USOC Continues to Take Action to Further Protect Athletes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Over the last several months, the United States Olympic Committee has aggressively pursued new ways to help prevent and respond to abuse, and enhance athlete safety. In another step, the USOC today announced the hiring of Wendy Guthrie as its senior director of athlete safety.

"The importance of athlete safety cannot be overstated, and this is another critical step in our fight to prevent future abuse," said USOC Acting CEO Susanne Lyons. "Wendy will have a deliberate focus on athlete safety, helping us improve our processes, and ensure the necessary policies and procedures are in place and enforced across the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic community. Her demonstrated strategic vision for improving processes and concern for athlete welfare, coupled with a background in the FBI, will allow her to succeed as she steps into this key role on our team."

Recently, the USOC doubled its funding of the U.S. Center for SafeSport – a national non-profit focused on preventing all forms of abuse in sport – to enable it to hire more investigators and staff to improve the speedy resolution and ongoing communication of cases. The USOC has also provided new funding and resources to support athletes impacted by sexual abuse, and is reviewing its athlete safety policies and procedures to add further safeguards to protect athletes. Additionally, the USOC continues to participate in congressional inquiries and an independent investigation, with its findings set to be completed and publicly disclosed later this summer.

Guthrie’s hiring will help further the many actions that are being taken now and in the future. In her role, Guthrie will lead the implementation of all USOC athlete safety policies and procedures, work closely with NGBs on their athlete safety efforts, and lead continued training efforts throughout the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic community.

Prior to the USOC, Guthrie spent six years at the FBI. Most recently, she worked as senior executive of human resources, leading cultural change, and enhancing processes and policies for a workforce of more than 36,000 employees.

Previously, she worked in the college athletics sector. Guthrie oversaw a governance restructure as interim commissioner at the Northwest Conference and developed strategic initiatives as chief of staff at the West Coast Conference. She also has led the Seattle University athletics department and the Pacific Coast Softball Conference.

"I am thrilled to join the Team USA family," said Guthrie. "The USOC is focused on keeping athlete safety at the forefront of its mission and this position ensures that focus. I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure athlete safety and wellbeing as we collectively seek to eliminate abuse in sport."

Guthrie earned a bachelor’s degree from Whittier College, a master’s degree in physical education from Springfield College and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She relocated from Washington, D.C., and begins her role today at the USOC headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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