USA Swimming Appoints ISHOF Honoree Brendan Hansen as National Junior Team Director
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by Dan D’Addona — Swimming World Managing Editor
28 October 2024
USA Swimming, the National Governing Body of swimming in the United States, has announced the appointment of Brendan Hansen as its National Junior Team Program Director, effective November 4. Hansen will lead all aspects of the National Junior Team by developing and maintaining programs that serve as the pathway from elite-level age group swimmers to the Olympic Games.
Hansen brings decades of experience in the sport, most recently as Director of Team Services for USA Swimming. Since joining the USA Swimming staff in 2019, he has been integral in developing education and resources for coaches and clubs via a team of advisors dedicated to member service.
A three-time in-venue host at Olympic Trials and staff leader for multiple international competitions, Hansen is known for bringing excitement, energy, and passion to his roles. With Hansen at the helm for the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships, the young Americans won the team award with an impressive 44 medals.
“Brendan offers unique experience to this role; he has been an athlete, a coach, and a staff member, so he understands the concerns and motivation of so many of our key stakeholders,” USA Swimming Chief Operating Officer and interim Chief Executive Officer Shana Ferguson said. “We are thrilled Brendan is moving to the National Team staff to help propel our National Junior Team program through the next quad.”
A six-time Olympic medalist and 25-time international medalist, Hansen captained three Olympic teams throughout his career. A respected leader among his peers, Hansen will now focus on developing the next generation of USA Swimming athletes. A former 100m and 200m breaststroke world record holder, 13-time NCAA champion, and 16-time All-American, the breaststroke specialist understands the opportunity LA 2028 offers and will be a critical part of athlete development ahead of a rare domestic Olympic Games.
“Once I made the National Junior Team in 1997, I had mentors guide me to the National Team andconsistent successes for 13 years across three quadrennium,” Hansen said. “I look forward to theopportunity to be that leader while connecting current athletes with my generation of National Junior Team and National Team alumni. It can truly be a life-changing moment for an athlete and coach to make the National Junior team roster, and I am excited to be part of the internal team that drives that experience for them.”
After retiring from swimming, Brendan started a USA Swimming Club program in Austin, TX – Austin Swim Club. As Head Coach, Hansen built a program of over 300 club swimmers and qualified as a USA Swimming Club Excellence Gold Medal Team. In 2016, Austin Swim Club qualified 10 swimmers for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming and finished as a top three team at both Winter and Junior National Championships.
A native of Haverford, Pa., Hansen earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from The University of Texas in 2005. He is a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2024), The University of Texas Athletics Hall of Honor (2015), the Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame (2015), and the International Swimming Hall of Fame (2020).
USA Swimming’s National Team Division works to support USA Swimming’s best athletes and coaches in their pursuit of Olympic and international success. For more on the USA Swimming National Junior Team, click here.
Brendan Hansen was inducted into ISHOF in 2020 s an Honor Swimmer. To read his ISHOF bio, or to watch his ISHOF Induction video and hear his induction speech, click here: https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-brendan-hansen/
Happy Birthday Bobby Webster!
Country: USA
Honore Type: Diver
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1960 gold (platform); 1964 gold (platform); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1963 gold (platform); 1971 (U.S. Diving Coach); U.S. NATIONAL AAU CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1960 through 1964 (won all tower diving contests); 1962 (1m springboard); BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1960 (3m springboard).
“From California to the New York harbor, from the redwood forests to the Gulfstream waters”, double Olympic champion Bob Webster’s diving career was coast to coast. He won his Olympic gold medals in Rome and Tokyo. He came out of California to college at Michigan and now coaches at Princeton.
Webster is primarily known as a tower diver, yet he was U.S. National AAU champion in 1 meter low board (1962) and Big Ten 3 meter high board champion (1960). Webster won his first Olympic title (10 meter platform) in Rome just three years after he took his first tower dive in competition. From that date (1960) until his retirement after winning the 1964 Olympic platform title in Tokyo, Webster never lost a tower diving contest.
He won his first collegiate title diving for Santa Ana Junior College, a school without a pool. He prepared for the Southern Section Junior College Championships training off a board in Olympic champion Sammy Lee’s back yard sand pit. From Santa Ana, Webster went to the University of Michigan where he was coached by Dick Kimball and by the late Bruce Harlan, himself an Olympic champion in 1948.
Following his retirement as a competitive diver, Webster took a Far East tour for the State Department and then began a coaching career at Minnesota and Princeton. Bob was appointed U.S. Diving Coach for the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia. This trip stands as an honor richly deserved since Webster, in 1963 at Sao Paulo, Brazil, was the first U.S. diver to win 10 meter diving in the history of the Pan American Games.
ISHOF Hosts Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Circle, Trustee Plus, Trustee Reception
Last night, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the International Swimming Hall of Fame hosted the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and its exclusive Chairman’s Circle, Trustee Plus and Trustee members for a reception with networking opportunity, showcasing ISHOF and the beautiful new Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Facility.
The group was welcomed by ISHOF Treasurer, Matt McKean, while Board Members Christine Yates and Mario Caprini made presentations about the exciting new changes that are in store for the Fort Lauderdale community with the new $218 million renovation to the ISHOF peninsula that just broke ground last week. ISHOF’s Every Child A Swimmer (ECAS) Program Director, Casey McGovern, spoke briefly about the life saving swim lesson scholarships our ECAS program provides to financially deserving families and the importance of learning how to swim.
Guests were treated to a special dive show by ISHOF Board Member, Ellie Smart, and some of her fellow high divers, who put on another fabulous show, and after the show ended, the divers came over to mingle with and speak to the guests, which is always a highlight!
All in all, it was a huge success for both ISHOF and the Chamber. It was a beautiful evening, with drinks, food, great entertainment, and as always, a beautiful South Florida sunset!
Thank you to all who made it possible, especially the Fort Lauderdale Chamber, Liz Soto and Jenny De Borga, and ISHOF Board Members, Matt McKean, Mario Caprini and Christine Yates.
To learn more about the ISHOF Project, click here:
#ISHOF #CityofFortLauderdale #ChamberofCommerce #EveryChildASwimmer #HighDiving
On this day in in 1905, one of the most famous women of her time, Gertrude Ederle was born
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1924 gold (4x100m freestyle relay), bronze (100m, 400m freestyle); WORLD and NATIONAL RECORDS: 29 (from 1921 to 1925 – in 1922 she set 7 world records in the course of one 500m swim); First woman to swim the English Channel, 1926 (beating all previous times by men); New Disney Film, “Young Women and the Sea” made about her life.
Gertrude Ederle was in the very first Class of Honorees inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, honored on that special day in late December, 1965. She was one of only three female swimmers selected in a class of 21 Honorees. The greatest of the greatest, the first 21 inducted into ISHOF. (The other two were Dawn Fraser (AUS) and Katherine Rawls (USA).
Gertrude Ederle’s two greatest days in swimming were at Brighton Beach in 1922 and in the English Channel in 1926, the first as an amateur, the second as a professional.
At Brighton Beach, Miss Ederle broke seven world records at various distances in the course of a single 500 meter swim. In England, she became the first woman to swim the English Channel.
Trudy’s great Channel swim was 51 years after Matthew Webb, the first man to swim the Channel, had achieved the impossible, and it completely captured the public imagination because such swimming immortals as Annette Kellerman had tried and failed, claiming the feat completely beyond the limits of a woman’s strength and endurance. Gertrude Ederle not only swam the Channel but swam it faster than any man before her.
She held 29 U.S. national and world records from 1921 until she turned professional after the 1925 season. Her amateur national championships were won at distances from 50 yards to the half mile and her great professional Channel effort was 20 miles. Olympian Ederle was tough at any distance at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Gertrude Ederle was the female counterpart of Johnny Weissmuller in that they were discussed in every household as the two greatest swimming figures of the 1920s, idols of the “Golden Age of Sport”.
Happy Birthday Trudy! We are still celebrating your fabulous life more than 125 later!
World Aquatics competition schedule for the World Aquatics Championships & Masters Championships – Singapore 2025
Written by: Torin Koos, World Aquatics Communications Manager
World Aquatics and the Singapore 2025 Organising Committee have officially unveiled the competition schedule for the World Aquatics Championships. From 11 July to 3 August 2025, Singapore will host 75 medal events, displaying the talents of athletes across six aquatic sports: swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming, and high diving.
Singapore will once again shine on the global stage as it welcomes elite aquatic athletes for the World Aquatics Championships in 2025. This prestigious event will see the island nation and dynamic city-state in Southeast Asia become a hub of aquatic sports excellence.
After extensive consultation with athletes, teams, broadcasters, and key stakeholders, World Aquatics and the Singapore 2025 Organising Committee have finalised the competition dates for each sport:
Water Polo: 11-24 July 2025
Open Water Swimming: 15-20 July 2025
Artistic Swimming: 18-25 July 2025
High Diving: 25-27 July 2025
Diving: 26 July – 3 August 2025
Swimming: 27 July – 3 August 2025
Masters: 26 July – 22 August 2025
The 22nd edition of the World Aquatics Championships is set to welcome over 2,500 athletes from 210 national member federations. Exhilarating event action will primarily take place at the iconic Singapore Sports Hub. Detailed venue information will be disclosed at the “One Year to Go” media event on 12 July 2024, marking the start of the official countdown to this world-class event.
Image Source: Aerial view of the Singapore Sports Hub (Singapore Tourism Board)
World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam underscored the significance of unveiling the competition schedule, emphasising how it provides clarity for athletes and nations as they prepare for the championships.
“We are thrilled to announce the competition schedule for the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025,” President Al-Musallam stated. “This announcement marks a crucial milestone in our journey to deliver a premier event that enables our athletes to compete at their highest level and ignites inspiration among the future stars of aquatic sports. With our dedicated local organisers in Singapore, we are meticulously preparing to create an exceptional environment where athletic excellence can flourish.”
Mark Chay, President of Singapore Aquatics and co-chair of the Singapore 2025 Organising Committee, noted the excitement surrounding the revealing of the competition schedule for the highly anticipated World Aquatics Championships.
“The Singapore 2025 Organising Committee has been working tirelessly to plan an extraordinary experience that captures the dynamism and vibrancy of Singapore. With the unveiling of the competition schedule, we invite fans from the global aquatics community to book their calendars and get ready to witness the very best athletes perform here. Immerse in the pulsating energy of the Championships, and get ready to make a splash with us in Singapore. We cannot wait to welcome everyone to the Lion City.”
How an American Swimmer Melted the Ice of the Cold War – ISHOF Honoree Lynne Cox
In 1987, Lynne Cox convinced Mikhail Gorbachev to let her swim across the Bering Strait between the U.S.A. and the USSR. In doing so, she demonstrated to both superpowers how close their people really were, and helped to thaw Cold War relations.
The U.S. – Soviet Border
In the middle of the Bering Strait, the border between the Diomede Islands – Soviet Big Diomede and U.S. Little Diomede – was known as the “ice curtain”. This is the only border the U.S. shares with Russia. This border is also the International Date Line so Lynne’s swim was truly a journey in to the future.
Before a shift in Soviet and U.S. policy in 1948, indigenous Inupiat tribes had been hunting, fishing, and moving between these islands for thousands of years. But as Cold War tensions rose, native people were stripped of their lands, traditions, and the friendships they had made across the border, as Big Diomede was turned into a Soviet military reservation.
About Lynne Cox
In 1971, at the age of 14, Lynne Cox swam across the Catalina Channel, and at 15 and 16, she made record-breaking swims across the English Channel, each time breaking both men’s and women’s records for swimming from England to France. In 1975, Lynne became the first woman to cross the Cook Strait, between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The next year she became the first person to swim the Strait of Magellan, and the first to swim around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. It was after these swims that she envisioned swimming across the Bering Strait, from Little Diomede, Alaska, U.S.A. to Big Diomede, Siberia, USSR. But first, Lynne had to secure special permission from the Soviet government. Over the course of 11 years, she wrote to four different Soviet leaders: Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko, and Mikhail Gorbachev. Her only response came from the latter. Approval from President Gorbachev was received only one day before Lynne was planning to swim.
The Swim
On August 7, 1987, thirty-year-old Lynne jumped into the icy water off Alaska’s Little Diomede wearing swimsuit, cap, and goggles, and swam toward the Soviet border. In addition to making athletic history, her swim was dedicated to scientific purposes – so that a research team could examine her body’s reaction to cold water.
At the midway point, a 20-foot Soviet vessel joined her escort boats. Although the distance was only 2.7 miles, due to the strong current Lynne had to swim over five miles for two hours and six minutes to reach the Soviet Union. Her hands turned grey and her limbs stiffened in the 38-degree water. Not only was she the first person to accomplish this daring feat, she also succeeded in bringing the Soviets and Americans closer together.
The Reception
When she reached shore, Lynne was warmly greeted by about 30 Russians including regional government officials, members of the KGB, and Soviet Olympic athletes. They escorted her to a platform where a picnic had been prepared, with samovars of tea and biscuits, and presented her with flowers and a pair of handmade slippers. As Lynne answered journalists’ questions she started cooling down and was about to go into hypothermia when a Soviet doctor, Rita Zakharova, led her into a charcoal-heated tent and covered her with hot water bottles and a sleeping bag. Then, remarkably, the doctor embraced Lynne to warm her. “To have this human contact,” said Lynne in an interview with the BBC, “after so many years growing up afraid of the Soviets – and here was this person basically warming me up to get me back to life again.” As a special surprise, the Soviets invited Inupiat natives to the gathering where they sang folk songs as Lynne recovered.
The Seal Skin Slippers
When Lynne was presented with the slippers, an interpreter explained that they were made from seal skins and had been hand sewn for her by an Inupiat woman whose family had lived on Big Diomede Island, USSR, until they were removed by the Soviets and relocated to the Siberian mainland. She had gone to the trouble to learn Lynne’s shoe size and they fit perfectly. “While the slippers were warm,” Lynne says, “they were extremely slippery, making it difficult to walk on the icy rocks and snow to the warming tent.”
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Four months after her historic feat, the U.S. and the USSR reached an agreement to eliminate their short and intermediate-range missiles. During the ceremony at the White House in Washington, Gorbachev led everybody in lifting their glasses for a toast:
“Last summer it took one brave American by the name of Lynne Cox just two hours to swim from one of our countries to the other. We saw on television how sincere and friendly the meeting was between our people and the Americans when she stepped onto Soviet shore. She proved by her courage how close to each other our peoples live.
World-renowned Swimmer Lynne Cox arrives at the 2003 Glamour “Women of the Year” Awards at the American Museum of Natural History, Nov. 10, 2003 in New York City. AFP
Not only is Lynne an accomplished open water swimmer, she is a New York Times bestselling author and highly-regarded motivational speaker. She has called her Bering Strait swim- “the most significant experience of her life.”
www.lynnecox.com
ISHOF Groundbreaking – Phase One has begun!
Big things are happening at the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) in Fort Lauderdale!
On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) broke ground on Phase One of its $218 million renovation of the ISHOF complex on the Hall of Fame peninsula that has been home to the Hall of Fame Pool/Aquatic Center and the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum, since the mid 1960’s.
The Swimming Hall of Fame was established in 1964, after the AAU awarded the City of Fort Lauderdale as its home. In 1967, the Museum first opened and in 1968, it was officially recognized by FINA as the “International” Swimming Hall of Fame, taking it global. In 1991, ISHOF expanded, featuring a uniquely wave-shaped building designed by the internationally renowned firm Arquitectonica. Through the years, age took its toll and technology advanced to the point where changes needed to be made.
The new $218 million ISHOF project will be an architecturally unique facility that will house a new Hall of Fame Museum, with fully updated modern displays and digital access to aquatics sports history, an amazing aquarium, event space, restaurants, teaching pool, theater, meeting rooms, office space, and on-site parking. It will be like no other attraction on the beach. Paired with one of the top aquatic facilities in the world, this destination will be like no other, anywhere on the planet!
The groundbreaking was attended by local and City officials, including Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Commissioner Steve Glassman, Commissioner John Herbst, and Aquatic Center Manager Laura Voet; ISHOF Board Members, Chairman Bill Kent, Mike Dooley, Mario Caprini, Steve Hasty, Matt McKean, Fundraising Chairwoman, Christine Tripp Yates; Construction Management Team, including Corey Olsen of Hensel Phelps, and many other invited guests, including John Whitehouse of Deep Blue Attractions and Rich Waltzer.
Wednesday’s ground breaking was only beginning, it marks Phase one of the ISHOF project, which will focus on infrastructure improvements, including the seawall around the peninsula and the Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue Headquarters. The Improvements for the seawall will consist of driving new sheet pile along the length of the existing seawall and a new seawall cap that will be approximately two feet higher than the existing seawall cap. The Ocean Rescue will be getting a new two-story concrete structure approximately 10,000 SF with an elevator, to be located south of the Dive Tower and west of the new south locker room building. The first floor will serve as storage for Ocean Rescue equipment (Paddleboards, Jet Skis, etc.). The second floor will include offices for the Chief & Lieutenants, a Conference Room, Showers & Locker Rooms.
After the Ground Breaking Ceremony, guests were welcomed on to the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi, where they enjoyed at ride along the beautiful Intracoastal waterway, had hors d’oeuvres, as well as drinks, including a full bar, champagne or choice of beverage.
“Thanks to the inspirational leadership of the City of Fort Lauderdale, our on- of-a-kind International Swimming Hall of Fame is being reborn. The new facilities, including the aquarium, will be a new jewel in the crown of tourist destinations for all of Broward County.” Dr. Bill Kent, Chair of the Board.
Stay with us at www.ishof.org for more information on the redo and Phases 2, 3 and 4!!!! If you would like to donate to the project, click here: https://internationalswimminghalloffame-bloom.kindful.com/
#ISHOF #CityofFortLauderdale #HenselPhelps #CapitalGroup #Groundbreaking #WorldAquatics #Swimming #EveryChildASwimmer #Aquariums #AquaCal #SwimmingWorld
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Every Child A Swimmer Update ~ October 2024
Transforming Communities, Shaping a Generation of Swimmers
At the heart of the Every Child a Swimmer program is a singular, powerful mission: to equip every child with the life-saving skill of swimming and prevent childhood drowning. Our work is driven by passion, and the impact is undeniable. Over the past year, we have partnered with 282 swim schools across the country, providing over 1,800 children with access to swim lessons that they might not have otherwise had. Each of these partnerships represents more than just a number; it is a step toward creating a safer future for our children, where swimming is not just a skill but a life-saving necessity.
Our commitment to change extends beyond the pool. We’ve successfully implemented Every Child a Swimmer legislation in Florida, Georgia, and Arkansas, impacting thousands of students by integrating water safety education into schools. These legislative victories are monumental—they aren’t just policy changes, but powerful pathways to prevent future tragedies. Every child that learns to swim represents one less life at risk, and with each new law, we move closer to a world where all children are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in the water.
Nationally, our team has been active in spreading this message through our participation in key industry events like the Pool Nation Women’s Summit, the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Conference, and the United States Swim School Association. By engaging with leaders and advocates at both the state and national levels, we are working to create a ripple effect that ensures water safety education reaches every community, every family, and every child.
The impact of these initiatives is clear: we are building a future where swim skills are a standard, not a privilege. We remain hopeful that with our continued efforts, the number of drowning incidents will decline as we cultivate a generation of confident and capable swimmers. Behind every swim lesson, every legislative success, and every event is a child whose life has been impacted—each one a reminder of the life-saving power of our work.
Join Us in Building a Safer Future We invite you to be a part of this important mission. Stay connected with us on social media to follow our progress, learn more about success stories, and discover ways to get involved. Whether it’s raising awareness, participating in community events, or donating to provide a child with a learn-to-swim scholarship, your support makes a direct impact. Together, we can create a generation of swimmers, prevent future tragedies, and build safer communities.
Visit www.everychildaswimmer.org to learn more about how you can contribute, volunteer, or make a donation today.
If you missed the 2024 ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremony, never fear! You can watch the entire show on ESPN+ or HULU, the link included below!
For the second year in a row, the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Honoree Induction Ceremony has been produced by Peter Lasser, and aired LIVE on ESPN+ After the live performance, the show is available for 30 days ON DEMAND, on both, ESPN+ AND HULU.
So, if you were not able to be in Fort Lauderdale this past weekend for this fabulous ISHOF event, now, you can see what you missed! Just log into your HULU or ESPN+ account and type in INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME HONOREE CEREMONY and this is the logo that you should look for:
Once you see it, Click on it, sit back and watch two hours of the best aquatic Honorees, including Honor Swimmers: Dana Vollmer (USA), Lars Frölander (SWE), Daniel Gyurta (HUN), and for the very first time ever, ISHOF inducted a Relay Team: The Women’s 1976 USA Gold Medal 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay, made up of Shirley Babashoff, Wendy Boglioli, Jill Sterkel and Kim Peyton*; Honor Divers: Alexandre Despatie (CAN), Wu Minxia (CHN), and Yulia Pakhalina (RUS); Synchronized/Artistic Swimmer, Virginie Dedieu (FRA), Water Polo Players, Carmela “Lilli” Allucci (ITA), and Vladimir Akimov* (URS); Honor Coach, Dennis Pursley (USA) and Honor Contributor, Dale Neuburger (USA). The 2024 Gold Medallion Award, ISHOF’s Highest Honor was present to Mr. Alex Blavatnik (URS/USA).
Saturday evening’s crowd was just over 300 people, from approximately 25 different countries, including dignitaries from World Aquatics, including CEO, Mr. Brent Nowicki, and Mr. Mike Unger, Senior Advisior. USA Swimming Acting CEO, Ms. Shana Ferguson was in attendance, accompanied by USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director, Ms. Elaine Calip.
ISHOF had so many returning Honorees from years past, it was absolutely heartwarming! Donna deVarona and John Naber came to Fort Lauderdale to relive their personal experiences for us from 1976 at the Montreal Olympics, where John had just won four gold medals and Donna was covering the Games for ABC to show their support for the Women’s 1976 Relay Team of Wendy Boglioli, Shirley Babahoff, Jill Sterkel and Kim Peyton, who was represented by her 92 year old Mother, Barb Peyton, and teammate, Maryanne Graham Keever. Honoree and 1976 Olympian Jim Montgomery also came to show his support for his teammates! Honor Coach Jozsef Nagy, who coached 2024 Honor Swimmer, Daniel Gyurta, flew in from Budapest, Boxi Liang, another Honor Coach, this time from the sport of Diving, came to ISHOF from Vancouver, BC to see fellow countryman, Wu Minxia, inducted, as she is considered to be the greatest diver to come out of China. The list of ISHOF Honorees continues with greats like Lenny Krayzelburg, Mary T. Meagher, Cynthia Potter, Tom Gompf, Carol Zaleski, Becky Dyroen-Lancer, Jesse Vassallo, Mark Schubert, Eddie Reese, and Tiffany Cohen.
We had several of the World Aquatics individuals that chair the different technical committees. From the Technical Swimming Committee, Craig Hunter, from Great Britain, and longtime friend and supporter of ISHOF, Chairman of the Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy. Also from World Aquatics Committees, we were happy to welcome Melanie Beck (GBR), Bureau Member, Maureen Croes, Jay Thomas and of course Dale Neuburger, who was being inducted as the Honor Contributor for 2024. We cannot name them all but we thank all that attended from around the globe!
Please be sure to watch the show and let us know your thoughts! You’ll recognize a lot of other famous faces in aquatics, mostly Olympians, but more importantly, you’ll enjoy yourself! We promise!
The show is available on ESPN+ and also on Hulu ~ Click the link below!
https://www.hulu.com/watch/71121175-804f-47e9-823e-93e7f9d5c953
Join Us for the Groundbreaking of the $218 Million International Swimming Hall of Fame Revitalization Project
MEDIA ALERT: Join Us for the Groundbreaking of the $218 Million International Swimming Hall of Fame Revitalization Project
Get ready for a transformational moment in Fort Lauderdale’s aquatic legacy! The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is breaking ground on its monumental $218 million construction project, and you’re invited to witness history in the making.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Details:
– Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
– Time: 11:00 AM (Reception immediately following)
– Location: ISHOF, 1 Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 (West end of the peninsula)
This isn’t just another groundbreaking—it’s the dawn of a world-class facility that will redefine aquatic sports and tourism globally. With a state-of-the-art Hall of Fame Museum, a stunning aquarium, event space, and more, this $218 million project is poised to be one of the most significant attractions in South Florida.
“Thanks to the inspirational leadership of the City of Fort Lauderdale, our one-of-a-kind International Swimming Hall of Fame is being reborn. The new facilities, including the aquarium, will be a new jewel in the crown of tourist destinations for all of Broward County,” said Dr. Bill Kent, Chair of the Board.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis added, “The reconstruction of the International Swimming Hall of Fame reaffirms Fort Lauderdale’s position as a global leader in aquatic sports and tourism. We are excited to see the transformation of this iconic location and what it will offer residents and visitors for generations to come.”
“This groundbreaking marks the beginning of something truly extraordinary for our community and visitors worldwide. We’re creating a space that honors the past while providing a cutting-edge experience that will engage people of all ages,” said Vice Mayor Steven Glassman.
Once completed, this architectural marvel will feature a cutting-edge Hall of Fame Museum with interactive exhibits, a stunning aquarium showcasing marine life, and versatile event space, restaurants, and a theater designed to entertain and engage visitors. Additionally, the facility will include on-site parking and modern amenities to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for all guests.
“We’ve put the best creative minds together to interpret what the International Swimming Hall of Fame has been and what it should be in the future, at the world’s most iconic aquatic complex, the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center. We are excited to be partners with the City of Fort Lauderdale and look forward to making this dream a reality.” Mr. Mario Caprini, CEO, Capital Group.
With its unique design and unmatched offerings, ISHOF will stand out not only in Fort Lauderdale but globally positioning the city as a top destination for aquatic sports and tourism.
This is an event that will make waves!
For more information, contact:
Meg Keller-Marvin/meg@ishof.org/570.594.4367