USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus honored with ACES Chief Executive Leadership Award

USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus has been honored with the Association of Chief Executives for Sport (ACES) Chief Executive Leadership Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the national governing body’s growth. He will be presented the award tonight during the organization’s winter conference in Reno, Nevada.

The honor recognizes an ACES member for exemplary performance in leadership, best practice sharing, information dissemination and peers development. This award highlights the unselfish willingness to help other CEOs better perform their duties and advance their professionalism.

2013 Golden Goggles: Chuck Wielgus Executive Director of USA Swimming, Missy Franklin, Scott Blackmun (USOC CEO)
(courtesy of Melissa Lundie, melissalundie.com)

“To receive any award is humbling, but even more so when the recognition comes from peers,” said Wielgus. “I have enormous affinity for my fellow NGB executive directors and CEOs, and they will certainly understand when I say that any recognition must be appropriately shared with the staff and volunteer leaders with whom I work every day.”

Wielgus has served as executive director of USA Swimming since 1997 and the chief executive officer of the USA Swimming Foundation since its inception in 2004. During his 18-year tenure, USA Swimming membership has surpassed 400,000 and the U.S. Olympic Swim Team has won an average of 31 medals in each of the last four Olympic Games to lead Team USA.

Additionally, Wielgus created Splash magazine, developed strong corporate and television partners, grew the Olympic Trials – Swimming from a 4,700-seat natatorium to a 17,000-seat major entertainment venue and spearheaded the creation of the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative.

“Chuck Wielgus is most deserved of our inaugural Leadership Award, as he’s a true leader in the sports movement, both nationally and internationally,” said Stephen Ducoff, President/CEO of ACES. “Throughout his career, Chuck has inspired his colleagues with his knowledge, morality and leadership. This recognition indicates the respect Chuck holds from his peers.”

All 47 National Governing Bodies in the USOC family are members of the Association for Chief Executives for Sport. For more information on ACES, visit aces-ngb.com.

About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 400,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Olympic Games, and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives: Build the base, Promote the sport, Achieve competitive success. For more information, visit usaswimming.org.

Swimming News is courtesy of USA Swimming.