Author: Meg Keller-Marvin

Happy New Year to all our Friends Around the World ~

From all of us at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, we thank you for you support and we wish you a very happy and prosperous new year. We look forward to seeing you soon in Fort Lauderdale.

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Happy Birthday Igor Milanovic ~ Mr. Water Polo!!

Igor Milanovic (YUG) 2006 Honor Water Polo Player

FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 1986 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 1987, 1989 WORLD CUPS: gold; SCORED 450 GOALS IN MORE THEN 300 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS; CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST CENTERS IN THE WORLD

Yugoslavia won its first water polo Olympic gold medal in 1968, breaking Hungary’s (and to a lesser degree, Italy’s) Olympic water polo dynasty. Hall of Fame players, Mirko Sandic, Zdravko Korvacic and Zoran Jankovic all helped give special rise to Yugoslavia’s water polo success. Although Yugoslavia won the silver medal 12 years later in 1980, it was in 1984 and 1988 that they won back-to-back gold medals in Olympic competition, largely due to the driving ability of the great Igor Milanovic. The Partizan Club was the country’s leading water polo team and produced most of the Yugoslavian Olympic players, including 6’10” Milanovic.

Igor joined the Partizan Club Team at age ten in 1975 and under the coaching of Nicola Stamenic and Vlaho Orlic; he soon became a skillful and inspirational player. At age 18, legendary coach Ratko Rudic promoted him from the junior team to the national team just in time for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles where he was instrumental in his team winning the gold medal. Four years later at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, he once again steered his team to gold. At the height of his career, the Balkan War prevented his team from competing during the years between 1992 to 1995, thus forfeiting the 1992 Olympics.

Throughout his career, he also competed for Mladost, Croatia; Roma, Italy; and Katalugnia, Spain, the latter two in the Professional League. His career includes over 300 international competitions. He has scored over 450 goals.

Each of his coaches place him in high regard with Coach Rudic stating that he is the only player who could play in every position on the team.

City of Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue Topping off Ceremony marks special day for all those who made it possible!

Today, the Capital Group Enterprises, along with Hensel Phelps and the City of Fort Lauderdale, celebrated the topping off ceremony for the City of Lauderdale’s Ocean Rescue Headquarters Facility, marking an important milestone in the ISHOF project, Phase one.

Speakers included our very own, ISHOF Chairman of the Board, Dr. Bill Kent; Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steven Glassman; Fort Lauderdale City Manager, Rickelle Williams; Fort Lauderdale Fire Chief, Stephen Gollan; CEO Capital Group Enterprises, Mario Caprini and Operation Manager for Hensel Phelps, Matt Krstolic.

The event was attended by approximately 50 VIP’s, Board Members, City Officials and invited guests. City officials thanked ISHOF and Capital Group for their work on this project, helping the Ocean Rescue, who has been displaced since 2019, also thanking all parties for working so well together. This project is a real highlight for the district. Steve Glassman is the Commissioner for our district, District 2.

A very special thank to all those hard working individuals in front of and especially behind the scenes who have worked so tirelessly to make this part of phase one become a reality.

Can Anyone Track Down Sarah Sjostrom’s World Record in Women’s 100 Free?

Sarah Sjostrom — Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

by David Rieder – Senior Writer,

Shared from Swimming World Magazine

Can Anyone Track Down Sarah Sjostrom’s World Record in Women’s 100 Free?

When Sarah Sjostrom became the first woman ever under 52 seconds in the 100 freestyle, her world record seemed unlikely to last eight days, let alone eight years. On day one of the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, Sjostrom led off the Swedish women’s 400 freestyle relay in 51.71, crushing the previous global standard set by Cate Campbell a year earlier. But Sjostrom would have a chance to lower the mark in the individual event to come, and Campbell would be returning to major competition the following year.

However, countless global contests have passed with no one coming close to that standard, including Sjostrom. In the last eight years, the event has become one of the most unpredictable in international swimming. That week in Hungary, Sjostrom missed the top spot in the 100 free as Simone Manuel pulled off an upset for the second of three consecutive major meets. Two Australians, neither of them Campbell, won major titles in the event, before Sjostrom finally won Olympic gold in Paris.

Following that win, Sjostrom temporarily stepped away from the sport as she prepared to give birth to her first child. She has since returned to the pool, but it would be no surprise if her days racing the 100 free are behind her. Sjostrom planned to eschew the event last year before adding it back to their program last-minute when she learned there would be two full days after the 100 before the first round of 50 free racing. But with the 50 butterfly now on the Olympic schedule, expect Sjostrom to focus on one-lap races at an Olympics when she will be 34 years old.

The only other swimmer to crack 52 is Australia’s Emma McKeon, who went 51.96 in her dominant win at the Tokyo Olympics. That would be the only major meet in which McKeon topped the podium in any individual event, although she remained a reliable relay performer until her retirement last year.

After McKeon came Mollie O’Callaghan, who jumped from prelims relay swimmer at the Tokyo Games to world champion the next two years. O’Callaghan built a reputation as a phenomenal finisher, frequently coming from behind to edge speedsters for gold medals. Sjostrom learned the hard way at the 2022 Worlds, also in Budapest, as she finished hundredths behind the young Aussie with a silver medal. O’Callaghan defended her gold medal in 2023 while swimming as fast as 52.08, but she was unable to replicate that form in Paris as she fell just short of the Olympic podium. O’Callaghan did win Olympic gold in the 200 free and two relays at those Games.

The all-time list features three swimmers who have been even closer to 52 seconds, two of them active: two-time Olympic medalist Siobhan Haughey at 52.02, Campbell at 52.03 and Manuel at 52.04. Haughey and Manuel are both in the latter stages of their careers, so getting back to those times appears unlikely. Instead, the more likely candidates to challenge 52 are the three women who reached the podium at this year’s World Championships in Singapore.

Marrit Steenbergen (center) beat out Mollie O’Callaghan (left) and Torri Huske (right) for the 100 free world title in 2025 — Photo Courtesy: Emily Cameron

Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands was the gold medalist, out-pacing O’Callaghan on the back end to score the top spot by 0.12. Steenbergen had also won the event at the lightly-attended Doha World Championships in February 2024. The Australian won silver while American Torri Huske won bronze, holding off Steenbergen’s Dutch teammate Milou van Wijk. However, the year finished with Huske atop the global standings with a time of 52.42 posted at U.S. Nationals in June. A battle with gastrointestinal illness zapped Huske’s strength at the World Championships, preventing her from chasing the time of 52.29 she swam to win Olympic silver behind Sjostrom one year earlier.

Nine total swimmers broke 53 this year; after Huske, Steenbergen and O’Callaghan were Americans Gretchen Walsh, Rylee Erisman and Manuel plus Haughey, Van Wijk and Russia’s Daria Klepikova. Walsh is a short course superstar still figuring out the long course version of the 100 free while Erisman is a teenager who burst into the spotlight with an unexpected 52.79 gold-medal swim at the World Junior Championships. Kate Douglass, a fifth American, became the first woman ever under 50 seconds in the short course meters 100 free in October.

Meanwhile, Australia has lost a large contingent of 100 freestylers to retirement in recent years between McKeon, Campbell and Campbell’s younger sister Bronte, but Meg Harris is still on the scene after years as a stalwart of the Aussie 400 free relay squad. Harris split as fast as 51.87 in relay duty at Worlds before winning the world title in the 50 free.

Entering 2026, plenty of swimmers have 52-mid capabilities, but anyone who can break into the 51s would instantly stamp themselves as the gold-medal favorite for the 2027 World Championships and the Los Angeles Olympics. A true challenge to a long-untouched world record would shake the landscape in one of swimming’s signature events.

Today we celebrate the birthday of Otylia Jedrzejczak, Honor Swimmer, 2019 and President of the Polish Swimming Federation~(December 13)

Otylia was inducted into ISHOF in 2019 as an Honor Swimmer. She has stayed very involved in swimming, serving World Aquatics on its Bureau and she is currently the President of the Polish Swimming Federation.

Here is her bio from 2019:

FOR THE RECORD: 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (200 m butterfly), silver (400m freestyle, 100m butterfly); 2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (100m butterfly); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (200m butterfly), silver (100m butterfly); 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (200m butterfly), bronze (100m butterfly); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (400m freestyle), bronze (200m butterfly) 2000 World Championships (SC): bronze (200m butterfly); 5 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): 5 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze; 3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze; 2005 UNIVERSIADE: gold (100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle)

She was born in Ruda Slaska, Poland in December 1983 and began swimming at six-years-old because doctors thought it would help the slight curvature in her spine. She originally had no interest in the sport, but her father had the last word.

In high school, she started to take swimming seriously, and in 1999 at age 15, Otylia Jedrzejczak won the European Junior titles in the 100 and 200m butterfly.

A year later at the age of 16, Otylia won the 200m butterfly at the 2000 European Senior Championships. Later that year, she represented Poland at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where she was the youngest on the entire Polish team. In Sydney, she was fifth in the 200 butterfly, but it was clear her career had just begun. Two years later at the 2002 European Championships, Otylia became the first Polish female swimmer to break a world record when she swam a 2:05.78 in the 200 butterfly.

Leading up to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Otylia was reading Oscar and the Lady in Pink, a novel about a ten-year-old boy dying of leukemia as told through his letters to God. Otylia was deeply affected by the story and vowed that if she won a gold medal in Athens, she would auction it off and give the proceeds to a charity that helps children in Poland suffering with leukemia.

Otylia won the 200 butterfly gold medal in Athens, and out-touched Australia’s Petria Thomas to become the first swimmer from Poland to win an Olympic gold medal. As promised, Otylia auctioned off her gold medal and it sold for $101,000 US Dollars.

In 2005, Otylia successfully defended her 200 butterfly World Championship title, taking down her world record in the process with a 2:05.61.

Two months after the World Championships, Otylia was severely injured in a car accident that tragically killed her 19-year-old brother, Szymon. The accident and its aftermath took its toll on Otylia and she took a break from training for nearly eight months.

Leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Otylia was again one of the favorites to win the 200 butterfly gold medal, but did not have the meet she was hoping for. She finished fourth in the 200 butterfly, missing out on a medal by less than a second.

She initially said she was most likely going to retire from swimming after 2008, but continued her career and qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. There she finished 16th in the 200 fly at the age of 28. She retired after London with three Olympic medals and ten World Championship medals to her name.

She is the founder of the Otylia Jedrzejczak Foundation, which strives to prepare young swimmers, mentally and physically, to be able to compete for medals at the Olympic Games. Her goal is to help athletes benefit from the positive impact of sport she experienced. She says that sport is a great adventure of life, which teaches consistency and determination in pursuing a goal, and failure is a stop on the way to success.

We welcome our first honoree from Poland into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

The information on this page was written the year of their induction

Happy Birthday 2025 Honor Diver Chen Ruolin ~ (December 12)

Chen RUOLIN (CHN) 2025 Honor Diver

We want to wish 2025 Honor Diver, Chen Ruolin, a very Happy Birthday! We met her in Singapore this past July where we celebrated her induction into ISHOF. Good luck in 2026 Ruolin!

FOR THE RECORD: 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (10m platform synchronized); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (10m platform, 10m platform synchronized); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (10m platform, 10m platform synchronized); 2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (10m platform synchronized), bronze (mixed 3m & 10m Team); 2013 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (10m platform synchronized), silver (10m platform); 2011 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (10m platform, 10m platform synchronized); 2009 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (10m platform synchronized), silver (10m platform); 2007 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (10m platform synchronized), silver (10m platform); Diving World Series: 48 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze; Diving Grand Prixes: 17 gold, 5 silver; Diving World Cup: 8 gold, 1 silver; Asian Games: 2 gold. 

Chen was born in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, a city surrounded by water. Upon entering elementary school, her family noticed she was shy and didn’t talk much. They exposed her to various activities until she found one that she loved. It was swimming. 

Then, upon learning to swim at the age of 5, Chen Roulin discovered diving. “There was something mesmerizing about standing at the edge of the springboard, staring down at the deep blue below,” she says, “It felt like home.”

It was while she was playing on the board that her natural talent was noticed by Gao Feng, coach of the Jiangsu Provincial Team. It was under Gao’s guidance that Chen built the foundation for her future success. 

In 2003 when she was only 11 years old, Chen swept three gold medals in the National Children’s Diving Competition. Being highly self-motivated, she challenged herself to “jump to a higher level and be the best.”  When she won fifth place in the 10-meter event at the National Diving Championships in 2004, Zhou Jihong, the director of the Chinese National Diving Team, selected her for the national team to train under coach Ren Shaofen.

In 2006 at the age of 14, Chen made her international debut on the Australian stage at the FINA Grand Prix. It was her first major experience standing atop a podium, and it ignited her love for competing overseas.

Eighteen months later at the age of 16, Chen won two gold medals in the 10-meter platform events at the Beijing Olympic Games; one individual and another in synchronized with partner, Wang Xin.  She would repeat this success at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai and again at the 2012 London Olympic Games with new partner, Wang Hao.  

But Chen’s path was neither glamorous nor easy.   

Post London, the years of grueling training sessions and high-velocity impacts began to take their toll. Despite more frequent recurring injuries and problems adjusting to bodily changes brought on by maturation, all compounded by the relentless pressures of social media scrutiny, her commitment never wavered. Fueled by an indomitable spirit, she captured her fifth Olympic gold medal at the Rio Games in 2016, winning her third consecutive 10-meter synchronized title, this time alongside Liu Huixia.

Chen retired after Rio at the age of 24, leaving an unparalleled legacy. Beyond being the first woman to defend both Olympic 10-meter titles, she was undefeated in major 10-meter synchronized competitions for nearly a decade from 2008 to 2016 with three different partners. 

After earning a degree in Public Administration from Renmin University, Chen sought to give back to the sport she loved. Following brief roles as a diving judge and as a member of the FINA Technical Diving Committee, she found her true calling in coaching. Joining the Chinese National Team staff in 2021, her impact was immediate, guiding athletes Quan Hongchan and Lian Junjie to Olympic gold in Paris 2024. Her passion now lies in mentoring the next generation towards LA 2028 and beyond.

Global growth and new hosts headline 2025 World Aquatics Recognised Diving Events Report

SHARED FROM WORLD AQUATICS: Diving | World Aquatics releases the 2025 Report on the Recognised Diving Events

Written by:World Aquatics Communication Department

World Aquatics has released the 2025 Report on the Recognised Diving Events, highlighting a season that underscored both the competitive depth and global reach of one of the sport’s most important development pathways.

Across seven competitions on four continents—from Auckland to Rostock and from Bolzano to Kuala Lumpur—the 2025 circuit continued its mission of providing a high-level international platform for emerging divers and training opportunities for officials. The series mirrors the format of World Championships and Olympic competitions, giving athletes and judges essential preparation as they advance toward the sport’s top tier.

 Image Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

A major milestone this season was the addition of Hong Kong, which hosted a Recognised Event for the first time. The Hong Kong Open Diving Championships drew eight National Federations and has already been confirmed for 2026, strengthening the series’ footprint in Asia.

 Image Source: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Participation remained strong throughout the season, with Rostock, Germany again leading the way as the most-attended event—continuing a legacy that dates back to the former FINA Diving Grand Prix. That historic circuit, launched in 1995, laid the foundations for today’s Recognised Events and helped establish long-standing hosts, including Spain, Canada, Italy, and Germany.

 Image Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The momentum now builds toward a record year ahead. Nine cities are confirmed to host Recognised Diving Events in 2026—the largest calendar in the series’ history—reflecting growing demand for international competition opportunities and renewed global investment in the sport.

With more hosts, more athletes, and more pathways into elite competition, the Recognised Events series continues to play a vital role in developing the next generation of divers and officials—ensuring the sport remains strong, competitive, and truly global.

You can find the whole 2025 World Aquatics Recognised Diving Events Report by clicking HERE.

Water Polo: That feeling of pulling on the cap for the first time

 Image Source: Strahinja Rasovic (SRB)//Getty Images/World Aquatics

Written by: Scoring Goals with Russell McKinnon, World Aquatics Water Polo Correspondent and ISHOF Selection Committee Chairman

Shared from World Aquatics

Playing for your country is something special. It has to start somewhere, so Shooting Goals asked 14 elite athletes what it felt like to wear that cap for the first time at the senior level.

 

Dusan Mandic (SRB)

 Image Source: Dusan Mandic (SRB)/World Aquatics

“My first international match was  in a 2011. In November that year was an official match against the national team of Netherlands, just a few weeks before the European competition that was held in January in Eindhoven 2022, which unfortunately I did not participate. I remember it was an overwhelming experience. I was afraid and excited at the same time, and happy and proud after the match. I was grateful that I had the opportunity to play for the national team of Serbia.”

Roberta Bianconi (ITA)

 Image Source: Roberta Bianconi (ITA)/World Aquatics

“My first cap with the senior team was almost by accident. I mean my summer training started knowing that I had to do training to compete at the World University Games but in the end the head coach changed his mind and he decided to put me on the list for the World championships in Rome 2009. I was very happy to compete in my first big event at home and the first game was against Uzbekistan, then Hungary and China.”

Strahinja Rasovic (SRB)

 Image Source: Stahinja Rasovic (SRB)/Getty Images/World Aquatics

“It was against Spain in Barcelona, 2013. We won that match. I didn’t feel so much pressure because we came there with younger squad. But I was very, very motivated like always when I’m playing for national team.”

Emma Wright (CAN)

 Image Source: Emma Wright (CAN)/World Aquatics

“Obtaining my first cap with the senior team was a crazy, exciting and unexpected experience for me. I was only 16 and I was called up to the senior team for the tournament in May after the team unfortunately didn’t qualify for the London Olympic Games. I remember being extremely nervous before my first game, but I was also so happy to be a part of the team and grateful for the opportunity to play with such amazing women! The tournament was the World League Super Finals in Changshu, China in 2012 and the match was against Australia.”

David Tatrai (HUN)

 Image Source: David Tatrai (HUN)/World Aquatics

“My first match was against Spain in 2023. What made it special was that I got to play in front of a home crowd here in Hungary. I can still hear the fans cheering us on. Fantastic feeling…”

Abby Andrews (AUS)

 Image Source: Abby Andrews (AUS)/World Aquatics

“I played my first match in a test series against Italy in 2018 in Perth. Receiving the swimsuit and putting on that cap is a moment I will never forget. Wearing the senior suit and gaining that exposure to the new level was daunting, but so exciting. I was lucky enough to debut for the senior national team with two of my very close friends, which made it even more special, as they had been with me and training with me since we were 13. While we didn’t hit the water for too long during that match, I loved learning from everyone in and out of the water and trying to work out what differences and challenges there were in comparison to the junior level.”

Mia Rycraw (FRA)

 Image Source: Mia Rycraw (FRA)/French Swimming Federation/World Aquatics

“I played my first senior international match for France at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka. It was an emotional return to the international stage after last competing for USA in 2017. Our group featured the USA, China and Australia, with the Aussies up first. Despite the intense emotions, our coach had trained us well, and I felt fully prepared. The result aside, the match was a personal breakthrough for me.”

Alexandros Papanastasiou (GRE)

 Image Source: Alexandros Papanastasiou (GRE)/Getty Images/World Aquatics

“It was a dream come true playing alongside players I was admiring growing up. But most of all it was a huge opportunity to prove to myself that I belonged there and I was one of them. Lastly, it was a small taste of what could follow and it filled me with motivation to chase higher and higher goals.”

Tony Azevedo (USA)

 Image Source: Tony Azevedo (USA)/Getty Images/World Aquatics

“I didn’t want to disappoint my friends and family. It was the wrong mindset and within my first 30 seconds of playing I got ejected! I thought my coach was going to bench me but instead he let me play. Now my mindset was to prove I belonged. It was against Yugoslavia in SoCal I was 16 and (Veijko) Uskokovic was the guy who got me booted! I scored three that game and never didn’t play for USA again.”

Stavroula Kozompoli (GRE)

 Image Source: Stavroula Kozompoli (GRE)/Getty Images/World Aquatics

“Pulling on the Greek cap for the first time at senior level was in 1995 in Vienna at the European Championships and  was an incredibly emotional moment! It was a huge honour and a dream that came true! The moment I put on the cap, I felt a mix of pride and responsibility. It reminded me why I’ve worked so hard, and it motivated me to give everything for the team and for Greece. That  moment I realised I wanted to contribute to something bigger than myself!”

Aaron Younger (AUS)

 Image Source: Aaron Younger/Getty Images/World Aquatics

“My first caps for Australia were in 2009 in South Australia for the World League preliminaries. They weren’t hard games but the thrill of being able to play alongside so many players I had looked up to as a kid was incredible. In 2011, I played my first major tournament for Australia at the Shanghai World Championships. I was the youngest player in the team, and I was roomed up with Sam McGregor, the team captain. The whole experience as a young player was incredible and the guidance I received from Sam and the older players was definitely formative for my career.”

Mercedes Stieber (HUN)

 Image Source: Mercedes Stieber (HUN)/Getty Images/World Aquatics

“I was 14 years old when I joined the senior national team. I didn’t even dare to speak at the first training session! I was so shy and overwhelmed. This was my big dream. The European Championships in Bonn in 1989 was the first big tournament I participated in. We achieved second place, but for me it was worth a gold medal. It was great; everyone looked after me. The whole team was like a big family. This experience was very decisive for the next 20 years in the national team. It was an honour to represent my country for those 20 years.”

Stylianos Argyropoulos (GRE)

 Image Source: Stylianos Argyropoulos (GRE)/Getty Images/World Aquatics

“My first appearance with the senior national team was in a tournament before Olympics 2016 in Rio. The tournament took place in Serbia in Bor .Ioannis Fountoulis was injured and I was actually wearing number five, as well. The first match was against Serbia and I scored my first goal in the second game against Spain. We won that tournament in penalties against Serbia.”

Tamas Molnar (HUN)

 Image Source: Tamas Molnar (HUN)/Getty Images/World Aquatics

“It was very good one. A friendly against Italy in ‘95 January. We had a year before the scandalous Hungary-Italy with the fight.  Italy was Olympic and world champion. I was a bit lost from the atmosphere but I played few minutes and had one steal.”

December 6 ~ Today we remember one of our most celebrated Honorees on the day she was born: Eleanor Holm!

Eleanor Holm (USA) Honor Swimmer

FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1928 5th (100m backstroke); 1932 gold (100m backstroke); 1936 (removed from U.S. Olympic team during trip to Berlin); U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 29 (individual medley; 100yd, 220yd backstroke); Performed professionally at 1939 and 1940 New York World’s Fairs.

Eleanor Holm was the star backstroker from the New York Women’s Swimming Association.  She was the 15-year-old baby of the 1928 Olympic team, was a gold medal winner in 1932, and was the Grand Dame of the 1936 Games, a married woman (Art Jarrett) and expected to win until she was kicked off the team for sipping champagne with the officials on shipboard.

Eleanor was swimming her career and world best times when disqualified in 1936.  She says she could go even faster after six shows a day at the 1939 and 1940 New York World’s Fair where she starred opposite Hall of Famers Johnny Weissmuller and Buster Crabbe.

Eleanor showed her swimming versatility early by winning nine national golds in the individual medley beginning in 1927.  Katherine Rawls caught up with Eleanor as queen of the individual medley, but Katherine says she or no one else could catch Eleanor on her backstroke, where she held six World Records.  Her 100 yard backstroke times held up 16 years in the U.S. and her 200 yard back times even longer, although less frequently swum.  All totaled, Miss Holm won 29 National Championships before turning pro to be in the movies.

Not only did she have the glamour for show business, but also the speed and the record of many years as a top amateur swimmer.  In 1937, she was signed to star in the Billy Rose Aquacades where she married the boss. “The Aquacade was my idea,” she says, “but the marriage was his.”

Although she appeared in at least four films as herself, Holm appeared in only one Hollywood feature film, starring opposite fellow Olympian Glenn Morris in the 1938 film Tarzan’s Revenge. On November 10, 1939  a year after Jarrett divorced her, claiming that his wife’s expulsion from the 1936 Olympics and her affair with another man had caused him embarrassment, Holm married Billy Rose, who had divorced first wife Fanny Brice. At the  1939 New York World’s Fair, Holm did 39 shows a week at Rose’s “Aquacade”, co-featured with Johnnt Weissmuller and, later Buster Crabbe. In 1954, Holm and Rose divorced – this sensational divorce trial was called “the war of the Roses”. Several months later, Holm married Thomas Joseph Whalen, an oil-drilling executive. They remained married until his death in 1986. All of the unions were childless.

In 1966, Holm was inducted into ISHOF, where we remained active and a friend to Buck Dawson and living in Miami Beach, she was around at all events or anytime she was called upon.

The information on this page was written the year of their induction

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