One hundred and fourteen years ago, Honor Diver, Pete desjardins was born…….
PETE DESJARDINS (USA) 1966 Honor Diver
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1924 silver (springboard), 6th (plain high diving); 1928 gold (springboard, platform); NATIONAL AAU CHAMPIONSHIPS: 3m springboard, 10m springboard, plain high diving; After turning professional, he was star performer for Billy Rose’s World’s Fair Aquacades; produced his own Water Shows.
Billed as “The Little Bronze Statue from the Land of Real Estate, Grapefruit and Alligators”, Pete Desjardins, 16, representing the Roman Pools, Miami Beach, Florida, arrived in Chicago for the 1924 Indoor AAU Swimming & Diving Championships. He placed second to Al White in the 3 meter dive. Pete took second to White again at the Olympic Tryouts, and again in the Paris Olympics.
At the 1925 Outdoor Senior National AAU Championships, Desjardins won 3 First Places in the diving events — the 3 meter Springboard, the 10 meter Platform and for the first time ever held in America, the National Plain High Diving Contest consisting of four swan dives, two from the 5 meter and two from the 10 meter levels. This type of contest was a European idea which the AAU held in 1925 and 1927. Desjardins won both of these titles, and this new event enabled him to tie Johnny Weissmuller for the high point trophies with 3 wins each.
In between, the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial was host for the 1926 Outdoor Nationals where Pete successfully defended both his 3 meter and 10 meter titles. He won nine Senior National titles while still a Miami High School student. Stanford’s Ernst Brandsten put the finishing touches to Pete Desjardins’ diving, which resulted in the highest scoring ever by a diver in the Olympic Games. In the 1928 Olympics springboard event, Pete received all 10s as a perfect score in two of his dives, the half-gainer and the gainer 1 1/2. He received four 10s and a 9 in his back dive. His average for the 10 dives was 9.2.
In the 10 meter event, Desjardins was closely contested by Farid Simaika of Egypt, who had learned all of his diving while a student at UCLA. The method of scoring at that time was such that at first it was announced that Simaika had won the 10 meter event. While the Egyptian’s national anthem was being played, it was abruptly interrupted with due apologies to the Egyptian officials who announced that an error had been made and that Desjardins had won first place from four out of five judges.
Pete Desjardins shares two titles, most U.S. Diving Nationals–13 (with Helen Meany) and a grand slam of all available diving crowns in one year (with Earl Clark).
After the 1928 Olympics, Desjardins was declared pro for appearing in Miami water shows along with Johnny Weissmuller, Martha Norelius and Helen Meany. This ended his chance to continue his diving dominance possibly through the 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games, since he was still taking on all comers in the Billy Rose Aquacades of the late 1930’s and was still featured in diving shows in to the 1960s.
On this day in 1945, Aussie Swimmer Kevin Berry was born!!!
KEVIN BERRY (AUS) 1980 Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1964 gold (200m butterfly), bronze 9medley relay); WORLD RECORDS: 12 (200m, 110yd, 220yd butterfly); NATIONAL AAU: 1 (relay); COMMONWEALTH GAMES: 1962 gold (200m, 200m butterfly; relay); AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 6 (100m, 200m butterfly); AMERICAN RECORDS: 1 (100m butterfly).
Australian press photographer Kevin Berry likes to take action pictures of swimmers. He has been at home (and abroad) on both sides of the camera but he still has a way to go before his medal count for winning photography reaches that he set as an Olympic gold medal and world record holding swimmer. Berry was a specialist in the finest sense. His 12 World Records, 2 Olympic medals (one gold and one bronze in Tokyo), 3 Commonwealth gold medals (Perth), 6 Australian Championships, and one American record were all in the butterfly stroke (24). He was finishing Indiana University the year before Mark Spitz started. Berry’s longest world record, the 200 meter butterfly set against Carl Robie in winning the Olympic title at Tokyo (1964), lasted a remarkable three years until broken in 1967 by (you guessed it) Mark Spitz. Berry’s coaches were Don Talbot and “Doc” Counsilman.
Canadian Open Water Swimmer Marilyn Bell To Be Inducted Into the International Swimming Hall of Fame As Class of 2021
by MEG KELLER-MARVIN
07 April 2021
At age 16, Miss Marilyn Bell was inspired when she learned that American star swimmer, ISHOF Honoree, Florence Chadwick, was being offered a $10,000 purse to complete a swim across Lake Ontario. Bell wanted the honor to go to a Canadian swimmer. Three swimmers showed up for the attempt with waves of almost 5 meters (15 feet), water temperature of 21°C (65°F) and hungry lamprey eels lurking. The other two dropped out, but Bell continued. The 20-hour, 59 minutes swim was covered by live radio broadcasts and special newspaper “extras”.
Marilyn Bell, in her Lake Shore jacket; Photo Courtesy: Marilyn Bell
As a result, her landing was witnessed by a crowd of 300,000 people in Toronto. Bell was awarded the purse. This young woman’s courage and achievement resulted in the Canadian Press naming her the Canadian Newsmaker of the Year in 1954.
Meet Bell in person and hear her incredible life story at the ISHOF Induction dinner on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Become an ISHOF Legacy Member and attend the ISHOF Induction Dinner for FREE. Can’t attend the event? Please consider donating to ISHOF, support Bell and our other inspirational Honorees.
Canadian Marilyn Bell became the youngest person to swim the English Channel.
About Marilyn Bell
Bell went on to become the youngest person to swim the English Channel. She later swam the Strait of Juan de Fuca off the Pacific coast – her woman’s speed record held for more than 60 years! Bell became a Canadian hero, and the awards and recognition include: Induction into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Ontario Swimming Hall of Fame. She was named one of Canada’s top athletes of the century and was presented with the Order of Ontario.
George Young, Ed Sullivan, Marilyn Bell, and Cliff Lumsdon in 1954
The Canadian National Historic Sites and Monuments Board designated Bell’s crossing of the lake an Event of National Historic Significance (Canada) and a federal plaque was erected near the site of her landfall. In addition, the land was named the Marilyn Bell Park.
Marilyn Bell teaching children to swim
About the International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Weekend:
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) Induction Ceremony is shaping up to be a star-studded weekend with ISHOF Honoree and Sullivan Award Winner, Debbie Meyer, and double Olympic gold-medalist and everyone’s favorite Olympic swimming broadcaster, Rowdy Gaines acting as co-emcees and hosts of the induction with multiple events spread out over two days in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Make your plans now to attend the weekend of October 8-9, 2021! ISHOF Members can purchase the Complete Weekend Package (see below) and save! (Get info on membership here.) Can’t attend the event? Donate to ISHOF to support our honorees.
This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:
HONOR SWIMMERS: Brendan Hansen (USA), Michael Klim (AUS), Jon Sieben (AUS), Rebecca Soni (USA), and Daichi Suzuki (JPN)
HONOR DIVER: Matthew Mitcham (AUS)
HONOR SYNCHRONIZED (ARTISTIC) SWIMMER: Elvira Khasyanova (RUS)
HONOR WATER POLO: Mirko Vičević (YUG/MON)
HONOR OPEN WATER SWIMMER: Marilyn Bell (CAN)
HONOR COACH: Ursula Carlile (AUS) and David Marsh (USA)
HONOR CONTRIBUTOR: Bob Duenkel*(USA) and Peter Hürzeler (SUI)
In addition to the Class of 2020, two Honorees from the Class of 2019, who were unable to attend last year, will be present to be inducted. Honor Swimmer: Otylia Jedrzejczak (POL) and Honor Diver: Li Ting (CHN).
Get more information about this year’s induction class here and more information about Otylia Jedrzejczak and Li Ting.
*deceased
The Induction Weekend Schedule
Friday, October 8, 2021
Paragon & ISHOF Awards Night
5:30 pm Cocktails
6:30 pm ISHOF and Paragon Awards
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Honoree Induction Day Luncheon – Meet Rowdy Gaines and go on a behind the scenes tour of the Aquatic Complex construction
12-1:30 pm Luncheon
Official 56th Annual International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner
5:30 pm VIP Reception
6:30 –10:00 pm Induction Ceremony & Dinner
Ticket Information
October 8-9th Complete Weekend Package (Includes Paragon/ISHOF Awards Night, Saturday Luncheon, and Induction Ceremony)
ISHOF Members $350
ISHOF Non-Members $425 BEST PRICE!!
October 8th Paragon Awards and ISHOF Awards Night (Hors D’oeuvres and Open Bar) 5:30 pm
ISHOF Members $75
ISHOF Non-Members $100
October 9th Saturday Luncheon 12:00-1:30 pm
ISHOF Members $35
ISHOF Non-Members $50
October 9th Induction Ceremony and Dinner5:30 pm
ISHOF Members $275
ISHOF Non-Members $300
10 Person Table $3,500 and $5,000 (Prime location) options
*See all ticket options here.
HOTEL INFORMATION
Host Hotel: Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
Upscale retreat with private beach access, two pools, four restaurants, full service spa and oceanside bar. Location of the Saturday evening induction ceremony. ¼ mile south of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
3030 Holiday Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 525-4000
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $259 per night
Book your group rate for International Swimming Hall of Fame
NOTE: RESORT FEE IS INCLUDED in the $259 rate
Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach
440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 524-8733
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 per night
Honoree Ceremony October 9, 2021Start Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2021End Date: Tuesday, October 12, 2021Last Day to Book: Friday, September 15, 2021
Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony October 2021
Questions: contact Meg Keller-Marvin at meg@ishof.org or 570-594-4367
FYI: 27M Dive Tower Panel Installation Begins – Hensel Phelps, Gate Precast
Update: Crane delivery is scheduled to arrive at the end of the week, April 9-10. The first pieces are planned to be set on Monday, April 12.
60 precast panels, designed by Gate Precast in Kissimmee, Florida. It will take approximately 1 month to build the 27M Dive Tower
Gate Precast | Precast Concrete Systems
Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex | City of Fort Lauderdale, FL (henselphelps.com)
Video of Construction Process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNGcW7xtF9k&feature=youtu.be
April 8: Happy Birthday Anastasia Ermakova !!!
Anastasia Ermakova (RUS) 2015 Honor Synchronized Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (duet, team); 2008 OLYMPICGAMES: gold (duet, team); 2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (duet),gold (team); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (solo), gold (duet, team); gold (team); 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (duet, free combination); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHPS: gold (duet technical, duet free, combination; 2002 WORLD CUP: gold (duet, team); 2006 WORLD CUP: gold (duet, team, combination); 2006 WORLD TROPHY: gold (duet); 2007 WORLD TROPHY: gold (team); 2010 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (combination).
She is one of the most decorated synchronized swimmers in history with a combined 19 gold and two silver medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cups and World Trophies.
Anastasia Ermakova was born in Moscow, Russia in 1983. At the age of four, she joined a choreography school in Moscow, where she began down a road of the creative world of dance, art, and eventually synchronized swimming. The next year, at the age of five, she passed the test and made the selection for synchronized swimming. Anastasia says that from that moment on, “sport became the most important part of her life, and the gold medal was the goal to reach!” Synchronized swimming did not come to her naturally. She did not have natural ability, was not flexible like other athletes; but what she lacked in talent, she had twice as much in determination and willpower.
Training became a way of life, and then came the competitions. In 1998, Anastasia won her first Youth Olympic Games, which were held in Moscow; she won gold medals in the solo, duet and team. Anastasia began competing internationally and the medals continued to be gold. She competed at the 1999 World Junior Championships in California and won gold in duet and team; at the 2000 European Junior Championships Bonn-Berlin, gold medals in figures, solo, duet, team; and the 2001 World Junior Championships in Seattle, where she again won the gold in solo, duet and team.
After Anastasia proved herself as a junior synchronized swimmer, she advanced to become a member of the Russian National Synchronized Swimming Team in 2000. In 2004, she won the duet and team at the Athens Olympic Games, and then won the same at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, becoming a four-time Olympic Champion. She’s also a nine-time World Champion and has won gold medals in every synchronized event – solo, duet, team and figures.
Anastasia has received many honors for her success in synchronized swimming. She has been awarded the Order of Friendship by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2005, and in 2009 she was awarded the Order of Honor by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
After retiring from synchronized swimming earlier than she had hoped, due to a shoulder injury, Anastasia began coaching.
In October 2011, she relocated to Savona, Italy, to become the Executive Coach for the RARI Nantes Synchronized Swimming Team, as well as coach and choreographer for the Italian National Synchronized Swimming Team.
Happy Birthday Andras Bodnar!!!
Andras Bodnar (HUN) 2017 Honor Water Polo Player
FOR THE RECORD: 1960 OLYMPIC GAMES: bronze; 1964 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 1968 OLYMPIC GAMES: bronze; 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver
Hungary is a land of thermal springs and although landlocked, swimming and water sports are ingrained in their culture. This love of water led to an early domination of international swimming and diving competitions in the late 19th and early 20th century. In the 1920s, it was water polo that came to symbolize Hungary’s unique strengths and individuality.
Andras Bodnar was born on April 9, 1942 in Ungvar, Hungary, a town that today is known as Uzhgorod, in the Ukraine. In 1952, he began swimming and playing water polo for various clubs in Eger until 1962, when he joined the team of the Budapest University Medical Association. In addition to being an outstanding water polo player, he was also one of Hungary’s top middle distance swimmers and qualified for the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games in both sports.
Although he did not make the finals in swimming, he did win the bronze medal in Rome and the gold medal in Tokyo as a member of Hungary’s water polo team. After 1964, the academic demands of medical school limited him to one sport. He was a member of Hungary’s water polo team that won the Olympic silver medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, and again at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972. In 1973, his team won the gold at the first FINA World Aquatic Championships in Belgrade. Between 1960 and 1976, he played for the Hungarian National Team in 186 international games. At the same time he was pursuing his medical career.
In 1968, Bodnar earned his medical degree from the Budapest Semmelweis Medical University, where he was an Assistant Professor of Surgery until 1985, when he became Head of Surgery at Frigyes Koranyi Hospital and later National Public Health and Medical Office Supervisor. A man of incredible energy and dedication to his sport, he served as Vice President of the Hungarian Swimming Federation, water polo division from 1981 to 1989, and as president of the newly formed Hungarian Water Polo Federation from 1989 to 1992. Since 1990, he has been a member of LEN (European Swimming Federation Medical Committee) and since 2004 a member of the Francis Field Foundation Board of Trustees.
In a swimming and water polo career spanning almost two decades, in which he won four Olympic medals (one gold, two silver, one bronze), the inaugural World Championship gold, two European Championships and seven Hungarian Championships, Dr. Andras Bodnar goes down in history as one of the greatest players of all time and the twentieth player from Hungary to be so honored.
Fort Lauderdale City Commission Approves Additional Funding for ISHOF Aquatic Complex Center
City Commission Approves Parks Bond Funds for Aquatic Center Project
The City Commission approved $3.5 million in additional funding for the Aquatic Center Project through the Parks and Recreation Bond. The contractor, Hensel Phelps, was originally tasked with designing and constructing improvements at the Aquatic Center Complex including new pools, decks, bleachers, and the north building at the site. The additional funding will be used to replace the south building that houses locker rooms and offices. Overall completion is expected by the end of 2022. If you haven’t driven by the Aquatic Center on the beach recently, then do yourself a favor and check out the progress on this peninsula. Coming soon will be our 27 meter diving platform and the work continues on the pools. How exciting that Fort Lauderdale will soon reclaim its reputation as a leader in swimming and diving. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3sWozjJ.
On this date in 1898, the great coach, Bob Muir was born……….
BOB MUIR (USA) 1989 Honor Pioneer Coach
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1948, 1952 Assistant Coach; 1956 Head Coach USA’s Men’s Team; COACH: 1920’s Boston University, MIT swimming teams at Boston YMCA; 1930-1935 Harvard University freshmen swimming, varsity diving; 1936-1966 Williams College (17 New England Championships); President Intercollegiate Swimming Coaches Association, 2 terms; National Collegiate and Scholastic Swimming Award: 1968; Author of over 50 published articles on swimming.
Little did Bob Muir know at the age of 10 in 1912 when he first dove into the pool at the Brookline (Massachusetts) Swimming Club, that he was destined to spend the rest of his life on the pool deck. As a swimmer under Hall of Fame coach, Matt Mann, he won 19 New England AAU Championships in the breaststroke and backstroke. In 1917, as captain of the Boston Swimming Association, he won the junior national breaststroke championship and held the national YMCA breaststroke record for seven years.
But in 1921, he began his coaching career at the Boston YMCA where he coached Boston University and MIT swimming teams. In 1930, he began a six year stint at Harvard University as freshman swimming coach and varsity diving coach. His most illustrious swimmer was the future President John F. Kennedy who went undefeated in Freshman competition before retiring due to a chlorine-aggravated sinus condition.
In 1936, Coach Muir moved to Williams College where he coached for the next 30 years. His teams never had a losing season, winning 185 meets with only 44 losses and 4 ties. With Bob at the helm, Williams swimmers won 17 New England championships.
During the Olympic Games of 1948 and 1952, Bob was an assistant coach for the U.S. Team. In 1956, he served as head coach for the USA Men’s Team in Melbourne, Australia.
Apart from his coaching, Bob served two terms as president of the Intercollegiate Swimming Coaches Association, authored more than 50 published articles on swimming, taught more than 35,000 youngsters to swim and was very active with the College coaches Swim Forum. In 1968, he received the National Collegiate and Scholastic Swimming Award. And among his many accomplishments was the introduction of the so-called “Muir system” of seeding which assigned the lanes of the swimmers in the finals on the basis of their times in the preliminary heats. This system is still being used today.
Passages: NCAA Champion, World Relay Record Holder Richard “Dick” McDonough, 78
by MATTHEW DE GEORGE
02 April 2021, 10:09pm
Richard A. “Dick” McDonough, Villanova’s only NCAA champion and an American record holder and relay world record holder, died on March 31 in Savannah, Ga. He was 78.
McDonough was a standout in high school at Seton Hall Prep, graduating in 1960. He won state titles and claimed gold at the Eastern Interscholastic Championships in high school.
McDonough attended Villanova University, where he won the 1963 NCAA Championship in the 200-yard butterfly, still the only men’s championship in program history, among several All-American honors. The Wildcats also set an American record in the men’s 200 medley relay at 1:42.0 in 1964 (McDonough, Bill Levingood, Ken Herr, Rick Girdler).
Internationally, McDonough was part of the U.S. delegation to the 1963 Pan Am Games in Sao Paolo, Brazil, winning a gold medal in the 800 freestyle relay with Gary Ilman, David Lyons and Ed Townsend. At a dual meet with Japan that summer, McDonough was part of world record foursomes in the 400 freestyle relay (Steve Clark, Ilman, Townsend in 3:36.1) and 800 freestyle relay (Don Schollander, Roy Saari, Townsend in 8:03.7). McDonough also set an American record in the 100 free in 54.0 seconds.
At the 1964 Olympic Trials, McDonough tied for 15th in the 100 free (55.7), 16th in the 200 free (2:03.9) and finished second in a three-person swim-off to miss the final of the 100 fly.
A Rhodes Scholar nominee, McDonough graduated from the University of Michigan Law School and worked for 33 years at IBM. He was admitted to the Bar in New York, Vermont and California and worked for IBM Europe, where he met his wife, Kirsten. He is survived by Kirsten and six children.
McDonough in 2019 made a large donation of records and historical documentation to the International Swimming Hall of Fame, part of his devotion to collecting historical materials related to swimming and golf. He and Kirsten purchased Norcross West Marble Quarry in Dorset, Vermont and opened it as a swimming hole. McDonough is a member of the Villanova Athletics Hall of Fame and the Seton Hall Prep Hall of Fame.
Dick McDonough’s full obituary is available here.
Happy Birthday Ted Stickles !!!
EDWARD “TED” STICKLES (USA) 1995 Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 4 WORLD RECORDS: 400m individual medley; 8 U.S. NATIONAL AAU CHAMPIONSHIPS: 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley.
Ted Stickles swam with Doc Councilman’s legendary Indiana University swim team from 1962-1965. At on point during his career, he and his roommate, Hall of Famer Chet Jastremski, held a total of seven world records. Ted dominated the individual medley throughout the early ’60s, breaking a total of nine world records throughout his career.
His mother taught him to swim at an early age, but it was not until he entered high school that Ted began competitive swimming. After enjoying a successful high school career, Hall of Famer Doc Councilman recruited him to his IU team.
At first, Ted felt that Doc had made a mistake in his recruitment, but before long, he surprised himself and began to break unforgettable records. Ted was one of the first people to actually train for the individual medley events. Ted’s ease in moving from one stroke to another and fluidity without breaking stroke helped him be the first person to break two minutes in the 200 yard individual medley and five minutes in the 400 meter individual medley. For a span of three years, Ted Stickles held all of the world records in the individual medley events.
At the height of his career, he developed tendonitis in his elbow, hindering his ability to train. Yet Ted continued to swim and barely missed making the ’64 Olympic team. This was a disappointment because his sister, Terri Stickles, made the team; they would have been the first brother and sister to make an Olympic team.
Ted went on to coach swimming for the University of Illinois and Louisiana State University. Presently, he resides in Louisiana with his wife and two children and is event management director for all athletic functions at Louisiana State University.
