FINA has learnt with immense sadness about the loss of its Vice-President Dennis Miller, from Fiji, who lost his brave fight against illness. Mr Miller was 61 years old and is survived by his wife and four children.
As an administrator working behind the scenes, Dennis Miller dedicated his career to the development of Aquatics in Oceania, but also worldwide, within the FINA family.
Hailing from Fiji, Miller was a former national champion in the 100m butterfly. Having studied in Australia, Mr Miller joined the Fijian Public Service and Trade and Investment Board, alongside starting his career in swimming governance, notably being Swim Team Manager at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and 1988 Olympic Games, and Chef de Mission of the Fijian team at the 1996 Olympic Games, alongside many other major swimming and multisport events.
Dennis Miller became Executive Director of the Oceania National Olympic Committees in 1997, as well as President of the Oceania Swimming Association since 2008.
Within FINA, Mr Miller also became a Member of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee in 1997, serving for over 10 years, before joining the FINA Bureau, where he has been liaison for this discipline.
He was presently FINA Vice-President and member of the FINA Executive.
"We are very saddened with this terrible news. Dennis was a brilliant administrator and a great promoter of the Aquatic sports. He played a very important role in the inclusion of Open Water Swimming in the Olympic programme, starting at the 2008 Games in Beijing (CHN). His valuable contribution within the Bureau and the Executive was of paramount importance for the successful development of our activities. He will be terribly missed by the FINA Family,” considered FINA President Dr Julio C. Maglione.
In this moment of grief, FINA addresses its heartfelt condolences to Mr Miller’s family and friends, as well as to the entire Aquatic community in Fiji and Oceania.