Lausanne, 1 December 2025 – The Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU), together with safeguarding organisation We Ride Together (WRT), have delivered two high-impact workshops at the World Aquatics Training Centre in Antibes, adding to global efforts to ensure safe, fair and respectful training environments across aquatic sports. Hosted at the Cercle des Nageurs d’Antibes, the sessions on 20 and 21 November gathered both training centre staff and World Aquatics Scholarship Holders (based at the training centre in Antibes) for a dynamic exploration of what safeguarding looks like in practice.
Led by WRT’s Executive Director Michaela Callie and Programme and Partnerships Director Kathryn McClain, and joined by AQIU Prevention Coordinator Saloni Gupta, the workshops invited participants to look more broadly at what safeguarding is and to consider what it means to build a truly safe aquatics environment.
The sessions also equipped attendees with practical tools to strengthen their own vigilance and to support a safe culture within aquatics.
The staff workshop opened the two-day programme, engaging coaches, administrators and the Antibes training centre safeguarding officer in a candid and constructive discussion about their role in athlete protection. The following day, 23 World Aquatics Scholarship Holders participated in a highly interactive session designed specifically around the realities of daily training life.
Both groups responded with enthusiasm and honesty. One athlete shared, “The session was incredibly valuable. It made the concepts of harassment and abuse much clearer and gave us confidence in recognising them.”
Staff echoed this sentiment too. “I learned a lot from this session,” one participant said. “I can’t wait to spread more awareness among other athletes – it’s such an important topic, and keeping our athletes safe is a priority.”
Another staff member noted how the discussions sharpened their awareness: “The workshop allowed me to understand the different forms of abuse that can exist in the sporting environment, sometimes in a subtle way, and to strengthen our vigilance to protect our athletes. The workshop strengthened my determination to guide them [athletes] with kindness and respect.”
Laurent Ciubini, President of the Antibes training centre (Cercle des Nageurs d’Antibes) stated: “I am convinced that AQIUs’ initiative has marked a turning point in our approach to athlete safeguarding. Through practical tools and open discussions, we have been able to strengthen our vigilance and commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels safe and respected. This is a crucial step for the future of our international training centre and for our sport.”
Through continued collaborations such as this one and targeted education, the AQIU remains committed to safeguarding athletes, ensuring fairness and eliminating misconduct in all its forms.