ACE CEO Cedric X. Bryant to Be Inducted Into National Fitness Hall of Fame

A longtime exercise scientist, Bryant is being recognized for advancing evidence-based fitness, professional education and the integration of exercise into healthcare

American Council on Exercise (ACE) CEO Cedric X. Bryant will be inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame later this summer, recognizing a career spent helping shape exercise science, professional education and the growing intersection between fitness and healthcare.

Bryant, who has led ACE since 2024 after more than two decades with the organization, will be honored as part of the National Fitness Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. The distinction recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the fitness industry through leadership, innovation and service.

A longtime exercise physiologist and one of the industry’s most prominent advocates for evidence-based fitness, Bryant has spent more than 30 years advancing research around physical activity, chronic disease prevention and healthy aging. Before becoming CEO, he served in several executive leadership roles at ACE, including chief science officer and president, helping position the organization as a leading voice in fitness education and certification.

“I am deeply honored to be inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026,” Bryant said. “This honor reinforces my commitment to advancing the role of physical activity and qualified health and fitness professionals in helping people move more, live healthier lives and improve the health of communities around the world.”

Bryant’s induction comes as ACE continues to push for closer collaboration between the fitness and healthcare sectors, an effort that has become increasingly relevant amid growing attention on preventive care, chronic disease management and GLP-1 weight-loss medications.

Speaking with Athletech News last year, Bryant said he sees certified exercise professionals and personal trainers becoming integral members of what he called the “optimal healthcare team,” arguing that fitness organizations have an opportunity to work more closely alongside physicians, policymakers and public health leaders.

“We want to strengthen the role that ACE plays, as well as the industry at large, in integrating health solutions,” Bryant told ATN. “We also want to play a role in the whole public health sector in terms of increasing our presence in policy discussions around things like obesity, physical activity and health promotion.”

Bryant also described GLP-1 medications as a potential catalyst for strengthening ties between healthcare and fitness, provided exercise professionals are equipped to help clients preserve muscle mass, improve exercise capacity and adopt sustainable lifestyle habits.

“Better connecting fitness with healthcare is something the industry has been trying to do for decades,” he said. “This just might be the gateway into that.”

Beyond ACE, Bryant has authored more than 400 scientific articles and 40 textbooks while serving in advisory roles for organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

The National Fitness Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for August at the National Fitness Museum.