Short story was bad timing

The Spokesman-Review owes 433 apologies for “To an Athlete” (July 26), a creepy fiction about a swim coach who compromises himself and a love-struck protege.

Bad timing: Spokane Area Swimming and Spokane Waves Aquatic Team, local swim clubs, hosted Inland Empire Swimming’s summer championship meet at Witter Pool that weekend. Over 433 student athletes of various backgrounds swam to break personal records and qualify for national meets under tutelage of excellent professional coaches.

USA Swimming, the national organization that includes swimmers from thrashers to Olympic hopefuls, has safeguards against the very actions sensationalized Sunday: “… all non-athlete adult members of USA Swimming should maintain professionalism and avoid any appearance of impropriety in their relationships with athletes. Coaches, in particular, should recognize the influence, power and position of trust they have with athletes and should use these only in an athlete’s best interest” (“Athlete Protection Policies,” USA Swimming website).

Publication was insensitive to hard-working coaches, parents and young athletes who work so hard to reach their potential in and outside the pool. Look no further than local teams in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint for excellence. They’re recruiting soon.

Excuse me while I scrub off before returning to The Spokesman.

Ingrid Sievers

Spokane