Former Philippine swimming chief Mark Joseph dies at 56

Former Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) President Mark Joseph, 56, passed away in his sleep Wednesday at his London home, the Joseph family said in a statement.

The Joseph family, Gordon, Mary Grace, and Christian, said on Thursday that they were deeply touched and thankful for the many messages of condolence they had received from around the world.

"We admired Mark immensely. As a champion swimmer, he was a role model; at the helm of Philippine swimming, he was a tireless leader, meeting every challenge with a combination of grace and steel," their statement read.

"But we will miss him most of all as a brother and a best friend, as will the very many people whose lives he touched with his kindness and generosity."

The Joseph family also revealed that Mark was studying to be a theologian at the time of his passing.

"Although he excelled as a professional athlete and was passionate about raising the standards of the sport to which he dedicated most of his life, we know he will want to be remembered foremost as a someone who encouraged others to make the most of their God-given gifts," they said.

"He so wanted to create champions, not just in terms of athletic prowess, but in how one embraced life, with a sense of gratitude and humility for every opportunity and blessing."

Apart from his time at the helm of several national swimming federations, Joseph himself was a national athlete and a Manila city councilor .

His career, however, had a brush with controversy over the alleged anomalous release of funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for the training of swimmers who competed in the 2012 Olympics. — Margaret Claire Lagug/DVM, GMA News