Gay Swimmer Pens Open Letter on U of Iowa's Swim & Diving Cuts

Openly gay former University of Iowa swimmer Mike Nelson has written an open letter, published in Outsports, to his alma mater after the institution announced it would be cutting men's and women's swimming and diving programs after the 2020-21 season.

Nelson, who says the decision left him "gutted," explains that his experience as part of the swim program was positive especially after coming out. "I believe that it is still a rarity to find a home in athletics that is so genuinely supportive of its athletes, no matter their race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and so much more," Nelson explains. In response to the cut, Nelson has created a Change.org petition, "Save UIowa Swim & Dive," imploring the university to retain the program.

The university President, Bruce Harreld, and Athletic Director, Gary Barta, attribute the decision to deficits in the budget as a consequence of COVID-19. The university's swim program began in 1917 and, as Outsports explains, is "credited with inventing the butterfly stroke."

Read Nelson's open letter at Outsports.

See Nelson's "Save UIowa Swim & Dive" at Change.org.