Brent Rutemiller, Former International Swimming Hall of Fame CEO, Dies
By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
After a three-year battle with cancer, former International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) CEO and a colleague of everyone in the swimming community Brent Rutemiller died in the early hours of Monday morning.
Rutemiller was diagnosed with plasma-cell leukemia in May 2021, which he battled into remission despite no known cure. His cancer returned in 2022, undergoing a bone marrow transplant before going in and out of remission over the last two years.
Rutemiller had a long career in swimming, from coaching stops across the country, more than 30 years in various roles with Swimming World, and five years as the CEO of the ISHOF in addition to serving as its President.
A 1978 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Rutemiller started out coaching various teams in Kentucky and Indiana, including working as an assistant under Frank Busch in Northern Kentucky. Rutemiller then contributed on staff with the Mission Viejo Nadadores, and served as a coach with two of the biggest programs in Arizona, the Phoenix Swim Club and Scottsdale Aquatic Club.
He also dedicated a lot of his time to coaching Special Olympians, serving as the head of a Special Olympics swimming delegation in Arizona for over 20 years.
Rutemiller got his start with Swimming World Magazine in 1985 as the creator of Aquazoids, an educational animated series that has been printed in more than 150 countries. He then transitioned into head of advertising and ultimately elevated to the role of the magazine’s publisher.
During his time as publisher, Rutemiller spearheaded Swimming World’s partnership with the ISHOF.
In July 2015, Rutemiller was recognized by USA Swimming as one of the “30 Most Influential People in Swimming over the Past 30 Years.”
In addition to receiving the ISHOF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, Rutemiller also earned the organization’s Service Award in 2008 and was named the 2014 American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Media Award winner.
During his treatment, Rutemiller launched the campaign “Rutemiller’s Army” with the Swim Across America in order to fund a cancer research project for plasma-cell leukemia (or multiple myeloma), which has no known cure.
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