I am excited to have Julie as our next executive director," said Judy McGowan, the President of the Indianapolis-based USA Synchro.

"She has a rich background from which she has developed the very varied skill sets necessary to lead USA Synchro forward. 

"I look forward to working with her."

Fabsik-Swarts had also previously worked as the executive director of the YMCA in Abington, Pennsylvania, from 2005 to 2008, and led and managed a staff of 25 full-time and 250 part-time employees, with 8,000 members.

"My husband and I are very excited to join the USA Synchro family," said Fabsik-Swarts, who also has degrees in biology from Colorado State University and the University of San Diego. 

"We can't wait to meet all the members of the synchronised swimming community."

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