‘This is Swimming’ – A Must-Read Speech
by: Casey Barrett, May 21
Nathan Adrian was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame… What he had to say defined the sport at its best.
Nathan Adrian, May 16, 2026, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Last weekend I had the privilege of writing the script for this year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremony. For 61 years, the all-time greats of aquatic sport have traveled to Fort Lauderdale to be honored among the best athletes and coaches ever to take to water.
This year was particularly special for me, as my coach, Gregg Troy, was among the Hall of Fame class. (Note: I had quite a few coaches over the years, but Coach Troy is the only one I consider my true coach; I never would have reached the Games without him.) He had quite a turnout of family and former swimmers — both from the Bolles School, where I swam for him in the 90s, and from the University of Florida, where he led the Gators for twenty years. Coach’s induction speech was fantastic. It brought some tears, mine included. However, today I’m going to share another set of remarks that floored all in attendance.
They were delivered by Nathan Adrian. 2012 Olympic champion in the 100 freestyle, winner of 8 Olympic medals, 16 World Championship medals, and a Cal Bear who anchored more world class relays to count.
As an inductee, Nathan was a no-brainer. His swim CV speaks for itself. Yet, I’m not sure anyone was prepared for the profound speech he delivered. You might have caught the reference in my headline for this piece — ‘This is Swimming.’
21 years ago, David Foster Wallace delivered the 2005 commencement address for Kenyon College called ‘This is Water.’ It went viral. It’s become more or less the gold standard for anyone asked to give a commencement speech over the last two decades. ‘This is Water’ was even repackaged as a 137 page book, published by Little Brown in 2009. It’s been called “a timeless trove of wisdom for living a meaningful life.”
I’d call Nathan Adrian’s speech a timeless trove of swim world wisdom, one that honors the ‘chain of generosity’ behind every success, great and small. Among the global swimming community, it too deserves to go viral. I encourage you to share it far and wide.
Here it is. Listen to the audio or read the transcript below. Absorb it as you will. And then send it on to the swimmers and coaches and swim families in your life. As Nathan states: “This is a community that shows up for each other.” If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a part of that “chain of generosity” that Nathan speaks of.
A note about the audio below: The file I received also includes the introductory remarks from emcee Elizabeth Beisel and Nathan’s inductor, Rowdy Gaines. Nathan’s speech begin at the 2:51 mark, but why in the world would you skip past the eloquence of the two legends who introduced him?
And if you prefer to read rather than listen (as I do), here is the transcription of Nathan’s speech. Enjoy, everyone.
Thank you. I thought I would be first. I usually do go first when things like this happen because of alphabetical order. And here I am fifth. And after those incredible athletes. I mean, I just feel so honored to be up here in front of you all. But what’s a little imposter syndrome if not to tell you that you’re doing something right and you’re in the right place?
Standing in this room, I find myself wanting to talk about something other than me, or to start off by talking a little bit about the aquatics community as a whole. Swimming is not the most glamorous sport. We don’t necessarily fill the largest stadiums — yet. Outside of an Olympic year, most people can’t name the world champion in the 100 freestyle. We get up before the sun. We stare at a black line for hours and then we do it the next day. Our coaches pour decades into young swimmers for compensation that bears no relationship to the value that they’re giving. Our officials volunteer thousands of hours so that meets can happen. And our parents give up their weekends year after year after year after year. That chain of generosity is not accidental. It is what this community, that everybody here is a part of, is made of. I know this because I’ve lived inside that chain my entire career. I was the recipient of that generosity long before I understood what it was.
Coaches believed in me before I had earned it. Teammates carried me through the mornings when I had nothing left. People in this community gave me more than the sport required them to give, and they did it all without keeping score. And then there’s what swimming gives beyond itself. This community saves lives — literally. Every child who learns to be safe in the water, every drowning prevented, every family spared. That is this community’s work too. The generosity doesn’t stop at the pool deck. There are people in this room who have helped raise over $150 million for cancer research. I don’t think I need to explain to you all why that number means something to me personally, but I do want to say it out loud because I think it deserves to be said out loud. The same people who get up before dawn to stare at the black line also show up to fight for people that they’ve never even met. That is who we are.
Being inducted into this Hall of Fame means I get to be permanently associated with this community, with these people, and with you all. With what this sport does quietly every day without asking for recognition. For that, I am profoundly grateful. That chain of generosity that I just described, I do want to take a moment to talk about who was in mine. Mom and Dad, you put me in the water, you drove me to practice, and you gave me every opportunity to see how far I can take this sport. I’m forever grateful. My brother and sister, Justin and Daniella, as younger siblings do, I chased you into the sport. Your belief in me and support throughout meant more than you could ever know. My wife, Hallie, you have been my constant. In the best moments and the hardest ones, you were there and you never made me feel like I had to face anything alone. To our little girls, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me — and it’s not even close. To every coach and member of the support staff, you gave me your expertise, your time, and your belief. I was a better swimmer because of you and I am a better person because of you.
I do want to single out Dave Durden. Dave, to steal a quote from you, ‘this stuff ain’t easy.’ That was censored, of course, for the innocent ears in the room. But you somehow made it look easy. You gave your athletes everything, every single day. And you made the hardest sport in the world feel like it was exactly where we were all supposed to be. And last but not least, to my teammates and friends, you made the hard days bearable and the great days unforgettable. I would do it all again just to be in that pool with you all. I talk tonight about a community that shows up for each other. You were my first experience with that. Everything I said up here, I learned from being around you all. Thank you.
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61st Annual ISHOF Induction Ceremony ~ an evening filled with champions in and out of the pool
The Class of 2026 includes honor swimmers Nathan Adrian of the United States, László Cseh of Hungary and Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands; honor open water swimmer Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands; honor diver Tania Cagnotto of Italy; honor artistic swimmer Heather Simmons-Carrasco of the United States; honor water polo player Simone Fountain of Australia; honor Paralympic swimmer Beatrice Hess of France; honor Masters swimmer Rich Burns of the United States; honor contributor Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy of the United States; and honor coach Jane Figueiredo of Zimbabwe/Russia/Great Britain.
Additionally, Ryan Lochte and coach Gregg Troy — both members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2025 — will be formally honored during the 2026 induction ceremonies.
American Nathan Adrian captured eight Olympic medals over the course of his career, including five golds. He was the cornerstone of American sprinting from the late 2000s to the mid 2010s. Beyond his success in the pool, Adrian became an advocate for cancer awareness after overcoming testicular cancer in 2019.
Hungary’s László Cseh earned six Olympic medals and 74 major international medals during a career defined by versatility and longevity. A five-time Olympian and 33-time European champion, Cseh was widely respected for his sportsmanship and consistency across nearly two decades.
Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands emerged as one of the sport’s premier sprint freestylers, winning three Olympic gold medals and dominating short-course competition for more than a decade. She set world records in the 50 freestyle and multiple relay events and captured 45 World Championship medals.
Kromowidjojo’s husband, fellow Dutch Olympian Ferry Weertman became one of open water swimming’s greatest champions, highlighted by Olympic gold in the 10k event at the 2016 Rio Games. Weertman also won world and European titles and later contributed to the sport through leadership roles with World Aquatics.
Italy’s Tania Cagnotto made history by becoming the first Italian woman to win Olympic medals in diving, capturing silver and bronze at the 2016 Rio Games. A five-time Olympian, she also earned a world title and became one of Europe’s most decorated divers.
Heather Simmons-Carrasco of the United States helped lead the U.S. artistic swimming team to gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, which were the first Olympics to award a team gold medal in that discipline. Following her competitive career, she became a respected coach andmentor in artistic swimming.
Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy of the United States played a transformative role in the development of modern open water swimming and helped bring the Olympic 10k marathon swim to the Games. A former professional marathon swimmer, Cassidy later became one of the sport’s most influential administrators and officials.
Australian water polo great Simone Fountain was instrumental in her country’s dramatic gold- medal victory at the inaugural women’s Olympic water polo tournament in Sydney in 2000. She later devoted her career to coaching and expanding access to water polo throughout Australia.
Jane Figueiredo, who represented Zimbabwe, Russia and Great Britain during her international coaching career, guided divers to Olympic medals over multiple decades. Her athletes earned Olympic, world and NCAA titles, and her leadership helped establish Great Britain as a global diving power.
France’s Beatrice Hess became one of the most decorated Paralympians in history, winning 20 gold medals and 25 total Paralympic medals in five Games. Her dominance in multiple strokes helped elevate international recognition for Paralympic swimming.
American Rich Burns built one of the most accomplished Masters swimming careers ever recorded, setting 97 individual world records and competing in 11 age groups. Burns continued to excel into his 80s while also serving Masters swimming through decades of leadership and advocacy.
Ryan Lochte of the United States became one of swimming’s most decorated athletes with 12 Olympic medals and 65 World Championship medals. Known for his rivalry with Michael Phelps, Lochte excelled in the individual medley, backstroke and freestyle events while helping definean era of elite swimming.
Gregg Troy of the United States, formally recognized from the ISHOF Class of 2025, coached more than 80 Olympians from 23 countries in a career that spanned club, collegiate and international swimming. As head coach at The Bolles School and the University of Florida, Troy developed generations of champions, including Ryan Lochte, Elizabeth Beisel and Caeleb Dressel.
ISHOF’s Aquatic and Specialty Awards and Masters Induction Ceremony a smashing Success for 2026!
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.
2026 ISHOF Honoree Weekend has Finally Arrived!
It seems like we have been counting down forever, but we are finally here! The 61st Annual ISHOF Induction Ceremony has finally arrived in Fort Lauderdale and so have the Honorees and Award Winners!
Last night, we spotted Artistic Swimming Coaches, Honorees, Gail Emery and Chris Carver enjoying time with Mary Black and her son Ken, who recently arrived from Scotland. Mary will be receiving the ISHOF Aquatic Award , presented by AquaCal, (Artistic Swimming) tonight.
Gail Emery, Mary Black, Ken Black, Chris Carver
The Diving Crew has arrived as well! Our friends from Duraflex and the Ray Rude Foundation have arrived in full force! Last night at dinner the group was excited to be back at ISHOF, some of our biggest supporters, three Honorees included: Tom Gompf, Micki King, receiving the Buck Dawson Author’s Award tonight for her fabulous new book: “Break of A Lifetime”, along with writing partner, Elaine K. Howley, and representing Honoree, Founder of Duraflex, Ray Rude, his lovely daughter, Jane Rude Willson!
Steve Voellmecke, Bonnie Read, Bill Walker, Todd & Patti Smith, Fran & Tom Gompf, Julia Kingston and Jan Rude Willson
2026 Honorees and spouses Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Ferry Weertman arrived yesterday afternoon, and are headed to the Florida Everglades to today with Sid Cassidy’s sister, Mary and her husband Jerry Kegelman.
2026 Masters Swimmer Hiroshi Matsumoto arrived late last night after flying in from Japan. Hall of Fame Service Award winner Russell Weaver wins the award again, waiting almost two hours.
So much going on and its only the start of the weekend. Stay tuned and see you tonight at 6:00 pm at the Embassy Suites, 1100 S.E. 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL
REMEMBER, TOMORROW NIGHT’S INDUCTION IS AT THE WAR MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM, 800 NE 8TH STREET, FLL, FL.
It’s Throwback Thursday and Honoree Induction Week ~ Let’s look at some great past Inductions!
1969 Honoree Ceremonies: Eleanor Holm, Donna deVarona, Ed Kennedy
1972 Honoree Ceremonies: Mark Spitz, Sherm Chavoor, Debbie Meyer, Mike Burton
1973 Honoree Walter Laufer signing his footprints in cement while a future Hall of Fame staffer looks on while taking charge of Dawson’s dog.
1982 Honoree Induction ~ Who can you name?
The ISHOF Class of 1985 ~ How many can you name?
The ISHOF Class of 1988 ~ How many can you name?
The ISHOF Class of 1991 at poolside watching Classical Splash
2002 ISHOF Honoree Ceremonies ~ Lyle Draves and Dick Kimball
2016 Honoree Ceremonies, Santa Clara, CA ~ How many can you name?
2024 ISHOF Honoree Induction, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Last Days to buy your 2026 ISHOF Honoree Ceremony Tickets ~
Today and tomorrow are the last days to buy tickets to ISHOF’s 61st Honoree Induction weekend! We WILL NOT be selling tickets at the door! So BUY THEM NOW!!!! Do Not Miss Out!
FRIDAY NIGHT IS ALREADY SOLD OUT!
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2026
WHERE: War Memorial Auditorium, 800 Northeast 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33304
Tickets are NOW ON SALE ~ PURCHASE THEM HERE!
~ISHOF Class of 2026~
Nathan Adrian (USA) Honor Swimmer
Laszlo Cseh (HUN) Honor Swimmer
Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) Honor Swimmer
Ryan Lochte (USA) Honor Swimmer (Class of 2025)
Ferry Weertman (NED) Honor Open Water Swimmer
Tania Cagnotto (ITA) Honor Diver
Simone Fountain (AUS) Honor Water Polo Player
Heather Simon Carassco (USA) Honor Artistic Swimmer
Jane Figueiredo (ZIM) Honor Coach
Gregg Troy (USA) Honor Coach (Class of 2025)
Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy (USA) Honor Contributor
Richard Burns (USA) Honor Masters Swimmer
Beatrice Hess (FRA) Honor Paralympic Swimmer
Make your Hotel reservations Now! The Host Hotel ~ Special Rate $219
Photo Courtesy: Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale
Embassy Suites 17th Street, 1100 S. E. 17th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
Use QR Code to make your Hotel Reservations
Elizabeth Beiesel returns to emcee ISHOF’s 61st Honoree Induction Ceremonies for third straight year!
We are excited to welcome back Elizabeth Beisel to ISHOF as she hosts ISHOF’s 61st Annual Honoree Induction Ceremony weekend. This year, Beisel will not only be co-hosting the Saturday ISHOF Induction, but also co-hosting the Friday, May 15, Masters Honoree Induction as well as the ISHOF Awards.
Beisel is a three-time Olympic swimmer, two-time Olympic medalist, World Champion, two-time Emmy winner, and NBC/ESPN broadcaster.
At 15 years old, she qualified for her first Olympic Games in 2008, making her the youngest competitor on the U.S. Olympic Team. Four years later, at the 2012 Olympics, she won two individual medals; a silver in the 400m Individual Medley and bronze in the 200m Backstroke. At her third Olympics in 2016, she was named captain of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team.
Elizabeth attended the University of Florida, where she won two NCAA titles and 14 SEC titles. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications and was named the 2011 and 2013 NCAA Division I Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
In 2021, Elizabeth became the first – and still the only – woman in history to swim to Block Island, Rhode Island. Her 20km swim, named “Block Cancer,” raised funds for cancer research and clinical trials. As of April 2026, Block Cancer has raised over $900,000 for cancer research.
Elizabeth currently works as a media correspondent for the Olympic Games and NCAA Championships. Her coverage at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris won her two Emmy’s.
Beisel is now considered part of the ISHOF family after returning for the third straight year. Last year, she co-emceed with ISHOF Honoree and Board Member, Dara Torres in Singapore and this year she will partner with 2016 silver medalist in synchronized diving, USA’s Sam Dorman. We look forward to welcoming Elizabeth back to Fort Lauderdale this week and hoopefully for many years to come!
Meet one of your 2026 ISHOF Honoree Ceremony Co-Emcees, Sam Dorman
Sam Dorman finished his career with a national championship in the 3M dive / Courtesy JC Ridley / Miami Athletics
Olympic silver medalist diver inducted into UM Athletics Hall of Fame
Shared from by Miami Hurricane
by: Bella Armstrong
May 2, 2026
Sam Dorman post-dive at the 2018 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, credit: Getty Images
After climbing out of the pool at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sam Dorman threw up The U.
A small gesture — easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it — but intentional. That moment before he was crowned an Olympic silver medalist wasn’t just about the enormity of what he had accomplished; it was an honor to everyone and everything that got him to that point.
Now, ten years later, Dorman’s name was etched into the University of Miami Athletics Hall of Fame. It’s a permanent honor for a career built on years of sacrifice for singular moments that never lasted long enough.
Diving, unlike its athletes, doesn’t stretch. It doesn’t linger.
It compresses.
Years of training collapse into seconds in the air and into a single splash that decides everything.
Dorman spent nearly two decades building toward that compression.
At the Olympics, it lasted less than a minute. He earned a silver medal alongside synchro partner Mike Hixon, stood on the podium under the American flag, listened to raucous cheering — but then it was over.
“There’s really no such thing as a professional diver,” Dorman said. “The Olympics is it.”
Unlike other sports, where there are stages of professional leagues that feed into one that will sustain careers for decades, divers don’t have that option. The Olympics are not the beginning of something bigger, nor are they a stepping stone.
The Olympics are the end.
It’s bittersweet. You spend your whole life working towards this competition, and, in turn, it throws cold water on your face to remind you that time’s almost up.
But decades before all of that inevitability, diving didn’t feel like something that would eventually end.
For the Olympian, it started as a game.
Growing up in the Arizona heat, Dorman spent his childhood summers in a family friend’s backyard pool, where the earliest version of diving looked a lot more like play than pursuit. A red ball would be tossed into the water, and Dorman, balanced on someone’s back, would watch the dive before trying it himself.
Sam Dorman throws up The U at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, credit: Miami Athletics via X
No judges, no scores, no consequence for missing.
Just the feeling of cutting cleanly into the water.
Somewhere along the way, that feeling evolved into a hunger for more.
The game became repetition, repetition became expectation and expectation became identity.
That momentum took him all the way to various national and world championships.
While diving for UM, he was crowned the 2015 NCAA champion in the 3-meter springboard with a score of 529.10 points, setting an NCAA record as the first diver to ever exceed the 500-point mark.
At UM, under longtime head coach Randy Abelman and assistant coach Dario di Fazio, who has since taken over the program, diving continued to sharpen into something precise, controlled and demanding.
By this point, diving had long since stopped being something Dorman did. It had become integral to who he was.
And then, abruptly, it wasn’t anymore.
“Post-Olympic depression is real,” Dorman said. “I spent 19, 20 years training for one hour of competition. Once that’s over, what happens next?”
But that’s the cycle every diver finds themselves tumbling through eventually.
There’s no slow fade into the truth — just a finish line you don’t realize you’ve crossed until you’re already standing on the other side of it.
Nearly a decade after his first and only Olympic medal, Dorman laughs when he talks about life after it — what’s changed and what remains. He’s happy, working for a company that manufactures diving springboards and still spending time in the pool — for fun now, rather than pushing the limits of physics in a body that once felt more like weaponry than anything else.
But freedom, without structure, can feel like falling — except this time, there’s no water waiting to catch you.
Which is why being honored for his career carries its own kind of weight.
It’s a strange contradiction. Diving is a sport defined by movements and routines that begin and end in the span of a few seconds, but have the potential to be remembered forever.
There is a timer on every diver’s career. The human body can only handle so much twisting, so much compressing, until it’s time to walk away for good.
Maybe that’s where the meaning of it all settles. The pool is fixed, even if the career that unfolded within it never was.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Dorman said. “If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The injuries, the pressure, the tears and the heartbreak were worth the joy he found in the deep end of a pool.
He paused. Just for a second.
“I just hope I represented Miami well,” Dorman said. “I owe them a lot.”
Now, with his place in Miami’s legacy secured, those moments no longer live only in recollection.
Some things are meant to be eternal, even in a fleeting sport like diving. That’s what the hall of fame does — it gives permanence to a career built on moments that vanished almost as soon as they happened.
Sam Dorman will be co-hosting the ISHOF Honoree Induction weekend this coming Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16 with Olympic Swimmer, Elizabeth Beisel. To buy your tickets, get them here. Only two days left!
Tickets for the ISHOF Class of 2026 Honoree Induction Ceremonies
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2026
WHERE: War Memorial Auditorium, 800 Northeast 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33304
Tickets are NOW ON SALE ~ PURCHASE THEM HERE!
Developer’s Corner ~ May 2026
For those who may not be familiar, the ISHOF Redevelopment is a major public-private partnership between Capital Group P3 and the City of Fort Lauderdale with a single goal: to transform the Fort Lauderdale waterfront into an enduring, world-class destination. Anchored by the historic International Swimming Hall of Fame, the redevelopment will seamlessly blend elite aquatics, marine education, and vibrant public spaces — creating a dynamic environment for the community to gather, perform, compete, learn, and play. There has been a lot of curiosity surrounding the future of the Hall of Fame, and we want you to hear it directly from us: the best is yet to come.
This month marked an exciting milestone as Jon Whitehead of Deep Blue Attractions delivered a compelling presentation of the project’s planned joint attractions to the City of Fort Lauderdale Commission, with developer Mario Caprini in attendance.
The presentation highlighted three world-class experiences that will anchor the redevelopment:
The Aquarium will serve as one of the core ground-level attractions, centered around a massive 10,000-gallon tank. The visitor experience is built around a single unifying idea — that all life begins in water. Guests will start their journey immersed in the marine world, then follow a seamless pathway upward, naturally transitioning into the ISHOF Experience above.
The ISHOF Experience is at the soul of this redevelopment. Designed to be highly interactive, this elevated space will bring the Hall of Fame’s incredible legacy to life in ways never seen before — putting visitors face to face with the history, the athletes, and the sport they love. For the ISHOF community, this is the centerpiece of everything we are building.
Frameless — a groundbreaking immersive art experience that originated in London, where it has become one of the city’s most beloved attractions — rounds out the vision. Frameless projects iconic masterpieces from artists including Monet, Van Gogh, and Dalí onto walls, floors, and ceilings, surrounding visitors in colour, movement, and sound, adding a cultural dimension unlike anything currently in South Florida.
Together, these attractions will position Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront as a true destination — where aquatic heritage, marine wonder, and world-class art come together in one remarkable place.
We look forward to sharing more as the project continues to move forward!
“What Jon and the team presented to the Commission is just a glimpse of what’s coming. We’re bringing to life something entirely new for Fort Lauderdale.”
— Mario Caprini, Capital Group Ventures
After the Applause – May 2026 – Hungarian Superstar Agnes Kovacs ~ Honor Swimmer 2014
Honoree Questions for: Agnes Kovacs ~ May 2026
You were inducted in 2014, tell us what you have been up to since then?
Thank you, I am doing great. In 2015 I had another induction in the U.S., I was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame at Arizona State University where I spent 4 years as a student athlete. Both titles mean a lot to me.
In 2022 I got married and in the same year my second son arrived in the family, which is a highlight in our lives.
I finished my PhD studies at the Hungarian University of Physical Education in 2022 in the Department of Social Sciences. My research field was related to elite athletes and to sport media.
What do you do for work / as a profession?
I am a career coach; I earned my certificate from U.C. Berkely in 2017. I work for companies and for different organizations as a trainer and as a business coach in leadership programs and other fields as well.
I returned to the Hungarian University of Physical Education in 2026 as an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences. I teach sport communication and sport diplomacy for foreign students in English. I am also active in international sports diplomacy on behalf of the Hungarian Olympic Committee. I am the co-chair of the Budapest Olympic Committee. We are the only country in the all-time top 10 medal ranking who haven’t hosted a game yet. We hope this will change!
Are you still involved in swimming in any capacity?
I was the CEO of my own swimming academy for 8 years. It was great to be involved with the sport that I love, swimming. Under my leadership 15,000 kids learned to swim in our program. I am still so proud of my team for accomplishing this huge achievement in terms of quality and volume at the same time.
Do you still stay in touch with any swimming friends from your competition days, if so, who?
Yes, I keep in touch with fellow swimmers at national and international level. Globalization, especially social media, helps a lot with communication.
If you have children, do your kids swim, if yes, tell us about them, if no, tell us about what they are involved in (sports, arts, etc.)
My 14-year-old was swimming for 8 years and then he decided to choose another sport. My 3-year-old will start swimming next fall. Both have loved water from a very early age.
What is best memory of your days in swimming? (You can have more than one)
I always loved competing better than practicing. My favorite swim is from Sydney 2000 when my Olympic dream came true. My other big memory is from the 2006 European Championships which were held in my hometown of Budapest. I have competed in so many places before and finally it was magnificent to swim in front of the Hungarian audience and to celebrate the medals with them after the races.
Seeing the changes that have occurred in swimming/aquatics now versus when you were competing, do you wish you could have competed now, or are you glad you competed when you did and why?
I was happy being a swimmer back then and I would be happy to be a swimmer nowadays as well. There are always pros and cons about when is the best time, but what really matters to me is that my love for swimming is timeless.
Have you written a memoir/book about yourself, if yes, what’s the title and can our readers purchase it? If not, do you ever plan on writing a book?
I do not have a book yet, but I am planning on writing one.
Any advice to all the future want-to-be Olympic swimmers out there?
CREATOR: gd-jpeg v1.0 (using IJG JPEG v62), quality = 75
Have big dreams, have goals, have ambitions, find a coach who believes in you and guides you, work hard and never ever give up!!!
As an Olympian, National Team Member, you travelled all over the world. What was your favorite place you visited, or your favorite meet to attend?
I love traveling and I love many places. My favorite one is still my home country Hungary, and my hometown Budapest. The best thing about traveling is to explore and then to return home. This is what I felt as a swimmer and this is what I still feel when I am traveling. We have hosted many huge swims meets – we will have the World Championships in Budapest again next year – and many other sport events. I hope one day we can host the Olympic Games as well, then the whole world can see our beautiful capital and the entire country as well.
We are all looking forward to visiting Agnes and her beautiful hometown of Budapest next Summer, as the city hosts the World Aquatics World Championships in 2027.
To read Agnes’s 2014 bio and watch her Honoree Induction speech, click here: