USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus is retiring after leading a federation that brought home 156 Olympic medals during his 20 years at the helm.
Wielgus, who turns 67 next month, has been battling colorectal cancer for more than 10 years and undergoes regular chemotherapy.
He will leave his job Aug. 31. He is the longest-tenured leader among U.S. Olympic organizations, and the 156 medals represent about one-third of America’s overall total from the last five Olympics.
“This is all about my physical ability,” Wielgus told The Associated Press after announcing his retirement Wednesday. “I love my job, love what I do, but I can’t do it to the level I think it can be done. It’s time for someone else to put their hands on the wheel.”
During his two decades, USA Swimming’s revenue has increased by about 600 percent, and its four-year, Olympic-cycle budget has grown from $35 million to $160 million. Membership more than doubled, to 400,000-plus, and Wielgus helped turn swimming’s Olympic trials into a showcase event. The 2016 trials sold out more than 200,000 tickets.