"Social media also allowed already disconnected athletes to seek support from sources external to the team, which again diminished the reliance on a unified team."

The report said the lack of team spirit was partly caused by letting the swimmers prepare under individual programs with their own coaches, which caused a disconnect at all levels of the squad.

Meanwhile, the Olympic village environment was described as "mayhem" and "a candy shop of distractions."

"Fragmentation was compounded in the absence of familiarity and sufficient opportunities to connect formally and socially. Greater cohesion as a team would have needed to be intentional and cultivated by design," the report said.

The Australian Sports Commission welcomed the review's findings.

"Swimming Australia has already commenced recruitment for a new high performance director and has also taken steps to improve its relationship with key stakeholders," said ASC chief executive Simon Hollingsworth.

"This report is a clear message to Swimming Australia to continue its reforms to enable it to return to the top table of international swimming."