Jorge Aurelio Delgado Panchana of Ecuador will be receiving a Certificate of Merit for his decades of dedication and much-appreciated work in the open water swimming world at the United Nations on June 19th. His recognition will be part of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame ceremonies where he will also give a speech on the upcoming Olympic 10K Marathon Swim at the 2012 London Olympics.

Formerly a world-class swimmer, Jorge is now the Vice Chairman of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee.

In his role as the Vice Chairman, Jorge is responsible for advising, analyzing, appointing, investigating, studying and recommending rules, regulations, protocols, procedures, equipment and specifications regarding the preparations and execution of open water swimming events sanctioned and organized by FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatics.

Jorge has years of experience officiating at several world championships and is considered one of the senior statesman, administrator and referee of the sport. Passionate, accomplished and multi-lingual, he epitomizes the Olympic ideal. His knowledge, patience, quiet confidence, objectivity and good nature have also served him well in helping develop the sport on a fair and international basis.

And his roots go back far – both in swimming and at the Olympics.

Jorge is a former Olympic swimmer who was selected as the Best Sportsman of Ecuador in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1978 when he was ranked among the top 10 swimmers in the world. He was given an award for the Most Illustrious Athlete by the Municipality of Guayaquil in 1971, a member of the Knights of the South American Swimming in 1972, an All-American in the United States from 1974-1978, was selected as Latin America’s most prominent athletes in 1975, was the Most Valuable Swimmer at Southern Illinois University in 1975 y 1976, was inducted as a honor swimmer in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1976, received the National Order of Merit in Grade of Knight in 1971 and 1972, received the Cabeza de Palenque Trophy from FINA President Javier Ostos in 1972, received a Gold Citation from the Military Governor of Guayas in 1974 and the Sports Merit Medal by the Municipality of Guayaquil in 1978, received the Sports Merit Badge, First Class by the Ministry of Education and Sports in 1996, received the Gran Cruz Decoration Olympic Gold in 1999, declared One of the Top Five Athletes of the 20th century by the National Sports Council, Ecuadorian Olympic Committee, National Federation of Ecuador, Ecuadorian Association of Radio EAR Circle Magazine Stadium and Sports Journalist of Ecuador in 1999, declared one of the five best athletes of the 20th century by the Sports Journalists’ Circle Core Ecuador Pichincha in 1999, received the 2002 Congressional Medal of Honor National, was the Commission Chair of Former Olympic Athletes in 2002 and was the Deputy Chief of Mission of the ODESUR Games in 2002.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source