USA Swimming News
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Black History Month Trailblazers: Dr. Cecil Gordon

by USA Swimming
Dr. Cecil Gordon has carved out a long and distinguished career as a practicing OB-GYN, Assistant Professor and volunteer leader. He has served USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation in a variety of roles, from competition official to his most recent position as Chairman of the Foundation Board of Directors.
But Gordon’s community involvement doesn’t stop there. For more than 30 years, he has worked with dozens of community organizations, including March of Dimes, the Delaware Board of Medical Practice, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Governor’s Minority Health Council, the NAACP and the Delaware American Cancer Society. Having worked as a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology for more than 30 years in Wilmington, Delaware, he is also Medical Director of Volunteers for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, which he founded in 1987.
A USA Swimming life member and longtime official, Gordon has worked as a starter official at the 2016 Olympic Games, 2015 FINA World Championships and three U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming. He has also served as chair of the Safe Sport and National Diversity Inclusion Committees in addition to his service on both boards.
“Too many of our children lose their lives today simply because they have never been taught to swim. Having an opportunity to impact those drowning statistics is personally meaningful to me,” Gordon said. “At the same time, maintaining performance excellence and building champions are the things that keep the U.S. at the forefront of the swimming world.”
But Gordon’s community involvement doesn’t stop there. For more than 30 years, he has worked with dozens of community organizations, including March of Dimes, the Delaware Board of Medical Practice, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Governor’s Minority Health Council, the NAACP and the Delaware American Cancer Society. Having worked as a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology for more than 30 years in Wilmington, Delaware, he is also Medical Director of Volunteers for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, which he founded in 1987.
A USA Swimming life member and longtime official, Gordon has worked as a starter official at the 2016 Olympic Games, 2015 FINA World Championships and three U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Swimming. He has also served as chair of the Safe Sport and National Diversity Inclusion Committees in addition to his service on both boards.
“Too many of our children lose their lives today simply because they have never been taught to swim. Having an opportunity to impact those drowning statistics is personally meaningful to me,” Gordon said. “At the same time, maintaining performance excellence and building champions are the things that keep the U.S. at the forefront of the swimming world.”
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