The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee oversees the surfing high-performance program in the U.S., providing elite surfers with support (including competitive, financial, medical, planning, training and wellness) in the lead-up to delegation events such as the Olympic and Pan American Games. The USOPC's oversight also applies to qualifying events for said delegation events. The below group aids in managing the sport of surfing and can be reached by athletes, coaches and agents via email about the topics listed next to their name; all other parties should contact Brandon Penny.
Meredith Miller - USOPC Manager, Sport Performance (general inquiries, training camps, planning for 2023 Pan American Games and 2024 Olympic Games)
John Ruger - USOPC Surfing Contractor (selection procedures, participant requirements, athlete safety, athlete support criteria, Athletes' Advisory Council, USADA/WADA)
Ron Brant - USOPC Director of High Performance (resources for training and competition plans, performance science staff support, best practices)
Brandon Penny - Surfing Press Officer (media requests)
The Office of the Athlete Ombuds offers independent, confidential advice to elite athletes regarding their rights and responsibilities in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and assists elite athletes with a broad range of questions, disputes, complaints and concerns.
Phone: +1 (719) 866-5000
Email: ombudsman@usathlete.org
Website: usathlete.org
Athlete Ombuds Confidentiality and Privacy Policy:
(A) In general.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall maintain as confidential any information communicated or provided to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of the official duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds. (B) Exception.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds may disclose information described in subparagraph (A) as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute, with the permission of the parties involved.(C) Judicial and administrative proceedings.—(i) In general.—The ombudsman and the staff of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall not be compelled to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of the duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds.(ii) Work product.—Any memorandum, work product, notes, or case file of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds—(I) shall be confidential; and(II) shall not be—(aa) subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion; or (bb) admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding. (D) Applicability.—The confidentiality requirements under this paragraph shall not apply to information relating to—(i) applicable federally mandated reporting requirements; (ii) a felony personally witnessed by a member of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds;(iii) a situation, communicated to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds, in which an individual is at imminent risk of serious harm; or (iv) a congressional subpoena.
Anti-Retaliation Statement
No employee, contractor, agent, volunteer, or member of the USOPC shall take or threaten action against an athlete as a reprisal for disclosing information to or seeking assistance from the Office of the Athlete Ombuds.
