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Prayers For Chuck Wielgus

Nov 27, 2012

John Leaonard, head of ASCA, asks the world swim community to pray for the CEO of USA Swimming as he faces life-saving surgery this week

I started coaching in 1970 in Syracuse in upstate New York. For the forty two years that I have been involved in our sport, it is my opinion that no one individual has had the positive impact on the sport,  of the decade plus that Chuck Wielgus has been the Executive Director of USA-Swimming.  Chuck has unified the sport, made “Build, Promote, Achieve” a reality and brought us to heights of public recognition that we only dreamed of in the 70’s, the 80’s and the early 90’s. He’s done all we asked of him and much more. 

Today, tomorrow and Thursday, Chuck is undergoing potentially life-preserving (and possibly life-threatening) surgery of the most serious sort in an effort to beat back Cancer for the 3rd time. 

I would ask every one of us involved in the world of swimming to send prayers (if you are a prayer) and good thoughts (if you are not a prayer) to Chuck at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City, today, tomorrow and Thursday. 

This man is the best of the best, as a leader and as a man.  We can’t do much to help, but let’s do ALL that we can. 

Come on Big Guy. Hang in there. 

     John Leonard, American Swimming Coaches Association. 

SwimNews prays all goes well for Chuck Wielgus and we wish him a speedy recovery