Last night the International Swimming Hall of Fame hosted the ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal, the ISHOF Specialty Awards and the Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame. It was one of the best show in years! The event took place at the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale with a crowd of almost 200 people. It was a who’s who of Aquatic stars, friends~both old and new, Honorees, and longtime supporters.
Emcees Elizabeth Beisel and Sam Dorman opened the show with the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame, where 90-year Hiroshi Matsumoto, who traveled alone from his native Japan, not speaking a word of English, accepted his award with the help of a translator, as he remembered swimming for most of his last eight decades.
Hiroshi Matsumoto and Mark Black ~ The Nonagenarian Club
The family of Canadian synchronized swimming legend Joyce Corner was in attendance to represent Joyce who passed away in 2022. Her granddaughter, Alison, and grandson, Bill, accepted her in award for her, recalling their grandmother’s deep love of the sport.
Mary Black
Every Child A Swimmer Staff and New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance
Next up was the ISHOF Aquatic Award presented by AquaCal. The Competitive Swimming Award was presented to David Szanto of Hungary, who has run the last two World Championships in Budapest and is preparing to host next Summer’s 2027 World Championships. The Diving Award went to multi-time USA Olympic Diving Coach, Drew Johansen, Head Coach at Indian University. 96-year old Mary Black of Scotland was clearly the hit of the night. The Scot had the room in laughter as she recalled her decades in synchronized swimming. Leanne Barnes of Australia was given the award for water polo for her many years of service and dedication in the sport, participating in all aspects of the game. The last category was water safety and it was given to the New Jersey Swim Safety Alliance ~ “Drowning is preventable and every life is worth saving”.
Walt Reid realizing the award might be for HIM! Wife Kathy looking on…..
This year’s Specialty Awards saw Honoree Micki King receive the Buck Dawson Author’s Award for her amazing biography, “Break of A Lifetime”, along with co-author Elaine K. Howley. Ted Robinson received the Al Schoenfield Media Award, with past recipients and colleagues in attendance for support, Peter Diamond and Cynthia Potter. ISHOF surprised Walt Reid with the Hall of Fame Service Award for all the work Reid has done over the years helping ISHOF with the Master’s Selection Committee, compiling all the masters data and maintaining that data, which he is now turning over to World Aquatics and ISHOF. ISHOF and the Every Child A Swimmer Program awarded Pool Nation the Every Child A Swimmer Award. At the core of Pool Nation is a simple belief: When pool professionals are financially strong, properly trained, and supported by a community, the entire industry becomes stronger. Judge G. Harold Martin, Founder of Every Children A Swimmer mission’s, family was on hand to help present the award, daughter and granddaughter, Julie Boniec.
NBC Broadcaster Ted Robinson
Bill Kent and Casey McGovern of ECAS with Pool Nation
ISHOF presented The Esther Award for the first time in many years to the award-winning documentary, “The Duel We Missed” ~ story of the race that never took place between long distance superstars Brian Goodell of the USA and Vladimir Salnikov of Russia. Also receiving the award were Goodell’s coach Mark Schubert and Direcotor of the film, Edward Starselosky.
Brian Goodell and Donna deVarona
We will see everyone tonight for the 61st Annual Honoree INduction Ceremony at the War Memorial Auditorium. 6:00 pm sharp.