ISHOF Seeking nominations for the 2027 Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal in all categories
ISHOF seeks nominations for the 2027 ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal
The International Swimming Hall of Fame announces the call for nominations for the 2027 ISHOF Aquatic Awards to be presented at the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Honoree Induction weekend, which will be held in Fort Lauderdale, date TBD. Sponsored by AquaCal, the awards are presented each year for outstanding contributions and leadership in several swimming and aquatic-related categories.
Candidates may be nominated for the Aquatic Awards in the following categories:
Competitive Swimming
Competitive Diving
Competitive Synchronized Swimming
Competitive Water Polo
Aquatic Safety
Recreational Swimming
Kindly submit your nominees by August 30, 2026. Please include any relevant data to support your nomination, the aquatic category for nomination, as well as a brief biography of each individual, a high-resolution image and their current contact information.
Get more information about the event and see the 2026 winners: https://ishof.org/ishof-to-celebrate-aquatic-awards-presented-by-aquacal-as-kickoff-to-honoree-weekend/
Nominations may be sent to:
Meg Keller-Marvin
International Swimming Hall of Fame
e-mail: meg@ishof.org
(570) 594.4367
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
ISHOF calling for nominations for the Class of 2027 ~ DUE: August 1, 2026
It is that time of year, when we at ISHOF, ask for nominations from all disciplines and from all around the globe. Each individual should have achieved tremendous success in their aquatic discipline(s) and/or made a significant impact on the sport of aquatics through their lifelong efforts. Nominations must be submitted along with supporting materials by August 1, 2026.
You may submit your nomination online by visiting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbWjNJq9cc0r3Jj5RePDhMmc8ToA1HX9fyjqFnNupU2FIAjQ/viewform
Or you may send your nomination to meg@ishof.org
Generally, athletes shall not be chosen unless retired from international competition at least four years or at least one Olympic quadrennial. “Athletes” refers to swimmers, open water swimmers (World Aquatics), divers, water polo players and artistic (synchronized) swimmers.
A coach must have a significant international record and have been coaching at least 25 years.
A contributor must have been in aquatics at least 20 years and have had a significant international impact. Athletic achievement should NOT be considered, contributions are to the overall improvement or development of “international” sport through leadership, journalism, invention or other area of great, outstanding impact
Remember the key word – “international”. Emphasis should be placed on the international impact made by the nominee, not just within his or her own country. Voting for athletes should be based on the items in the following order of importance: • Olympic gold medals • World Records • Number of Olympic medals won, Olympic Games attended and Olympic finals achieved.
• World Championship gold medals, Numbers of total World Championship medals won • World Cup, Grand Prix gold medals • Regional Championships won (European Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, Asian Games, Pan Pacific, South American Games, etc.)
ISHOF Honoree Greta Johansson Brandsten honored with bronze statue in Stockholm, celebrated as Sweden’s first female Olympic gold medalist in diving
by Meg Keller-Marvin / ISHOF
On Monday, June 8, ISHOF’s 1973 Honor Diver, Greta Johansson Brandsten, was honored in her hometown of Stockholm, Sweden by the Sveriges Centralförening för Idrottens Främjande (SCIF), which in English, is the Swedish Central Association for the Promotion of Sports. The SCIF was founded on May 7, 1897 in the Royal Palace in Stockholm and today, the association still enjoys royal protection. It was also thanks to the SCIF that Sweden was selected to host the fifth Olympics in 1912, known as “The Sunshine Olympics,” that Greta Johansson competed in and won Olympic gold.
Greta Johansson in bronze
Swedish Sculptor, Peter Linde created a bronze sculpture of Greta Johansson as she was during her diving days in Stockholm which was unveiled before a crowd on Monday afternoon.
Jens Lind & Peter Linde, sculptor Ulrika Knape, ISHOF Honoree & Jens Lind
Journalist, Jens Lind, who created the documentary, “Guld Greta”, about Johansson, was the moderator of Monday’s event. After Rajne Söderberg, Chairman of the SCIF, welcomed the crowd, Jens Lind moderated a question and answer session from several individuals. The first was the well known Swedish sculptor, Peter Linde who spoke about how he created the sculpture and what went into this thought process. Next, Lind interviewed, 1982 Honor Diver and 1972 Olympic gold medalist, Ulrika Knape. Knape spoke about winning her gold medal, what it was like and a little about Greta and the sculpture itself.
The Royal Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Heir Apparent and Meg Keller-Marvin, ISHOF
Lastly, Jens interviewed me asking about ISHOF and if I remembered meeting Greta when she was inducted. I did not, as I was only 10 years old at the time but there are photos of me being there. Lind asked about the purpose of the Swimming Hall of Fame, I clarified that it was not only about swimming, but that it represented all the aquatic disciplines, including Greta’s sport of diving, as well as water polo, artistic swimming, and masters swimming.
Princess Victoria and Rajne Soderberg cutting the ribbon
After the interviews, Jens invited the Royal Crown Princess, Victoria, Heir Apparent and Rajne Söderberg, Chairman of the SCIF to cut the ribbon on the sculpture. Many photos were taken with the new bronze sculpture, sitting on the banks of the Baltic Sea, where the swimming and diving events took place in 1912.
Ulrika Knape, Meg Keller-Marvin, Mathz Lindberg (Ulrika’s husband)
There was a nice size crowd of 75-100 people in attendance. Besides Crown Princess Victoria, Ulrike Knape and her husband, Mathz Lindberg and the others mentioned, also in attendance was the President of the Swedish Swimming Federation, Pia Zätterström, the National Team Captain, Sofia Garametsos, along with many Board Members of SCIF. It was interesting to hear about their different sports represented by the Board Members, including: pistol shooting, basketball, ice hockey, water polo and track and field.
We were invited to visit the 1912 Olympic Stadium which is now the oldest Olympic stadium still in existence. Even today, it is still used for major international track meets, which was GREAT to hear! We also got to tour the SCIF offices inside the stadium, which housed quite a bit of wonderful memorabilia, much of it from 1912.
The original 1912 Stockholm Olympic Poster
Read about Greta here:
Sweden’s Gift To the World of DivingGreta Johansson Brandsten was born on January 9, 1895. She learned toswim and dive in Stockholm’s municipal baths with free tickets issuedthrough her public school. Swedish children were then required to take effi-ciency swimming tests that included breaststroke, backstroke, underwaterswimming, deep sea diving to pick up objects, long distance swimming, and“trampoline diving” from 5m and 10m heights.
Greta enjoyed her swimming and at age 15 she became the Swedish national breaststroke champion. The next year (1911) she won the Nationals again, this time in the 100m freestyle and in high diving where she was self taught.In 1912, at the ripe old age of 17 she won an Olympic gold medal in her hometown Stockholm, was decorated by her King, and won diving’s most coveted award, The Countess de Casa Miranda Challenge Cup, presented to her by the Countess herself (Kristina Nilsson, one of the world’s most famous opera singers).
After the Olympics, Greta taught swimming and diving in a small town in the south of Sweden. Then she received a letter from one of her Olympic teammates, Ernst Brandsten, who invited her to join him in America as his wife.Brandsten was living in San Francisco where he was a professional diver who made his living by diving off the topmasts of tall ships and giving swimming lessons. What spurred the invitation was his hiring as a physical education teacher at the University of California, where he taught swimming diving and gymnastics.
When she arrived, Greta joined him not only as his wife, but as the women’s instructor. Moving across the bay in 1915, the two divers became a famous team as Ernst coached Stanford swimming from 1915 to 1948 and several U.S. Olympic diving teams, and generally helped make the USA the superpower of world diving into the 1980’s.
Greta never returned to Sweden and there is little trace of her there. Until now. When Swedish television was doing a documentary on the “Sunshine Olympics” as the 1912 Stockholm Games are known, Jens Lind (pictured on right) came to Ft. Lauderdale and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The film, soon to be available through ISHOF, has won numerous international awards.
Read Greta’s Honoree bio from 1973 here: https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-greta-johanson-brandsten/
Every Child a Swimmer: Creating a Generation of Swimmers
As the mission-driven initiative of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), Every Child a Swimmer (ECAS) continues to expand its impact nationwide through swim lesson scholarships, water safety education, strategic partnerships, and legislative advocacy, all with one goal in mind: preventing childhood drowning and creating a generation of swimmers.
Today, ECAS has grown to include more than 400 swim school locations across 46 states, creating one of the nation’s largest collaborative networks dedicated to water safety and learn-to-swim access. Through these partnerships, ECAS awarded more than $800,000 in swim lesson scholarships in 2025, helping nearly 3,000 children gain access to life-saving swim lessons nationwide. A key component of the ECAS model is accountability and measurable outcomes. The program works closely with partner swim schools to track student progress and ensure children develop critical water competency skills, including the ability to safely exit the pool independently and/or float on their backs.
Beyond scholarships, ECAS continues to lead efforts to bring water safety education directly to families through legislation. To date, water safety initiatives championed by ECAS have been passed in nine states, helping provide parents with critical drowning prevention education through schools and healthcare systems. Together, ISHOF and ECAS represent both the legacy and future of aquatics, honoring the history of swimming while helping ensure more children have the opportunity to safely participate in it.
Felipe Perrone, one of the greatest water polo players, comes to ISHOF and South Florida
World Aquatics athlete, Felipe Perrone, is a Spanish/Brazilian water polo player, with a resume of two gold, two silver and three bronze medals in World Championship play. In total, he has 16 World Aquatic international medals.
Perrone recently travelled to South Florida to attend ISHOF’s 61st Annual Honoree Induction weekend, to present Honor Water Polo Player, Simone Fountain at her induction and to give water polo clinics around South Florida to renew interest in the sport and to give a special treat to those kids already playing it.
Felipe graciously went to different clubs around South Florida and all the kids loved him!
Perrone and his family were hosted by ISHOF Historian, Bruce Wigo, who knows a little something about water polo. Wigo took Felipe to the different pools and clinics and set up the schedule so the kids in South Florida could experience his expertise and greatness in the sport. It was a once in a lifetime experience for some of these kids.
A note from Bruce Wigo regarding Felipe coming to South Florida….
“Thank you very much for making the arrangements for Felipe to come to Fort Lauderdale and the Hall of Fame ceremony. It was great to get to know him and he helped Waterpolo immensely with clinics at five different club locations. As you may know, the state association almost dropped water polo last year because of diminishing numbers. This helped invigorate and motivate the coaches and referees to work harder. We also had an evening social in his honor with area coaches and referees. He’s really a great guy with a wonderful family and a pleasure to get to know. So thanks for making this happen.”
A special THANK YOU TO FELIPE PERRONE!!!
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inducts newest Class in San Diego
The annual induction ceremony is the physical highlight of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. Thirty honorees (the largest number ever) gathered to induct 11 new honorees and applaud three award winners in San Diego. For the rest of the year, IMSHOF operates as an online virtual shrine dedicated to the history, memory, and recognition of the accomplished swimmers and contributors involved in marathon swimming around the world.
Through a constantly evolving website, daily Facebook posts, Instagram, newsletters, YouTube channel and public electronic library, IMSHOF inspires, educates, and promotes role models for all those who participate in the sport.
The most recent induction ceremony anchored a full weekend of activities including:
Friday: Several swimmers completed six-hour qualification swims at La Jolla; Three (including one of Wednesday) honorees completed the 18.6 km “Around Coronado Island” marathon swim. Others at the hotel enjoyed breakfast, a dip in the sea and lunch. Some joined the reception on a boat outside the Bahia Resort. Smaller groups met for casual dinners.
Saturday: Many joined the Mission Beach morning swim and drinks hosted by the local swimmers. The Executive Committee met for lunch. Others at the hotel enjoyed lunch and afternoon chats. Those outings were followed by the ceremony dinner and presentations.
Sunday: Many joined the morning swim at the resort. Some attended the Congress (issue discussions). Other attendees had smaller lunches and dinners.
The ceremony dinner sold out (the first time ever) with 130 individuals in attendance (the largest in the past 10 years). Five of the seven living inductees were present to accept on the stage: Bárbara Hernández Huerta, Chile; Alexander “Alex” Meyer, United States of America; Cliff Golding, Great Britain; Jacqueline McClelland, Ireland; and John Graeme West, New Zealand. Also present to accept: Carol Sing to receive the Dale Petranech Award for services to IMSHOF and Paul Asmuth to receive the Poseidon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
IMSHOF proudly welcomed three inductees from countries not previously represented: Chile, Paraguay, and Syria.
The 353 individuals and organizational Honorees represent the best of the marathon swimmers and conttributors – going back nearly 300 years
See the Ceremony booklet, videos and weekend pictures will soon be available at:
Class of 2026 San Diego | IMSHOF
Notes and Ceremony Attendees | IMSHOF
The ceremony for the Class of 2027 will be held in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, May 8, 2027.
ISHOF Chairman Bill Kent’s well-deserved star on Fort Lauderdale’s Walk of Fame is a day of fun, family, friends and celebration!
On Saturday, May 23, 2026, Our wonderful Leader, Dr. Bill Kent, Chairman of the Board of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, was celebrated in Fort Lauderdale as one of the newest Honorees on the Beach’s Walk of Fame. Pictures tell the story much better than we could. Everyone came out to celebrate Bill and then later his wife extraordinaire, Kim, put on an after party. Hats off to Bill AND Kim Kent! Thank you for all you do for ISHOF, Every Child and Swimmer, Horner and Fort Lauderdale!
To read more about Bill Kent, click here: https://ishof.org/ishof-board-creates-new-prestigious-award-to-honor-chairman-bill-kent/
or here: https://ishof.org/ishof-chairman-bill-kent-makes-aquatics-magazine-2025-power-issue/
Chief of Police, City Manager, Commission Glassman, Bill Kent, Vice Mayor Sorenson
Commissioner Glassman, Bill Kent, Vice-Mayor Sorenson
Commissioner Glassman with the Honorees, Bill Kent, Linda Carter, Jack Seiler, and Stacy Ritter with Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen
Honorees
ISHOF Board Members celebrating Bill Kent
Kim Kent and Commissioner Glassman
Commissioner Glassman and Bill Kent unveil the newest “Walk of Fame Honoree” Dr. Bill Kent!
“Let’s hear it for Dr. Bill Kent!”
Friends and family celebrating Bill Kent
Mike Dooley, Bill Kent, Eddy Sua, Mario Caprini, Casey McGovern
Bill Kent and Mike Dooley
The after Hall of Fame Celebration for Dr. Bill Kent
Celebrating the MAN! Dr. Bill Kent!
Mayor Dean Trantalis promotes the new ISHOF and The Water District
Photo credit City of Fort Lauderdale
Plans for The Water District, new ISHOF take shape
For almost a decade now, we’ve been reshaping Fort Lauderdale’s beach with both public and private investment. New hotels and amenities like the Four Seasons and the Marina Village have opened. The city rebuilt the Aquatic Center with its iconic dive tower, opened Oceanside Park and created a reimagined D.C. Alexander Park. Now the next phase is coming: The Water District — which will include a rebuilt International Swimming Hall of Fame and attractions that will invite both locals and visitors. The Water District speaks to who we are as a community. Fort Lauderdale has always been defined by water — our pristine beaches, our miles of canals and rivers, our yachting and maritime industries. It gives us our beauty and our global identity. The Water District is the next major step in that story. Located on the same peninsula that is home to the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, The Water District will be a $220 million waterfront destination that will bring together the history of aquatic sports, marine education, public space, dining, art and tourism in a way that no other city in America can offer. The International Swimming Hall of Fame has long carried Fort Lauderdale’s name across the world. Its displays have honored Olympic champions, coaches, innovators and aquatic pioneers. The plans include a family-friendly marine aquarium, a reimagined Hall of Fame museum, a rooftop restaurant, event spaces, a public dock for Water Taxi access and an elevated public promenade connecting the east and west sides of the District. The project is scheduled to open in late 2028 and is being advanced through a public-private partnership in which the construction is privately funded. A family will be able to visit the aquarium and learn about sea turtles, coral reefs and marine conservation. A young swimmer will be able to walk through the Hall of Fame and see the stories of champions who once started with the same dream. A visitor will be able to arrive by Water Taxi, enjoy the Intracoastal, have dinner above the promenade and experience Fort Lauderdale from a new perspective. The aquarium concept is especially exciting. The design imagines a guest journey that begins at a beachfront entrance and moves through a sand dune walkway, shallow reef touch pools, an ocean tunnel, shipwrecks, deep reef mysteries and a research station finale. It is designed not only to entertain, but to teach about hatchlings, protected shorelines, coral habitats, responsible ocean exploration, scientific research and conservation.A destination like this can help young people understand that the ocean is not an abstraction. It is a living system. The ISHOF experience will also be transformed. The concept includes exhibits on the origins of swimming, the current of champions, the making of an athlete, endurance, biomechanics, survival and rescue, synchronized movement and a 4D cinema experience. The museum will be more active and modern. We listened to the community as the plans were drafted. The design was adjusted to better protect views of the dive tower and the surrounding area. The west building was scaled back. The balance that has resulted respected the character of our beach and the landmarks that our residents care about. It will be an incredible addition to what has already occurred on the peninsula with the Aquatic Center. With its renovation, the Aquatic Center has become one of our most recognizable landmarks and home again to international competition with world-famous swimmers and divers participating. Its iconic 27-meter dive tower rises above the beach as a symbol of athletic excellence, civic ambition and our commitment to keeping Fort Lauderdale at the center of international aquatic competition. Fort Lauderdale’s aquatic legacy stretches back a century to the days of the Casino Pool. The redevelopment of the Aquatic Center and now the creation of the Water District establishes a world-class facility that will put Fort Lauderdale in the forefront of world aquatics. Fort Lauderdale — the Venice of America and the Yachting Capital of the World — is once again a global center for aquatic sports.
ISHOF Chairman Bill Kent to be honored as 2026 Honoree in City of FLL Walk of Fame
Our very own, Bill Kent, ISHOF’s Chairman of the Board, is being honored this Saturday, May 23, on Fort Lauderdale Beach, during the Great American Beach Party. Kent is one of four community leaders honored for his help in the growth in our community. More specifically, his revitilization of the ISHOF, as well as his championing of the Every Child A Swimmer mission.
City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation
Congratulations to the 2026 Walk of Fame Honorees! Honorees will be recognized at the Great American Beach Party on May 23 for their lasting impact on Fort Lauderdale.Linda B. Carter, Champion of YouthDevoting more than four decades to building permanent institutions that strengthen youth, families and non-profits, she has raised the overall quality of life in the city and region.Dr. Bill Kent, Community LeaderDr. Bill Kent advanced Fort Lauderdale’s global aquatics reputation by revitalizing the International Swimming Hall of Fame, championing “Every Child a Swimmer” to protect youth and leading Team Horner’s employee ownership program.
Bill Kent and the Every Child A Swimmer WomenStacy Ritter, Leader in TourismAs CEO of Visit Lauderdale, she has contributed dramatically to the sustainability and growth of the city of Fort Lauderdale and the region.John P. “Jack” Seiler, Mayor, 2009-2018As a 25-year elected public servant and former Mayor, he was a driving force behind what Fort Lauderdale has become today.The City established the Walk of Fame in 2010 at the inaugural Great American Beach Party to pay tribute to the legendary Connie Francis on the 50th Anniversary of “Where the Boys Are,” the 1960 film which made Fort Lauderdale an overnight sensation and a “must see” destination for visitors.Walk of Fame Honorees are recognized by making sustained, positive impacts. As part of the awards program, each honoree receives a commemorative paver that is placed in the Walk of Fame to memorialize their outstanding accomplishments. The Fort Lauderdale Walk of Fame is located on the beach along the east side of A1A at Las Olas Boulevard. Walk of Fame Honorees are announced at the Great American Beach Party. For more information, visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov/gabp.#WeAreFTL City of Fort Lauderdale
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The ISHOF Mermaid is the HIT of the IPW
Following on the tail end of the 2026 ISHOF Induction Ceremonies, ISHOF has been attending U.S. Travel’s IPW ~ which is the world’s premier international inbound travel trade show. It acts as a massive global marketplace where international buyers, U.S. travel suppliers, and media connect to promote and book future travel to the United States. It just happened to be in Fort Lauderdale, starting the day after the 61st Annual Honoree Induction ended. Lucky us!
ISHOF Mermaid Heather Geraci
ISHOF was a huge hit at IPW as our Chairman of the Board, Bill Kent, came up with the Mermaid idea! “Who doesn’t love a mermaid?” Bill said early on in the process. And he was right! People were literally waiting in line up to take photos with our beautiful mermaid!
ISHOF Mermaid, Heather Geraci and staffer Devin Ginas
“We have had an incredible two days at the IPW Conference and today is the final day to visit us at booth 2641!” says Devin Ginas, ISHOF Marketing, Fundraising and Event Manager. “If you are attending the conference, please stop by to say hello, take a photo with our fabulous ISHOF mermaid, Heather Geraci and learn about the future of ISHOF and the fabulous new Water District! We have loved connecting with so many people from around the world and cannot wait continuing to make a splash today!”
ISHOF Mermaid Heather Geraci and Bill Kent, Chairman
Mermaid Heather and her fans