ISHOF Board Member and Honoree Dara Torres Shines as usual in South Florida/Las Olas Lifestyle…..
Dara Torres, ISHOF Board Member and Honoree, recently did a cover shoot and article for a local South Florida Magazine, Las Olas Lifestyle featuring ISHOF and the Hall of Fame Aquatic Center. Enjoy the article and great photos!
Since Dara Torres joined the ISHOF Board in 2021, she has continued to help in any way she can. Now a resident of Fort Lauderdale, she is able to be more active than ever.
Torres has been to five Olympic Games, winning twelve medals, four gold, four silver and four bronze.
Dara was inducted into ISHOF in 2016. She would have gone in years earlier, but she keep make comebacks! :} And killing it we might add!
Read Dara’s Honoree write up here:
Dara Torres (USA)
Honor Swimmer (2016)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100 m freestyle); 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (4×100 m medley), bronze (4×100 m freestyle); 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100 m freestyle); 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100 m freestyle, 4×100 m medley), bronze (50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (50 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle, 4×100 m medley); 1986WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (4×100 m freestyle); 1987 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle, 4×100 m medley); 1983 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold (4×100 m freestyle); SIX WORLD RECORDS: three individual (50m free), three relays (4x100m free, 4x100m medley)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=kCLaQWQ-9bU%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Dara Grace Torres grew up in Beverly Hills, California, where she learned to swim in her family’s backyard pool. At the age of seven, she followed her brothers to swim practice at the local YMCA. During her junior year of high school, Torres moved to Mission Viejo, CA, to train with Hall of Fame Coach Mark Schubert, and in 1983 she broke the world record in the 50-meter freestyle. The next year, while not yet a senior in high school, she won her first Olympic gold medal as a member of the USA’s 4×100 freestyle relay team.
Swimming for Randy Reece at the University of Florida, Torres earned 28 NCAA All-American swimming awards and at the 1988 Olympic Games, she won two silver medals swimming on relays. She finished her collegiate athletic career playing volleyball and took two years off before returning to win her second Olympic relay gold medal in Barcelona, Spain during the summer of 1992.
After 1992, Torres lived what appeared to be a glamorous life. She moved to New York City, worked in television, and as a Wilhelmina model she became the first athlete model in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Then in the spring of 1999, despite not having trained in a pool for seven years, she decided to give the Olympics one more try.
Training with coach Richard Quick in Palo Alto and Santa Clara, Dara made the Olympic team for the fourth time, at the age of 33. She returned home with five medals, more than any other member of the team, including three in individual events, and retired.
In 2005, while pregnant with her first child, Dara began swimming three or four times a week at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, to keep fit. After giving birth to her daughter, Tessa Grace, in April 2006, she entered two Masters meets and posted times that emboldened her to try another comeback. She asked Coral Springs coach Michael Lohberg if he would coach her, and a little over a year later, she won the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Three days later, she broke the American record in the 50-meter freestyle for the tenth time – an amazing 24 years after setting it for the very first time. In 2008, Dara qualified for her fifth Olympic team and at the 2008 Beijing Games, she became the oldest swimmer to compete in the Olympics. Dara returned home with three silver medals, including the heartbreaking 50-meter freestyle race where she missed the gold by 1/100th of a second.
In 2009, Dara won the ESPY award for “Best Comeback,” was named one of the “Top Female Athletes of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated magazine and became a best selling author with the release of her inspirational memoir, Age is Just a Number.
Dara continued swimming after recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and with the encouragement of coach Lohberg, she set her sights on making a record sixth U.S. Olympic swim team. When she just missed making the London Olympics by nine-hundredths of a second in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2012 US Swimming Olympic Trials, she announced her retirement with a smile on her face and her six-year old daughter Tessa in her arms.
Olympian, television personality, fitness guru, Queen of the Comeback, best-selling author and mother. Dara Torres is many things to many people, but above all, she is an inspiration.
International Marathon Class of 2023 Inductions and Awards only two weeks away ~ New York City May 6th, 2023
Tickets sold out..check later for 2024 Ceremony – 125 expected
All attendees must show proof of ID and COVID vaccination (and booster when applicable)
Local hotels > Click here
Car Parking > Click here
Fordham University / Manhattan Campus
113 West 60th Street (corner of Columbus Avenue) New York, NY 10023.
Registration/happy hour 5:30-6:30
Call to dinner 6:45, Salad 7:00, Dessert 7:45, Program 8:00.
Dress code: Business casual or better: men in dress shirt, jacket, slacks (not jeans) and dress shoes – ladies always know! See pictures from this previous ceremony
Saturday morning 10am (Brighton Beach) swim – see below: up to 10 km swim with CIBBOWS (historic water temperatures – 13C/56F) – full details later
Inductees and Award Winners:
Diane Struble: Honor Swimmer
Brenda Fisher, BEM: Honor Swimmer
Kevin Murphy: Poseidon Award
Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation: Honor Organizatio
Rita Kovács: Honor Swimmer
Jaime Lomelín Gavaldón: Honor Swimmer
Sally Anne Minty-Gravett, MBE: Irving Davids and Captain Roger W. Wheeler Memorial Awa
Colleen Blair, MBE: Honor Swimmer
David Yudovin: The Dale Petranech Award
Keywords > https://www.imshof.org/
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame IMSHOF Open water swimmer Long distance swim Honor Honoree Inductee Induction ceremony award 10k FINA association federation webb Ederle Sarah Thomas English Channel
Saturday Morning Swim
Please join NYC’s group of joyful year-round swimmers at Brighton Beach on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 10 am. This is a public beach that is used year-round. The official beach season will not have started yet, and as such there will be no lifeguards. We trust you to use your own discretion and adjust your swim accordingly.
For up-to-date conditions, please reference https://shallweswim.today/. We are a bare-bones group. Don’t bring valuables (or passports) on the beach–there are no lockers. Everybody helps keep an eye on everyone else’s stuff. There are no showers or indoor spaces – we change on the beach. Locals will bring what they can to assist those who are lacking in their kit (warm water, extra towels, pastries ~ the most important recovery method, etc.). We look forward to seeing you there.
We gather at Grimaldo’s chair (see directions below).
Here is a basic distance chart for those who want to plan ahead:
Swim Distances
For an interactive map check out Google Maps. You can also see a single 3mi swim loop (Grimaldo’s Chair to the “White” Building (it’s now red), then to the Coney Island Pier, then back to Grimaldo’s Chair) with this Gmap Pedometer Course. Here are some swim distances, parallel to the shoreline approximately 100 yards out, past the jetties.
FromToYardsMeters
Grimaldo’s ChairSmall rocks (West of Grimaldo)416382
Grimaldo’s ChairLarge rocks (West of Grimaldo)619566
Grimaldo’s Chair“White” Building (Now Red)824753
Grimaldo’s ChairCyclone1,4801,287
Grimaldo’s ChairConey Island Pier1,9561,789
White BuildingConey Island Pier2,7792,541
Coney Island PierSeagate1,7031,557
West 22nd St.Next set of rocks (either direction)200183
West 22nd St.Coney Island Pier503460
Ex-White Building (Now Red)Seagate4,4824,098
Rocks (East of Grimaldo)Small Rocks (West of Grimaldo)776710
Rocks (East of Grimaldo)Large Rocks (West of Grimaldo)959877
Ex-White Building (Now Red)Large Rocks (West of Grimaldo)1,4431,319
Grimaldo’s Chair is easily accessible by public transportation.
By subway (get on train by 8:45 am latest) from Manhattan and Brooklyn
Take Q train to Brighton Beach stop
For Grimaldo’s Chair, exit station onto Brighton Beach Ave and take 6th St to boardwalk
Walk south on boardwalk past Cafe Volna to the concrete gazebo
Swimmers meet behind Grimaldo’s chair, which is located on the beach beyond the gazebo
By car from Manhattan and Brooklyn
Take Exit 2-Battery Tunnel toward I-78 & Brooklyn
Merge onto I-478 East
I-478 East becomes Brooklyn Queens Expressway
Merge onto Belt Parkway E via exit on left
Take Exit 8 to Coney Island Avenue
Go Straight to Shore Parkway
Turn right into Brighton 6th Street
Turn Left onto Brighton Beach Avenue
Parking
If you plan to drive in, street parking and a municipal lot (Brighton 4th St & Brightwater Ct) are available. The Municipal parking lot is free on Sundays.
Today we Celebrate the Birthday of one of the first great women to fight for women’s rights: Hilda James of Great Britain
Hilda James (GBR)
Honor Pioneer Swimmer (2016)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (4x100m freestyle); SEVEN WORLD RECORDS: two (300yd freestyle), two (150yd freestyle), one (440yd freestyle), one (400m freestyle), two (220yd freestyle), three (300m freestyle); 29 ENGLISH RECORDS: four (300yd freestyle), one (440yd freestyle), one (500yd freestyle), four (220yd freestyle), four (100yd freestyle), four (150yd freestyle), two (440yd freestyle), two (500yd freestyle), one (440m freestyle), one (1750yd freestyle), one (880yd freestyle), one (1000yd freestyle); EIGHT U.K. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: four (220yd freestyle), one (100yd freestyle), two (Thames Long Distance from Kew Putney five miles 50yd), one (440yd freestyle); FOUR SCOTTISH RECORDS: one (220yd freestyle), two (200yd freestyle), one (300yd freestyle), one (400m freestyle); FOUR OTHER MEET RESULTS: gold (300yd individual medley), gold (220yd freestyle), gold (110yd breaststroke), one River Seine 8k Race.
To avoid attending Church of England religious education classes, which conflicted with her parents religious beliefs, this 11-year old Liverpudlian was assigned to swimming classes at the Garston Baths.
Five years later, Hilda James was Great Britain’s best female swimmer and left for the 1920 Olympic Games with high expectations. Unfortunately in Amsterdam, the USA women completely dominated, sweeping the gold, silver and bronze medals in the 100m and 300m freestyle, the only individual swimming events for women at the 1920 Games. And while the British did win silver medals in the 4x100m relay, they finished a full 30 seconds behind the Americans. The following day Hilda cheekily asked the American coach, Lou de B. Handley, to teach her the American Crawl.
In 1922, Hilda was invited by her American friends to visit the USA for the summer racing season. While she was still behind the American stars Helen Wainwright and Gertrude Ederle, she was closing the gap.
By 1924, Hilda held every British and European freestyle record from 100 meters to the mile, and a handful of world records as well. She easily made the 1924 Olympic team, and it was widely believed that she would return from Paris with a handful of medals. When Hilda’s mother insisted she accompany her daughter as chaperone, and the British Olympic Committee refused, Hilda’s mother refused to let her go. Unfortunately, Hilda was not yet 21, was under the care of her parents – and had to obey.
Hilda turned 21 shortly after the Olympic Games, gained her independence, and took a job with the Cunard Shipping Company, traveling the world as a celebrity spokesperson, at a time when women were just starting to gain their freedom.
We will never know how Hilda would have fared in the 1924 Olympic Games, but she was a trailblazer and one of Europe’s first female sports superstars who inspired future generations of girls to follow in her wake.
Hilda’s grandson, Ian McAllister wrote the story of her life, “The Lost Olympics”, if you would like to read it, it’s a great read, I promise you will love it! You can get it on Amazon in paperback or Kindle:
Happy Birthday to the QUEEN of ISHOF ~ Donna deVarona
Of the over 800 Honorees that have been inducted into ISHOF, probably none have a closer tie to the institution than Donna deVarona. Since the very beginning, she has been a part of ISHOF. She was invited to the grand opening of the Hall of Fame Pool in 1965, and was named the “Queen”, as she was one of the most recognized faces around, having just won two gold medals at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. She had also just been on the covers of several major national magazines, including “Life” and “Sports Illustrated“. A few years later, she was inducted in 1969 as an Honor Swimmer, see her bio below. But Donna always made ISHOF a priority and kept coming back to Fort Lauderdale. She returned anytime she was asked, and sometimes even when she wasn’t! Donna was a favorite of ISHOF Founder and Executive Director, Buck Dawson, and you can bet he asked frequently. She returned for many induction ceremonies through the years, whether to emcee the event or just to attend and show support. If Buck needed help with an introduction to someone, or a phone call for assistance, Donna was always there. And she knows everyone. With her job in television, she knows stars, athletes, politicians, you name it. And she is still part of us today. We just saw her in January, 2023, at the new 27-meter Tower Dive Challenge and Aquatic Center Grand Opening. So, today on her birthday, we would just like to say thank you for her years of friendship to ISHOF and we celebrate YOU Donna!
Igor Milanovic, Tom Gompf, Donna
Donna DeVarona (USA)
Honor Swimmer (1969)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1960 (participant); 1964 gold (400m individual medley, 4x100m freestyle relay), 5th (100m butterfly); WORLD RECORDS: 8 long course events; AMERICAN RECORDS: 10 short course events (she broke and re-broke her World and American records in these events many times); NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 37 individual titles in backstroke, butterfly and freestyle (including 18 gold medals and 3 national high point awards); AWARDS (1964): America’s Outstanding Woman Athlete, Outstanding American Female Swimmer, San Francisco’s Outstanding Woman of the Year, Mademoiselle Award, National Academy of Sports Award, and others.
Eleanor Holm, Donna, Ed Kennedy at Donna’s 1969 Induction
What Eleanor Holm and Esther Williams were to the “Aquacades” 20 years earlier, Donna deVarona was to swimming in the 1960s. Her glamour and showmanship seen on television, in swimsuit ads, and as an after-dinner speaker are a popular reflection of a swimming record second to none in her time.
Miss deVarona won 37 individual national championship medals, including 18 golds and three national high point awards. She held world records in 8 long course events and American records in 10 short course events, which would have been world records if FINA still recognized 25 yard pool times as they did until 1957. Most of Donna’s world and American records were broken and re-broken numerous times by Donna herself, so she actually held many times more records than the 18 events she held them in.
Donna helping William E. Simon, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury/Gold Medallion
Her versatility is reflected in her absolute dominance of the tough four stroke Individual Medley, often thought of in tract terms as “the decathlon of swimming.” She further won national titles and set world fastest times in 3 of the 4 strokes in individual events (backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle), establishing herself at various times as the world’s fastest as well as the world’s best all-round swimmer of her day. Her day was a 5-year period which extended from the Rome Olympics until retirement after the Tokyo Games. She was the youngest American on the 1960 team, and four years later she won two gold medals.
Grand Opening group including Donna and Eleanor Holm
In between and following these two Olympics, she was the Queen of Swimming and was so recognized by the International Swimming Hall of Fame at its first International Meet in 1965. During her reign, as most photographed woman athlete, Donna was cover girl on “Life”, “Time”, “Saturday Evening Post” and twice on “Sports Illustrated”.
Murray Rose and Donna
Her biggest award year was 1964 when she was voted America’s Outstanding Woman Athlete, Outstanding American Female Swimmer, and San Francisco’s Outstanding Woman of the Year, plus the Mademoiselle Award, National Academy of Sports Award and many others in as many languages. She has represented the United States, “doing her thing” in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Brazil, England and Italy.
USMS Spring Championships: Nathan Adrian, Anthony Ervin, Jenny Thompson Lead Superb Field of 2500 (Psych Sheets)
by DAN D’ADDONA — SWIMMING WORLD MANAGING EDITOR
The U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) Spring National Championships kick off on Thursday in Irvine, California. It is the first time since 1981 a USMS national meet will be held in the Southern California city.
The event is expected to be the largest in USMS history with nearly 2,500 swimmers entered.
Thursday’s first session will feature the 1650 freestyle and 1000 free events, with Friday’s slate offering the 100 breaststroke, 200 backstroke, 50 butterfly, 200 IM, 100 free and mixed 200 free relay. Saturday will feature the 500 free, 100 butterfly, 200 breaststroke, 100 IM, 50 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. Sunday’s final session will include the 400 IM, 50 free, 200 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 200 free, 50 breast and mixed medley relay.
Several of the top Masters swimmers over the years are slated to compete, including Laura Val, who has been a Swimming World Masters Swimmer of the Year on several occasions. Meanwhile, several Olympic stars are entered, led by gold medalists Nathan Adrian, Anthony Ervin and Jenny Thompson. There will be at least 22 Olympians competing in the meet, including 13 who represented the U.S.
Former Stanford NCAA record-holder Ally Howe is slated to compete. She once held the NCAA record in the 100 backstroke. Felicia Lee, another NCAA champion, is slated to compete in multiple events, as is former national teamer Becca Mann.
For the men, Vladimir Morozov is slated to compete in the 50 free. Mission Viejo’s David Heron and Grant Shoults are scheduled to swim the 500 free and are seeded one hundredth apart. Former NCAA champions Abram DeVine and Andrei Minakov are also scheduled to compete.
Elite breaststrokers Jeff Commings and Steve West are on the psych sheets and have routinely produced top-tier performances through the years.
The oldest competitor is 101-year-old Maurine Kornfeld, who swims for Rose Bowl Masters in Pasadena. The oldest male competitor is Albert Edgerton, 97, who is from California. There are six swimmers who are at least 90 years old and 57 swimmers who are at least 80 years old.
Age for the meet is determined as of April 30, 2023, except for 18-year-olds, who must be 18 by April 26, 2023. Age groups for individual events: 18–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39 … (five-year increments as high as necessary). Relay events: 18+, 25+, 35+, 45+, etc (10-year increments as high as necessary, determined by the age of the youngest relay member).
Masters Divers are headed to Fort Lauderdale!
2023 Masters Spring National Championship in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Masters Divers vying the chance at National Titles
Fort Lauderdale, FL— April 28, 2023 — USA Masters Diving is excited to hold the2023 USA Masters National Championships at the newly renovated Fort Lauderdale AquaticComplex from Friday, April 28 – Sunday, April 30, 2023.
Talented Field of Athletes
The very best springboard and platform divers from around the country, as well asnumerous international competitors, aged 21 to 89 will gather to determine the USA MastersNational Champions in the 1 meter, 3 meter and platform events. Many decorated competitorswill be comprising the field, including past Masters Nationals Champions, Masters PanAmerican Champions, and Master World Champions.
Competition begins Friday morning.
MISHOF Honoree John Denninger
MISHOF Honoree Jennifer Mangum
MISHOF Honoree Felix Grossman
The divers will begin competition on Friday and will continue through Sunday, beginning eachday at 9:00 AM. Spectators are welcome to witness these amazing athletes’ talents throughout theweekend. Competition will not only include individual diving events, but also synchronized diving.Come out to watch all the action at The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex at 501 Seabreeze Blvd, FortLauderdale, FL 33316.
For more information, press only:Heather Carrano – Chair, USA Masters Divinginfo@mastersdiving.org
For more information on USA Masters Diving:http://mastersdiving.org/
Happy, Happy Birthday! Today we celebrate Honorees Marco D’Altrui (ITA~2010), Milena Duchkova (CZE~1983) and Tom Stock (USA~1989)
Marco D’Altrui (ITA)
Honor Water Polo Player (2010)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 1984, 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: 7th; FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1994, gold; 1986, silver; FINA CUPS: 1983-bronze; 1985, 1987-5th, 1989-silver; 1993-gold; 1983 MEDITERRANEAN GAMES: bronze; 1987, 1990 MEDITERRANEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 1983 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 6th; 1985 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4th; 1987, 1989 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze; 1993 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold.
For the first time in history, the International Swimming Hall of Fame is recognizing a father and son as one, jointly in the same year. This honor goes to three-time Olympic water polo players Giuseppe and Marco D’Altrui of Italy.
Giuseppe “Geppino” D’Altrui was born in Naples on April 7, 1934. He played in over 300 Series A games, from 1952 through 1964. Coached by Hall of Famer Mario Majoni, Giuseppe competed in 75 Italian National Team games from 1954 to 1964. He was a member of the 1956 Italian Olympic Team that competed in Melbourne finishing fourth, but as the Captain of the 1960 Olympic Team, he helped to lead his team to a gold medal victory in front of a home-town crowd at the Rome Olympic Games. He was also Captain of the 1964 Olympic Team that just finished out of the medal count.
Giuseppe’s love for the game flowed naturally from his love of being in the water. “I can say that I have spent more time in the water than on earth and for me is never enough!”
Following in the footsteps of famous fathers can be a difficult burden for young athletes and few are the ones who achieve the same level of success. But for Marco, who was born on April 24, 1964, following in the wake of his father came as naturally as learning to swim, which he did before he was three years of age. “For me to stay in the water was a game, fun, a hobby. I was diving and played with the ball in full freedom from the time I was three,” says Marco.
Milena Duchkova (CZE)
Honor Diver (1983)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1968 gold (platform), 1972 silver (platform); EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1970 gold (platform); EUROPEAN CUP: 1967, 1971 gold (platform); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1973 silver (platform); CZECHOSLOVAKIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 62 (1965-1977); ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3; EAST GERMAN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3; SWEDISH CUP: 1; Swimming World magazine’s World’s most outstanding female “Platform Diver of the Year”: 1968, 1970.
Milena Duchkova won Czechoslovakia’s first, second and only Olympic medals in any aquatic sport and she was the first female tower diver from any country to score more than 100 total points in the Olympics. This courageous little (5′ 2 1/2″) tower diver with the big eyes and the cute button nose started diving at age 12 and won the Olympics at 16, in 1968, although she wasn’t sure until two weeks before the Olympics that she would be allowed to go to Mexico for the competition. Her country was occupied by the Russians at that time, and she had to cross a bridge guarded by Soviet guards each day to train. She came back to win the silver medal in 1972 and competed (without medaling) in 1976 after she had shoulder surgery 8 weeks before the Games. She received the Czechoslovakian “President’s Award of Distinction” in 1972. Milena was a member of the Czech Olympic Committee and official medical doctor for the Czech diving team in 1978-1979. She began coaching in Prague 1978-1980 and in 1980 moved to Canada as head diving coach for the Newfoundland diving team, acting also as a coach and consultant to the Canadian National diving team. A brilliant student as well as athlete, Milena is fluent in 6 languages, won her Master of Sport ’66. Meritorious Master of Sport ’68, and coaching certificate also ’68. She graduated as an M.D. in 1977 into the faculty of medicine with a specialty in dental surgery. On immigrating to Canada, she worked her way through dental school at the University of Manitoba in two years and is presently on the faculty while still coaching the Pan Am Diving Club in Winnipeg. Her coach was Marie Cermakova throughout her diving career.
From his father’s example Marco learned to love the water and the dedication, commitment and time management skills that make a champion. He played in over 700 Series A matches as a member of Recco and Pescara and like his father before him was a member of the national team for ten years. In 1984 and 1988 he was on the Olympic teams that finished 7th in Los Angeles and Seoul. Then, playing for Hall of Fame coach Ratko Rudic, at the 1992 Olympic Games, Marco and the Settebello once again won the gold, 32 years after his father. As a great defensive player, Marco helped to keep his opponents from scoring, resulting in a grand slam of the Italian National Team from 1992-1994 (Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships) and a grand slam of European Cups (Euro League Cup, Winners Cup, LEN Cup and LEN Super Cup).
“When athletes are young,” says Marco, “certainly the most credit goes to parents for their commitment both in terms of organization of management of daily life. I have no regrets at the sacrifices and am delighted to have followed in the footsteps of my father. Perhaps the best thing about the gold medal won in Barcelona was just to see the joy and emotion of my parents when I got off the plane with the medal around my neck. To win the Olympics was a dream that I’ve always had and it has accompanied me since I played with a small ball in the shallow water. I always wanted to imitate my father, who had won the gold medal at the Olympics in Rome. It goes to show that if you dream it, and work hard, you can do it.”
Tom Stock (USA)
Honor Swimmer (1989)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: WORLD RECORDS: 10 (100m, 200m, 220yd backstroke; relays); AAU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 11 (100m, 200m, 220yd backstroke; relays; AMERICAN RECORDS: 14 (200yd, 220 yd, 100m, 200m backstroke; relays).
Tom Stock may just be the greatest backstroker who never swam in the Olympics, due to prolonged illness before the 1964 Olympic Games. He may have been the smallest backstroker to hold a world record. He weighed in at 130 lbs. and set 10 world records. When he was in his second month of competition at Indiana University, Stock became the first man in history to swim the 200 yard backstroke under 2 minutes. This was a performance that caused his coach, “Doc” Counsilman to put a sign on the locker room door which said, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.”
This desire and an amazing feel of the water, long arms and a powerful kick, made Tom Stock great in the opinion of his famous coach. To the spectators he looked like he was riding on top of the water from the waist up. This unique buoyancy, plus the fastest arm turnover yet seen in backstroke, took him to 11 National championships, 14 American records and five world records in the 100 meter, 200 meter, 110 yard, 220 yard backstroke and the 400 meter medley relay. For four years he was the World Record holder and “King” of the 200 meter backstroke.
It started just after the Rome Olympics and finished just before Tokyo in 1964. In between, he victoriously represented the USA in Japan, South America, and Europe and was The American Swimmer of the Year in 1962. Stock had only two coaches, Dave Stacy at Bloomington, Illinois and “Doc” Counsilman at Bloomington, Indiana. He missed making the 1960 U.S. Olympic team by a judge’s decision. They took only two and not three as chosen in previous Olympics.
#ISHOF #Honorees #Birthdays #Swimming #Diving #Waterpolo #USA #Italy #Czech Republic #FortLauderdale #Olympics #ISHOFMuseum #FortLauderdaleAquaticCenter
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to XU YIMING !! THE GREAT CHINESE DIVING COACH ~
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: Head Diving Coach (men, women); Coach of OLYMPIC DIVERS: winning 15 gold medals, 4 silver medals, 1 bronze medal; NATIONAL TEAM HEAD COACH: 1985-2000; 1982, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1998 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Head Diving Coach (men, women); Coach of WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DIVERS: winning 10 gold medals, 7 silver medals, 4 bronze medals; Served Four Terms on FINA TECHNICAL DIVING COMMITTEE 1984-2000.
Born in 1942 in Guang Dong Province, China, Xu Yiming was destined to lead his country to world dominance in the sport of diving. He began as an eight-year-old diver, diving for Coaches Lui Chen Hai (1950-1960) and then Chen Kuan Xian (1960-1973). But it was not until age 30, in 1972, that he won the 10-meter platform event at the China National Games. The next year, Xu took the step from competitor to coach and started a dynasty of World and Olympic Champions.
From his coaching debut in 1973, Xu rapidly ascended in coaching success. With a strong sense of responsibility, he felt ill-at-ease about China’s slow progress in diving. He was convinced that the Chinese divers would some day do as well as any great divers in the world, provided that they broke away from conventional training methods and tried something new. Trainees used to practice basic somersault skills on a trampoline while a complete dive had to be tried over the pool at the risk of getting whopped by the water. With his diving experience, Xu knew only too well what a belly-flop was like. After carefully studying the training methods used by other coaches, he invented a new device for trampoline exercise. With two pulleys fixed on the ceiling and a belt attached to the waist of the trainee, he was able to increase the height of flight and the speed of somersaults to lengthen the time of descent so that the trainee could take his time in completing a sophisticated dive with his eyes open in the air.
It was with this new method of training that, at the 1974, 7th Asian Games in Teheran, the Chinese Diving Team swept all four gold medals. His first star pupil, Li Kongzhen, then only 15, was a victor.
Xu became five-times Olympic Diving Coach (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000) and from 1984-2000, coached divers to 15 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 1 bronze medal in Olympic competition, winning more than one-half of the available gold medals in those five Olympiads. In his 16 years as National Team Head Coach, Xu’s Olympic and World Championship medal winners include: Li Conejeng (platform 1984 Olympic bronze, 1986 World Championships silver); Tan Liangde (3m springboard 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic silver); Zhou Jihong (platform 1984 Olympic gold); Chen Lin (platform 1986 World Championships gold); Xu Yanmei (platform 1988 Olympic gold); Gao Min (3m springboard 1988 and 1992 Olympic gold); Sun Shuwei (platform 1992 Olympic gold); Fu Mingxia (platform 1992 Olympic gold, 3m springboard and platform 1996 Olympic gold, 3m springboard 2000 Olympic gold); Xiong Ni (3m springboard 1996, 2000 Olympic gold); Tiao Liang (platform 2000 Olympic gold); Xiong Ni / Xiao Hailiang (3m springboard synchro 2000 Olympic gold); Tian Liang / Hu Jia (10m platform synchro 2000 Olympic silver); Guo Jingjing / Fu Mingxia (3m springboard synchro 2000 Olympic gold); and Li Na / Sang Xue (10m platform synchro 2000 Olympic gold).
Xu was also “coaching” the coaches to advance their level of technique. Eighty percent of all diving coaches attended his two- to four-month long seminars held throughout the provinces.
From 1984-2000 Xu served four terms on the FINA Technical Diving Committee. In 1996, he offered and edited Basic Diving Coaching Manual, a 412-page publication presented by FINA to the world diving community. Printed in multiple languages, it describes his training methods used from 1973-1995 and includes new, innovative dryland equipment he introduced.
In 2000, FINA appointed Xu to produce a 10-volume video series on diving coaching which includes material from his first publication as well as new methods used from 1995-2002.
Xu is engaged to establish an international diving training center with all amenities and has designed competitive stadiums throughout China including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou as well as at TsingHua University in Beijing. New dryland training facilities are designed with each location.
To Xu, success lies with strict discipline. You can never train too long or too hard. A perfectionist, Xu has an insatiable desire for success. He trains children into world champions.
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Have you met the PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC Mascots?
Shared from Paris 2024
Olympic Phryge
The name of the Paris 2024 mascot is Olympic Phryge, based on the traditional small Phrygian hats that the mascots are shaped after. The name and design were chosen as symbols of freedom and to represent allegorical figures of the French republic.
Description
The Olympic Phryge takes the shape and form of a Phrygian cap. As Paris 2024’s vision is to demonstrate that sport can change lives, the mascots will be playing a major role by leading a revolution through sport. The Olympic Phryge is decked out in blue, white and red – the colours of France’s famed tricolor flag – with the golden Paris 2024 logo emblazoned across its chest.
Creator
Paris 2024 Design team
Did you know?
The Phrygian caps the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic mascots are based on have been a symbol of freedom throughout French history. They are a common reference for French people, including in the world of art (as a metaphor for freedom) and as a symbol of the Republic in French institutions. Phrygian caps can be seen sat atop the head of the iconic figure Marianne in every town hall and even feature on everyday objects in France such as coins and stamps. They are also an international symbol of liberty worn by freed slaves in Roman times and appearing on different emblems in North and South America. Also known as the liberty cap, the Phrygian cap has become one of the symbols of the French Republic.
The motto of the Olympic Phryge and Paralympic Phryge is: “Alone we go faster, but together we go further,” representing the ways in which the mascots, and the people of the world, can make each other better by working side-by-side.
THE PHRYGE TRIBE’SGOLDEN DUO:
THE OLYMPIC PHRYGE and THE PARALYMPIC PHRYGE
THE OLYMPICPHRYGEAlways thoughtful and an astute strategist, she embarks on adventures only after carefully weighing up all of the pros and cons. Just like the Olympic athletes, she knows the importance of measuring all the various parameters to achieve her goals. With her sharp mind, she is modest and prefers to hide her emotions. The Olympic Phryge will lead the movement of all those who take part in sport, and believe us, she will give her all to get France moving!
THE PARALYMPICPHRYGE
Did you recognise her with her running prosthetic? With this, she can run lightning speed. Her thing is to blaze a trail, some might say she is fearless, which might be true, but one thing is certain, she hates to be bored and loves trying out new things. No matter which sport, as a team or on her own, she is always game. With her, you will get moving, playing, dancing, sweating! With her mindset as the perfect supporter, she loves promoting the values of sport, celebrating athletes in all arenas and all of the Games venues, and partying to celebrate victories or get over defeats.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS!!!! WE CELEBRATE SWIMMERS ALEX BAUMANN AND RICK DEMONT TODAY
Alex Baumann (CAN)
Honor Swimmer (1992)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1984 gold (200m & 400m individual medley); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1979 bronze (400m individual medley); FINA CUP: 1979 gold (400m individual medley); WORLD RECORDS: 5 (200m individual medley), 5 (400m individual medley); COMMONWEALTH GAMES: gold, 2 (200m individual medley), 2 (400m individual medley); CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 34 titles, 32 national records; WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1986 silver ( 200m individual medley), bronze (400m individual medley).
It was in 1912 that Canadian Olympian George Hodgson won gold medals in swimming for Canada. It was not until 72 years later that Alex Baumann of Sudbury, Ontario won the next gold medal for Canada in swimming. Baumann won the 200m and 400m individual medley, establishing world records in both. Bauman joins only two other Canadians to win in a summer Olympics before him–Hodgson and runner Percy Williams in 1928. Teammates Victor Davis and Ann Ottenbrite joined Alex as Olympic champions in 1984, winning the men’s and women’s breaststroke.
From 1978-1987, Baumann won 34 Canadian National Championships, establishing 32 national records in the sprint freestyle as well as both individual medley events. He swam all events: backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. He started as an age group swimmer who reached every young swimmer’s goal–the Olympic gold. Baumann won five golds in Commonwealth Games competition and established a total of three world records in the 200 I.M. and two world records in the 400 I.M.. Undefeated from 1981 through 1986, Alex’s records stood for six years.
Alex, known as Sasa to his family and close friends, was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia and came to Canada with his parents as a young boy. He learned how to swim at age five and soon after joining the Laurentian University Swim Club, which he would coach 20 years later, showed talent for the sport. His large hands and feet worked like paddles and his intense training turned swimming into his life.
Through long-term collaboration with his coach of fourteen years, Dr. Jeno Tihanyi, Alex overcame obstacles which would have defeated a lesser champion. He had repeated bouts of tendonitis and shoulder problems which prevented him from competing for most of 1982, including having to miss the World Championships. The deaths of his father and older brother left profound gaps in his life, but Tihanyi played a major role in keeping him focused on his goals. Perhaps his single most admired quality was his disciplined approach to swimming. He always gave 100 percent. Every swim was a race. Nothing was wasted. Alex was a bit of a prankster, but never lost his humbleness and feel for his teammates and others. His self-determination to excel, coupled with a swimming program geared to his style, were the keys to his success.
Following his retirement, Alex became a sports broadcaster for CBC television at the 1988 Olympic Games. Among his many honors, he was the Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year in 1984 and was chosen as the flag bearer at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, 1983 World University Games and the 1984 Olympic Games.
Rick DeMont (USA)Honor Swimmer (1990)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: WORLD RECORDS: 3 (400m, 1500m freestyle; relay); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1973 gold (200m freestyle), silver (1500m freestyle); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1975 gold (relay), silver (200m freestyle); AMERICAN RECORDS: 4 (400m, 1500m freestyle; 2 relays); AAU RECORDS: 5 (400m, 1500m freestyle; relays); First under 4 minutes for 400m freestyle.
Rick DeMont was born in San Rafael California, April 21, 1956. It did not take him long to become a record breaker, as seen by his 10 and under age group national record. Rick developed as a dominant middle distance swimmer, leading to his first world mark of 15:52.91 in the 1500 meters freestyle at the age of 16.
Then it was the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. At age 16, Rick DeMont became the youngest male swimmer ever to win the Olympic 400 meter freestyle, and he was favored to win the 1500 meter event too. He had already qualified for the finals. Then, suddenly he was removed form the pool, stripped of his medal and disqualified from any further competition. It seemed grossly unfair at the time, and times have not changed the feeling in most of us. It seems that Rick’s asthma medication included a trace of a substance called ephedrine, which was banned by the Olympic Medical Commission. When he was tested, it showed up in his sample. He made no attempt to hide it, for he had written it on his medical questionnaire form. The U.S. team doctors, not the 16 year old kid, were guilty. There was no way this trace of medication could have affected the outcome of DeMont’s race performance, even though he had been using medication to enable him to exercise with asthma since the age of four. However, the rule was innocently broken, and Rick is still hoping someday his case will be reviewed.
In 1973, at the first World Championships in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, DeMont won the 400 meter freestyle, without the banned substance, beating Brad Cooper, the Australian who had won De Monts’s Olympic gold medal by default. Cooper, who wanted to win it in the pool, was magnificent, but he lost by .52 seconds as Rick won in a new world record of 3:58.18 the first man to break the four minute barrier for the distance. Cooper was also under the four minute barrier, but lost by a touch.
1973 is the same year Rick was voted World Swimmer of the Year.
Today, Rick is an artist living in California. His achievements as the best in the world will always remain.
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