World Aquatics president Captain Husain Al Musallam is one global sport leader who has displayed no fear in taking action that he believes is in the best interest of his organisation.
In recent days, World Aquatics confirmed it will allow athletes from Russia to compete without restrictions, complete with their national flag and anthem. This is a decisive and influential decision from one of the Olympic Movement’s most powerful international sports federations. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) remains formally suspended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a suspension originally imposed in October 2023.
As is always the case, there are those who will question the “rightness” of his actions; that is par for the course. One year ago, he visited Trinidad and Tobago with other members of his delegation, including Brent Nowicki, World Aquatics executive director, Dale Neuburger, World Aquatics treasurer, Maureen Croes, Pan Am Aquatics president, and James Gibson, World Aquatics swim coach advisor.
Today’s Things That Matter is not focused on the specifics of that noteworthy and historic visit, one that holds significant upside potential for the National Aquatic Centre, long-term sustainable aquatic development, and sport tourism in T&T. There were several key stakeholders in those April 2025 meetings, including Aquatic Sports Association of T&T (ASATT), the national governing body (NGB) for Aquatics in T&T, the Ministry of Sport, and the Sport Company of T&T. Progressing those discussions past the “only talk stage” would primarily be the purview of those three entities. The question can be asked: one year later, what’s the status?
At this juncture, for the sake of full disclosure and transparency, let me place on the table the information that during his visit, I would have received a token of recognition from the World Aquatics president for my public advocacy regarding the inclusion of all 50-metre disciplines on the Olympic programme. That token of recognition has no bearing on anything I may say, negative or positive, surrounding World Aquatics or its president. My opinion is based on my interpretation of information in the public domain.
World Aquatics stated it would remove restrictions which had required Russian and Belarusian athletes to be vetted and to compete under neutral status.
“Senior athletes with Belarusian or Russian sport nationality will be permitted to compete in World Aquatics events in the same way as their counterparts representing other sport nationalities, with their respective uniforms, flags and anthems,” World Aquatics said in a statement.
World Aquatics president Al Musallam asserted: “We are determined to ensure that pools and open water remain places where athletes from all nations can come together in peaceful competition.”
Ukraine has previously objected to efforts to allow Russian athletes to return to competition. It led to boycotts of the Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies after Russians were allowed to compete under their national flag.
While the World Aquatics decision applies only to its own events, like the World Championships, it raises a significant question: Is it that World Aquatics has decided to lead by example on a contentious issue? And if so, by taking such a decision, are they defying the IOC, and will they ultimately influence the IOC’s decision toward a full return of Russian athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games?
According to the international media, there was no immediate response to a request for comment from the IOC.
