John Lohn, Author at International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF)

Highlights From the International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Throughout the International Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremony over the weekend, members of the Class of 2022 shared numerous stories during their enshrinement speeches. It was truly a celebratory event in Fort Lauderdale, the 57th of its kind. Here are a few highlights from this special evening.

Photo Courtesy: Jason Leidy

• The 1988 Olympic champion in the 100-meter backstroke, Japan’s Daichi Suzuki was known for his underwater prowess, and that theme was a big part of Suzuki’s induction. During his speech, Suzuki acknowledged rival David Berkoff – who revolutionized underwater kicking – for laying groundwork and motivating him to elevate his performances.

Adding to the underwater theme was the fact that Suzuki was presented with his Hall of Fame sash and award by Jesse Vassallo, the 1980 and 1984 United States Olympian. In the late 1970s, it was Vassallo who first introduced the benefits of underwater power, which play a critical role in the sport today.

Jon Seiben giving his induction speech

• At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, West Germany’s Michael Gross was the heavy favorite to claim gold in the 200 butterfly. Instead, Australian teenager Jon Sieben, on the strength of a phenomenal last lap, reeled in the field and registered one of the great upsets in the sport with a world-record performance of 1:57.04.

Because the trip from his homeland to Fort Lauderdale is lengthy, Sieben indicated there was an initial uncertainty as to whether he would attend the induction ceremony. But once he heard that fellow 200 butterfly star Craig Beardsley was being enshrined, too, the decision to make the long trip was a no-brainer.

Sieben elicited a number of laughs from the audience, especially when he spoke of downing several beers – in grand Aussie fashion – with anyone who wanted to join the post-induction gathering at the hotel bar.

Mary T. Meagher inducting Craig Beardsley

• Craig Beardsley undoubtedly had the biggest support family in attendance, as he was joined by a collection of his 1980 Olympic teammates and fellow University of Florida Gators. Due to the boycott of the 1980 Olympics by the United States, Beardsley never got the chance to race at the Games, and the two-time world-record setter made a plea for politics to never again short-circuit athletic dreams in similar fashion.

As Beardsley walked onto the stage to give his speech, he was met with a standing ovation from his friends. A longtime fundraiser for Swim Across America, Beardsley spoke about compassion and kindness changing the world, and how we all can make a difference. He then invited his 1980 Olympic teammates to the stage as he received his awards.

• Australian great Michael Klim had the chance to cherish his induction with his parents (Wojtek and Ewa) and girlfriend, Michelle Owen, by his side. Klim was recognized for an illustrious career that featured six Olympic medals and 54 overall medals from international competition. At the 1998 World Championships in Perth, Klim walked away with seven medals.

Photo Courtesy: John Lohn

Growing up, Klim moved around the world due to his father’s work. During his speech, the freestyle and butterfly star noted the importance of swimming in providing stability and consistency to his life. Although he may have had an adjustment period with each move, the pool acted as a security blanket for Klim, who could immediately connect with the water.

Several months ago, Klim revealed he is battling Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a neurological disorder that progressively weakens function of the arms and legs. The Aussie first experienced symptoms, including numbness in his feet, a few years ago. In the face of his medical condition, Klim looked great at the ceremony and even logged some laps at the Hall of Fame Aquatics Center prior to the evening festivities.

• Australian diver Matthew Mitcham, who secured Olympic gold in the 10-meter platform event at the 2008 Games in Beijing, took a moment to pay tribute to his idol, Greg Louganis. Mitcham noted that Louganis was first an idol based on his diving excellence, but soon became one of his heroes in life. It was fitting, then, that Louganis presented Mitcham with his honors.

Honor Contributor Carol Zaleski

• Inducted into the Hall of Fame as an Honor Contributor for her years of service as an official with USA Swimming and FINA, Carol Zaleski shared a story of getting involved in the sport. When her kids were competing, she recalled seeing other parents on deck as timers, and thought it was a great way to get closer to the action and give back. Years later, Zaleski’s time in the sport is defined by giving back – on the national and international levels.

• With the induction of Australian coach Ursula Carlile, she joined her husband, Forbes Carlile, as Hall of Fame honorees. The Carliles are the first husband-wife coaching combination to be inducted into the Hall, recognition that was earned for years of guiding premier Aussie swimmers, including Shane Gould, and operating the Carlile Swim School. Carlile could not attend the ceremony, but she recorded an acceptance video which was played for audience.

Perica Bukic, Mirko Vicevic, Ratko Rudic and Jon Sieben

• Water polo star Mirko Vicevic, who represented Yugoslavia and Montenegro on the international stage, was the first honoree of the evening and had the chance to enjoy the night with some of his coaches and former teammates. Vicevic was a gold medalist in Olympic and World Championships competition and expressed appreciation for the individuals who enabled him to reach the pinnacle of his sport.

Ruth Ramsier, Peter Hurzeler, and Begonia Goce of Omega

• Feted as an Honor Contributor, Peter Hurzeler of Swiss Timing has had a major impact on the sport in regards timing, starting-block technology and backstroke ledges. During his speech, Hurzeler emphasized the importance of listening to athletes and their suggestions to make the sport better.

Photo Gallery: International Swimming Hall of Fame Weekend A Festive Affair (Part I)

It has been a celebratory weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the Class of 2022 will be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Late Saturday morning, members of the United States 1980 Olympic Team gathered at the new ISHOF Aquatics Center, with several athletes hopping in the pool. The atmosphere was a festive one, serving as a precursor to the evening enshrinement ceremony.

Those present at the pool had the opportunity to climb to the top of the 27-meter diving tower, which is a trademark of the new facility. Additionally, Australian honorees Jon Sieben and Michael Klim got in the water and had the chance to chat before being recognized at night.

Also on hand was Elizabeth Beisel, the multi-time Olympic medalist who has become a leading voice in the sport as a commentator and analyst.

Here are several images from Hall of Fame weekend, with more to come.

Elizabeth Beisel. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn

Daichi Suzuki. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn

Craig Beardsley and Daichi Suzuki. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn

Nancy Hogshead-Makar and Glenn Mills. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn

Mary T. Meagher. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn

Jon Sieben and Craig Beardsley. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn

Photo Courtesy: John Lohn

The Stars Came Out: What A Night At the International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The Stars Came Out: International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony A Gala Event

To the left. To the right. In front and behind.

Anywhere the head turned.

A look around the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa on Saturday night was to cast eyes on greatness. The evening was a party, the induction night for the Class of 2022 into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. It was perfect that five-time Olympian Dara Torres, a Hall of Famer herself, served as the emcee.

Baseball and football annually have their days in Cooperstown and Canton. Aquatic sports, specifically swimming, turns to Fort Lauderdale for its celebration. It has been that way for years, ISHOF long established as the treasure chest of excellence for swimmers, divers, and polo players. Fort Lauderdale is where history – old and more recent – is appreciated, and that fact was on display during this festive weekend.

As is always the case, the newest honorees into the Hall of Fame came from around the globe. The United States. Japan. Australia. Various locales across Europe. It was truly a global event, which is to be expected. Yes, certain nations have enjoyed greater success than others through the years, which is the norm in all international sports. But one of the things that makes a Hall of Fame special is the way it pays tribute to elite contributions from a widespread community.

Hall of Fame inductions are long, and this night was no different. It took more than three hours to move through the program, in which each inductee was recognized via a short video on their career. The honorees then had a chance to speak and were provided with their Hall of Fame sash and award. If the night carried on for an additional three hours, I doubt if anyone in the room would have cared. Rather, it would have provided further opportunity to applaud – literally and figuratively.

Applause. It was the prevailing trait of the night – constant acknowledgement of what the men and women entering the Hall had achieved. There, too, were small cheers. There were a few loud outbursts. There was a standing ovation. There was much laughter, and even a few tears. The emotion of the night was gripping. Years of hard work and dedication are what landed the honorees in Fort Lauderdale to begin with, so emotion should be a fixture of the night.

During their careers, those inducted triumphed in a way that is known by a miniscule percentage of folks who ever take up an aquatic sport. The best of the best? No. The best of the best of the best of the best…and we could go on.

It was magical to watch Craig Beardsley receive his due more than 40 years after politics robbed him of the chance to chase gold in the 200-meter butterfly at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Beardsley probably had the biggest cheering section of the night, with dozens of his friends and former teammates in attendance – and who were invited by Beardsley to join him on stage at the conclusion of his speech. Many of the supporters were surprise guests to Beardsley, and many also experienced the pain of being denied an Olympic opportunity by no fault of their own.

In Daichi Suzuki, it was a chance to doff the cap to a Japanese star who won gold in the 100 backstroke at the 1988 Olympics and played a critical role in revolutionizing the sport. Suzuki was one of several athletes who drove home the importance of the underwater dolphin kick, an innovation that remains as prominent as ever.

Aussies Jon Sieben and Michael Klim received well-deserved credit for special careers that included Sieben producing one of the greatest upsets in history and Klim leading off the 400 freestyle relay that won gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, a moment that lives in Aussie sporting lore.

The aforementioned athletes and their accomplishments account for just a portion of what was celebrated on Saturday night. The bottom line is that it was a special evening, exactly what is needed in sports. It’s why Halls of Fame exist, and it was a shining example of what the International Swimming Hall of Fame means to aquatic sports.

Next year can’t come soon enough.

As Emcee, Dara Torres Shares Sensational Stories At Hall of Fame Induction; Wonderful Messages Relayed

The way she commanded the room, behind her charisma and easy-going way, reflected the way she operated during an illustrious career. During her competitive days, Dara Torres established herself as one of the greatest performers in history, a 12-time Olympic medalist who proved anything is possible when she raced to three silver medals as a 41-year-old at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

On Saturday night, Torres served as emcee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame induction, the 57th of its kind. It was an evening to celebrate many of the greats in the sport, and Torres was captivating as always. She made the crowd laugh, but she was poignant, too. Really, she was the perfect host.

When Torres took the stage, she proceeded to regale the audience with several stories of her competitive days. More than anything else, she focused on the latter stages of her career, specifically the comeback that led her to Beijing and a fifth Olympiad. She joked about being the “grandma” of the team, and rooming with teens Elizabeth Beisel and Allison Schmitt.

She shared a story about sitting in the hallway of her hotel, balled up against the wall, at the United States Olympic Trials. With so much attention placed on Torres for pulling off an unlikely comeback, she spoke of the pressure of succeeding for fellow middle-aged women. She noted that Hall of Fame coach Mark Schubert came by during that moment, and it was a brief conversation with Schubert which reminded Torres of her love of the sport.

Torres also discussed the final of the 50-meter freestyle in Beijing, a race in which she finished .01 behind Germany’s Britta Steffen – 24.06 to 24.07. She kidded about congratulating her competitors but uttering some “select” words underwater at the realization that she fell the smallest margin possible of securing a gold medal.

At the end of her opening speech, though, Torres delivered a beautiful commentary on the sport and what it meant to her. It was a message that can be applied to multiple facets of life.

“I asked for the best of myself that night and second place is what it was,” Torres said of her silver-medal showing in the 50 freestyle. “Olympians are always asked what their favorite moment was. Which medal? For me, after five Olympics, it was the path I followed. The hard work. The dedication. The time management I learned. It was about doing what I could to be the best I could be.”