Happy Birthday Shane Gould!!
Shane Gould (AUS)
Honor Swimmer (1977)
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1972 gold (200m, 400m freestyle; 200m individual medley), silver (800m freestyle), bronze (100m freestyle); WORLD RECORDS: 11 (from 100m to 1500m freestyle); “World Swimmer of the Year”: 1971, 1972.
Shane Gould, in a short but brilliant career, held every freestyle world record and the four stroke 200 Individual Medley. She broke the oldest record in the books when she beat Dawn Fraser’s 100m World Record at Sydney on January 8, 1972 (58.5). Fraser had held the record almost 16 years since December 1, 1956. In one short period form April 13, 1971 until January 8, 1972, Shane set 7 world records. She was 2nd only to Mark Spitz at the Munich 1972 Olympics in that no female swimmer had ever won 5 individual medals in swimming.
Transition from Olympian to Entrepreneur – ISHOF Honoree Lenny Krayzelburg – with Greg McDonough “The Chief Endurance Officer” – Episode # 130
October 10, 2025
How do you carry the endurance mindset from sports into business and life? In this episode, host Greg McDonough sits down with four-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer and entrepreneur Lenny Krayzelburg to explore how lessons from the pool translate into success beyond athletics. From growing up in the Soviet Union to immigrating to the U.S., achieving Olympic glory, and building businesses that impact communities, Lenny shares how perseverance, preparation, and trusting your instincts can shape both personal and professional growth. Along the way, Lenny offers advice on goal-setting, maintaining optimism, and building a supportive network while reflecting candidly on the challenges of youth sports and parental pressure.
Takeaways:
Trust your instincts and learn from mistakes. Ignoring your gut can often lead to missed opportunities.
Focus on short-term, achievable goals to build confidence and momentum toward larger ambitions.
Draw strength from formative life experiences, using them to shape resilience and perspective in your leadership.
Plan ahead for transitions by building strong relationships and leveraging your network for guidance.
Invest in teaching goal-setting and resilience early, whether with your team or the next generation.
Create community-driven initiatives that align wellness, purpose, and business impact for long-term growth.
Quote of the Show:
” I might have a vision, but if I don’t treat people the right way, or establish the right culture, they’re not gonna be able to execute the vision and the mission that we have as an organization .” – Lenny Krayzelburg
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennykrayzelburg/
Company website: https://www.swimrightacademy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lennyk4g/?hl=en
Oceanman Website: https://oceanmanswim.com/
Email: lenny@oceanmanswim.com
Ways to Tune In:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chief-endurance-officer/id1680214218?uo=4
Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2NoaWVmLWVuZHVyYW5jZS1vZmZpY2Vy
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c96880f-8dcd-4a6e-b1c8-fda816f872a9
Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4340732
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/5897357
Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3462719
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-5250102
Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/
2011 Honor Swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg. Read his bio below.
The Olympic Showdown Of Matt Biondi and Tom Jager in Inaugural 50 Freestyle (Video)
by JOHN LOHN – EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Olympic Showdown Of Matt Biondi and Tom Jager in Inaugural 50 Freestyle
There is something special about being identified as the fastest person on the planet in a specific endeavor. Usain Bolt, the Jamaican track legend, holds the distinction on land. In the water, the honor currently belongs to Brazilian Cesar Cielo.
From the mid-1980s into the early 1990s, there was no doubt about the fastest men in the pool. Outside of one another, the United States’ Matt Biondi and Tom Jager had no peers. Instead, they volleyed ownership of the 50-meter freestyle back and forth. During that timeframe, they combined for nine world records (six for Jager) and took the record in the one-lap sprint from 22.40 to 21.81.
They battled at the World Championships and at Nationals on several occasions, but it was their showdown at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul that defined their rivalry. With the event on the Olympic program for the first time, Biondi and Jager each had the chance to make history. Ultimately, it was Biondi who stood on the top step of the podium.
Although Jager was the reigning world champion, having defeated Biondi in 1986 in Madrid, there was little separating the Americans as they prepared to race. An argument could be made, however, that Biondi had greater momentum based on his march toward seven medals (five gold) in Seoul.
Off the blocks in Seoul, Biondi and Jager were deadlocked, and found themselves in a showdown when they hit the midway point. But as the race unfolded, Biondi was strongest down the stretch and touched in a world-record time of 22.14. That performance sliced .04 off the previous standard, the 22.18 produced by South African Peter Williams earlier in the year. Williams was ineligible to compete at the Seoul Games due to the International Olympic Committee’s ban of his nation due to its apartheid practices. That ban was lifted ahead of the 1992 Olympics.
Jager, who went on to retain his world title in 1991, picked up the silver medal in 22.36, with the Soviet Union’s Gennadiy Prigoda the bronze medalist in 22.71. At the touch, Biondi looked to the scoreboard and unleashed a wild celebration that included several fist pumps and splashes. It was clear the triumph was long desired.
“The 50 free was it for me,” Biondi said during a past interview with Swimming World. “I have a picture of my reaction and it was the most jubilant I’d ever been. It was a world record. That swim made it for me.”
A Special Happy 90th Birthday to Eldon Godfrey!!
Eldon Godfrey (CAN)
Honor Contributor (2012)
FOR THE RECORD: FINA HONORARY LIFE MEMBER: 2009 – present; FINA BUREAU MEMBER: 1996 – 2009; UNION AMERICANA DE NATACION (UANA): President (2007-2011), Vice President (1995-1999), Secretary Treasurer (2003-2007), FINA TECHNICAL DIVING COMMITTEE: 1980-1996: Member (1980-1984), Honorary Secretary (1984-1988), Vice Chairman (1988-1996); PRESIDENT CANADIAN AMATEUR DIVING ASSOCIATION: President (1976-1980); AQUATIC FEDERATION OF CANADA: President (1980-1982), Member (1980-1996); 1978 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS CHEF DE MISSION FOR CANADA; DIVING JUDGE AND REFEREE AT OLYMPIC, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS; INTERNATIONAL CLINICIAN.
When this former high school football coach’s daughter, Allison, began competitive diving in 1973, Eldon Godfrey switched allegiance to a whole new sport, and rose to the highest levels of volunteerism. With his organizational skills and insight, within three short years, he was elected president of the Canadian Amateur Diving Association and two years later the Aquatic Federation of Canada on whose committee he remained for 16 years, serving as Canada’s Chef de Mission for the Third FINA World Championships in Berlin.
Extending from national to international participation, Eldon served in every office of the Amateur Swimming Union of the Americas, now known as Union Americana de Natacion. In 2011, he was named Honorary Life President and presented with the R. Max Ritter Award for contributing to the advancement, understanding and good will among nations.
In 1980, he was appointed to the FINA Technical Diving Committee, and served as a Member, and as the Honorary Secretary and Vice Chairman for 16 years. For 13 years, he was elected a member of the FINA Bureau, serving as liaison to the Technical Diving Committee responsible for decision making policies as they affect FINA. He is now a FINA Honorary Life Member.
Eldon has been a regional and international judge and referee at four Olympic Games, four World Championships, eight World Cups, three Pan American Games and other international events. He has received the FINA Gold Pin, Canadian Sports Award, Alberta Achievement Award and the Calgary Booster Club Award. He has never failed to recognize that it all started in Calgary, at the grass roots level, and he continues to judge diving at the local level.
Together with his wife Carlie Jean, they have received Canada’s Irene McDonald Award for Volunteerism to Diving, for over 40 years of service.
Happy Birthday to ISHOF Honoree and Aussie Olympic Legend Dawn Fraser!!
Dawn Fraser (AUS)
Honor Swimmer (1965)
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1956 gold (100m freestyle; 4x100m freestyle relay), silver (400m freestyle); 1960 gold (100m freestyle), silver (4x100m freestyle relay; 4x100m medley relay), 5th (400m freestyle); 1964 gold (100m freestyle), silver (4x100m freestyle relay), 4th (400m freestyle); WORLD RECORDS: 100yd, 100m, 110yd, 200m, 220yd, 400m, 440yd freestyle.
Dawn Fraser is the female version of the water world’s “fastest human” and has been for 10 years and three Olympics (Melbourne-1956, Rome-1960, Tokyo-1964). In winning the 100 meter freestyle at each of the last three Olympics, Miss Fraser beat the field in swimming’s most popular and most fiercely contested event. When she broke her first Australian national record in 1955, she was already older at 17 than are most of our modern girl swimming champions when they retire. She was ten years older than when she won the Olympic gold medal at 27 in Tokyo. Her first world record was not in the 100 meters, but in the 220 yard freestyle at Sydney on February 25, 1956. She has since reduced this world record to 2:11.6 and still holds it although married, with a new baby and temporarily suspended from competition.
Dawn has frequently held the 440 yd., 400 meter, 220 yd., and 200 meter records and she has almost always held the 110 yd., 100 meter and 100 yd. records. In October 25, 1962, she became the first woman to break a minute for 100 meter freestyle and she was the only woman to break a minute for two more years until the U.S.A.’s Sharon Stouder did it at Tokyo, finishing second to “Old Ma” Fraser. Many believe that Dawn could win again in Mexico City in 1968 and perhaps somewhere else in 1972.
We may never find out because her good times are not all in the water. Her rule-breaking has been almost as dramatic as her record-breaking and she is currently under suspension by the Australian Amateur Swimming Association.
The Swimming Hall of Fame has no desire to become involved in Miss Fraser’s disciplining problems, but to honor her as the world’s finest ever woman freestyle sprinter during her long career of excellence when she was an amateur in good standing.
ISHOF Honoree Brenda Villa Returns as Associate Head Coach For Stanford Water Polo
by Matthew De George – Senior Writer
21 August 2025
Brenda Villa, one of the most accomplished women’s water polo players in history, is returning to her alma mater Stanford as associate head coach.
Stanford coach John Tanner made the announcement on Wednesday. He coached Villa, who in 2002 led the Cardinal to the first of its 10 national titles under Tanner.
Villa is one of only two four-time Olympic medalists in the history of the sport, winning gold in London in 2012 to cap her career. She had won silver medals at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics plus bronze in 2004, in addition to three Pan Am Games golds and three World Championships golds. Villa was a three-time All-American at Stanford and won the Peter J. Cutino Award as the national player of the year in 2002. She graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
She is a member of the both the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.
“Brenda is an icon in the water polo world, as one of our sport’s greatest ever athletes, as a global ambassador for the sport, and as an extraordinary coach who engenders belief, self-reliance and resilience in her athletes and teams,” Tanner said in a press release. “Brenda’s path to Stanford was exceptional, a journey made possible by the City of Commerce, her family, teachers, coaches and her own relentless drive. Brenda’s journey since graduating has been equally remarkable.”
Villa retired from playing in 2012. She was the head coach at Orange Lutheran High School since 2022, leading the Lancers to CIF Regional State titles in 2024 and 2025, the former in an undefeated season. She was twice named the CIF Open Division Coach of the Year.
Villa was previously an assistant coach at Cerritos College from 2005-09 and the head coach at Palo Alto’s Castilleja School for 10 season starting in 2010. She also has coached Team USA’s Under-16 team.
“Returning to Stanford is incredibly special to me,” Villa said. “Being part of the first NCAA championship team here wasn’t just about winning — it was about laying the foundation for what this program could become. As one of the early athletes to help shape that era, I feel honored to now give back as a coach and help lead the next generation of student-athletes who will carry that legacy forward.”
August Featured Honoree: Manuel Estiarte (ESP) and his Memorabilia
Each month ISHOF will feature an Honoree and some of their aquatic memorabilia, that they have so graciously either given or loaned to us. Since we are closed, and everything is in storage, we wanted to still be able to highlight some of the amazing artifacts that ISHOF has and to be able to share these items with you.
We continue in August 2025, with 2007 ISHOF Honoree, Manuel Estiarte, Honor Water Polo. Manuel donated many fabulous things to ISHOF and we want to share some of them with you now. Also below is his ISHOF Honoree bio that was written the year he was inducted.
1 1996 Olympic Water Polo Cap donated by Stephan Andreades (COL.204)
2 Olympic Game Tickets, 3 Photographs donated by Stephan Andreades
1 1996 Photograph of the Victory Water Polo Ceremony donated by Stephan Andreades (COL.204)
A Poster of Manuel Estiarte (removed from frame)
ISHOF Honorees Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie Honored with Blue Plaques
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
11 July 2025
Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie, Australia’s first two female swimming stars, have been awarded Blue Plaques by the government of New South Wales. The Blue Plaque honor is designed to recognize people and events that have shaped the Australian state, with the plaques placed in publicly accessible places.
Durack and Wylie represented Australia at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, with the women winning gold and silver medals, respectively, in the 100-meter freestyle. Great Britain’s Jennie Fletcher was the bronze medalist. The Stockholm Games marked the first time in which women competed in Olympic swimming competition.
Durack’s Blue Plaque was unveiled on Thursday outside of her childhood home in Stanmore. Durack was the world-record holder in the 100 freestyle from 1912-1920 and she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1967. After the 1916 Olympics were canceled by World War I, Durack hoped to compete at the 1920 Games in Antwerp, but illness prevented the defense of her 100 freestyle title.
Wylie finished three seconds behind Durack for the silver medal in the 100 free at the 1912 Games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975. Her Blue Plaque was unveiled outside of Wylie’s Baths, her former training ground. Wylie’s father built the Baths in 1907.
The Best American Men’s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (Part III: No. 1 to No. 10)
08 July 2025
The Best American Men’s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (Part III: No. 1 to No. 10)
By Jeff Moulton
In the third and final installment of this three-part series, water polo expert Jeff Moulton discusses the individuals he has ranked No. 1 to 10 in his unofficial list of the top-25 American men’s water polo players of the NCAA era. Parts I and II are linked below, with Part I including an explanation of the criteria used by Moulton to make his selections.
10. John Gansel – goalie, Foothill Hill High School and Stanford (2x NCAA champion, 4x 1st team All-American).
Gansel, the only 4x 1st team All-American goalie, is America’s greatest collegiate goalie and had an outstanding high school career at Foothill. As former El Toro High School coach Don Stoll told the L.A. Times, “If you talk to old-timers, they say Gansel did stuff that no one has done since.” Gansel graduated from Stanford in 1981. He played in the 1982 World Championships and on three World University Games teams, including the 1979 team that won the gold medal (the first gold medal the United States won during water polo’s modern era) and the 1981 team that won the silver medal. Gansel didn’t play in the Olympics. He started medical school in 1982 and, as he said, “my polo career ran out of time.” Dante Dettamanti, Gansel’s coach at Stanford, speaking about Gansel: “I have been a part of water polo in this country for the last 57 years at all levels, including the USA National team. Not only is John Gansel the best goalie that I have ever coached, he is the best goalkeeper that I have seen play in this country. It was too bad he never had a chance to play on the USA Olympic team. The timing just wasn’t right for him with the 1980 Olympic boycott, with almost every USA player returning for 1984 after the boycott, along with 1984 and 1988 conflicts with medical school and internship and residency training as a doctor.” Dettamanti describing Gansel’s time at Stanford: “Gansel was a virtual wall in the goal, allowing very few balls to get past him, even in practice. He was critical to Stanford’s counterattack game, making the block and then making the perfect full-court pass to breakaway players in the 30-meter course used in those days. He was a natural in the goal, at 6’3”, with great legs, long arms and uncanny quickness. He was also an excellent swimmer (21+ 50 freestyle in high school). In his senior year, 1980, Stanford held opponents to an average of 4.4 goals per game, the only time in school history that opponents have been held under a 5 goals-per-game average for the whole season. Stanford has had several 4-time All-Americans since 1969, but only 2 Stanford players have been 4-time First Team All-Americans, John Gansel and Tony Azevedo. In my opinion, the top goalie and top field player in USA water polo history.” More from Dettamanti: “In the 1979 World University Games in Mexico City, playing against the complete Yugoslavian and Russian national teams that were preparing for the 1980 Olympics, we won the gold medal with Gansel in the goal, limiting Yugoslavia and Russia to 5 and 6 goals in the semifinals and finals. Those teams placed first and second in the Moscow Olympics. In the 1981 World University Games, again with full national teams from other countries, we had to beat Russia to advance to the final game. We were leading by one goal with one second left in the game when a European referee called a penalty shot against the USA. Gansel blocked the penalty shot to preserve the victory.” Jody Campbell, a member of the Water Polo Hall of Fame, discussing what it was like to play with Gansel at Stanford: “We could take chances and ‘cheat’ to offense because we had Gansel. I’ve seen and played with some of the best goalies in the world. In my opinion, Gansel is the best. Other goalies have great reaction, anticipation, and initial leg strength. However, since Gansel, I have not seen the sustained leg strength he had to maintain a vertical position after multiple fakes or cross-court passes. Goalies these days may have a great initial thrust and good reactions, but they quickly lose their legs if they have to sustain their position. Gansel never lost his legs.” Craig Boyer, a teammate of Craig Wilson at UCSB and on the 1988 Olympic team, discussing Wilson and Gansel: “Craig Wilson and John Gansel were two of the best goalies in the world. I would give the slight edge to Wilson, who had a longer wingspan. Gansel saw the writing on the wall that Wilson was going to be the starting goalie on the national team. He made the right decision and retired from sports to go to medical school.”
9. Kevin Robertson – 5’9” LH attacker, Newport Harbor High School and Cal (1x NCAA Champion, 4x 1st team All-American, 1x NCAA Player of the Year, 3x Olympian, 2x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
Robertson is generally considered to be the greatest American left-handed attacker of the NCAA era. Robertson and Terry Schroeder led the United States in scoring in the 1984 Olympics, each scoring 13 goals. Jody Campbell, Robertson’s teammate on the 1984 and 1988 Olympic teams: “During his era, Robertson was one of the deadliest left-handed shooters in the world. His explosiveness and anticipation created may opportunities for him to score and to record assists. His work ethic, knowledge of the game, and speed proved that ‘size’ doesn’t dictate the effectiveness of a player.” One of Robertson’s Newport Harbor High School teammates told me: “Robertson excelled in a big man’s game by taking advantage of his quickness and intelligence. I remember him swimming across my back, picking off his defender, and then shoving off me to create space for his shot. It was like the ‘pick and roll’ in basketball but spontaneous. I still have his handprint on my back. That creativity is just one of the many facets of his greatness.”
8. Wolf Wigo – attacker, Bronx Science High School in New York and Stanford (2x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 2x 1st team All-American, 1x ACWPC Player of the Year, 3x Olympian, 1x FINA World Cup champion, Hall of Fame).
Wigo scored 31 goals in the Olympics, including 16 goals in the 2000 Olympics. He played professionally for Ethnikos Piraeus in Greece for three years. Hall of Fame coach Dante Dettamanti said that Tony Azevedo, John Gansel, Jody Campbell, and Wigo are the four greatest players he coached at Stanford. I asked Jack Bowen, Wigo’s teammate at Stanford and on the senior national team, about Wigo. He said: “If I were constructing a team and given first pick of any player in the world who’s ever played the game, I’d pick Wolf. Wolf is the most intense competitor I’ve ever known, and, really, the last guy I want to deal with as a goalie because he just finds a way to score, not to mention, will take any beating to shut down the other team’s best player.”
7. Eric Lindroth – LH center, Newport Harbor High School and UCLA (3x NCAA champion, 2x All-American, 2x Olympian and would have been a 3x Olympian if the United States had qualified for the 1976 Olympics, 1x bronze medalist, Hall of Fame).
Lindroth played for UCLA from 1969 through 1972. UCLA’s 1969 team was undefeated, winning the first NCAA water polo tournament. A member of UCLA’s 1969 coaching staff told me: “Eric was a ‘thinking’ player and always exhibited a poker face; he never showed much emotion but you knew he felt in control of any situation in the game.” Bruce Bradley, Lindroth’s teammate on the 1972 Olympic team, discussing Lindroth after his death in June 2019: “Eric was the ultimate teammate, another left hander. He came out of Newport Harbor High School as CIF Player of the year in 1968 and won several national championships at UCLA under coach Horn. He melded into our club team easily and made the ’72 Olympic team right out of college, when the best competition in the U.S. was at the club level. Eric was great at both ends of the pool, always in position on ‘D’ and a prolific scorer in the counter attack, out of the hole, or at ‘6’ in the extra man. He led by example, was unselfish, had a rocket arm and was basically a coach’s dream.”
6. Jody Campbell – center, Long Beach Wilson High School and Stanford (3x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 2x Olympian, 2x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
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Campbell was the leading scorer for the United States in the 1988 Olympics with 12 goals. Hall of Fame coach Dante Dettamanti reminiscing about Campbell when he enrolled at Stanford as a freshman: “He was a skinny kid, about 160 pounds, but he was tough. People remember him as a great shooter, but he was also a great passer. Even in difficult situations, he put the ball right in the shooter’s hand. Campbell was our starting 2-meter player as a freshman and played in the NCAA tournament with a split web between his thumb and forefinger.” Hall of Fame coach Monte Nitzkowski speaking about Campbell’s performance during the 1984 Olympics: “Whenever Jody entered the game, the tempo went up. Jody was well regarded for his toughness in the water. He was one of the reasons we never lost at the 1984 Olympics.” Greg Boyer, Campbell’s teammate on the 1988 Olympic team, told me: “Jody was an incredible center forward. He had amazing hands and great court vision. Some of his shots and passes were especially creative. While Terry Schroeder used brute force in set, Jody relied on guile and surprise. As a pair they were very formidable.”
Photo Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
5. Ben Hallock – center, Harvard-Westlake and 3 years at Stanford (2x CIF Southern Section Division 1 champion, 2x CIF Southern Section Division 1 Player of the Year, 1x NCAA champion, 3x 1st team All-American, 2x Cutino Award winner, 2x ACWPC Player of the Year, 3x Olympian, 1x bronze medalist).
Hallock played on the 2016 Olympic team before his freshman year at Stanford, and scored 194 goals in his 3 years at Stanford. He didn’t use his last year of college eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, choosing to play professionally for Pro Recco in Italy. Hallock has had a storied international career, winning 3 LEN Champions League titles, more than any other American. If Hallock continues playing, he will be on the 2028 Olympic team and could move up higher on my list. When his playing career is over, he will almost certainly be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I asked former Harvard-Westlake and current Stanford coach Brian Flacks about Hallock. His response: “I started coaching Ben when he was just 11 years old, and right from the start, it was clear he was special. A couple of things always stood out about him—first, his deep passion for water polo—he absolutely loved the sport. I remember coaching his age group, and I’d burn DVDs of games for him. Ben would text me late at night after watching the games for the third time, excitedly sharing his favorite highlights or moments, or telling me about the players he liked and wanted to mimic. Second, Ben strikes a unique balance of being incredibly calm and thoughtful, yet also hyper-competitive. That blend gave him a maturity and composure from a young age that you rarely see, and allowed him to compete in age groups much older than himself. More importantly, what really set him apart was how that composure allowed him to play his best and be the most dependable in the biggest moments and on the biggest stages. When you combine that passion, his commitment, and the fact that he’s a freak athlete, for me it’s hard not to see him as the best American water polo player of all time, and definitely one of the most dominant players our sport has ever seen. Finally, I think he’s exactly what water polo needs as we continue to grow. He’s a great student, a Stanford graduate, humble, super thoughtful, and considerate. He should be the poster child for the type of person and player we want in our sport. I have no doubt that he’ll succeed in whatever he chooses to do next—as a husband, father, and professional. This kid is one of a kind.”
4. Terry Schroeder – center, San Marcos High School and Pepperdine (3x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 4x Olympian as a player, 2x Olympian as a coach, 2x silver medalist as a player, 1x silver medalist as a coach, 1x FINA World Cup champion as a player, Hall of Fame).
Schroeder, Pepperdine’s all-time leading scorer with a remarkable 444 goals, is the only American water polo player to win an Olympic medal as a head coach and a player. Schroeder and Kevin Robertson led the United States in scoring in the 1984 Olympics, each scoring 13 goals. I asked Craig Boyer, Schroeder’s teammate on the 1988 Olympic team, about Schroeder. He said: “Terry was the strongest player on the 1988 Olympic team, but his greatest strength was his emotional composure. After a bad call or overly physical foul, he would simply smile and adjust his cap. He usually drew an exclusion or scored a goal the next time he touched the ball.” Jody Campbell, Schroeder’s teammate on the 1984 and 1888 Olympic teams, reminiscing about Schroeder: “Terry served as the face of USA Water Polo for decades and continues to serve that role. Nobody could represent the U.S. with integrity, loyalty and humility like Terry. He was the top 2M in the world for decades, with the style of an unmovable beast and a level-headed demeanor. A defender could hit him with a crowbar and he would just smile. In all the years and hundreds of games Terry played nationally, collegiately and internationally, I only once saw him get mad enough to punch someone and that was me.” Craig Klass, Schroeder’s teammate on the 1988 and 1992 Olympic teams, discussing Schroeder’s reputation in Europe: “Such a force at 2M and throughout the pool! A dominant anchor for USA water polo internationally for so many years. The Europeans dubbed Schroeder “The Unsinkable Man,” which pretty much says it all.” An NCAA champion discussing Schroeder’s place in water polo history: “Terry’s statue is at the Coliseum for a reason. I put him above Humbert and Hallock. Terry had a generational impact on the sport in the U.S. I could go on but the man was a piece of granite in the water. A rock-solid foundation for his teams and for our sport.”
3. Chris Humbert – 6’7” LH center, Lodi and Tokay High Schools and Cal (3x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 2x ACWPC Player of the Year, 3x Olympian, 2x FINA World Cup champion, Hall of Fame).
Humbert, the only American male player to win two FINA World Cup championships, is Cal’s all-time leading scorer with 296 goals, scored 37 goals in the Olympics, and usually led his teams in scoring. During Humbert’s four years at Cal, Cal won three NCAA championships, finished second once, and had a won/loss record of 114 and 9. He won two Italian League championships during his two years with Posillipo; a Greek Cup championship during his two years with Ethnikos Piraeus; and a LEN Super Final, Greek Championship, and Greek Cup championship during his one year with Olympiacos. Rich Corso, Humbert’s coach on the 1996 Olympic team, describing Humbert, “He’s like a mix between a Shaq and David Robinson because he’s big and strong and also quick.” Humbert was a freakish athlete. Russ Stryker, one of Humbert’s teammates at Cal, told me: “Humbert was probably the greatest athlete to play water polo in the United States. He could have played on the Cal basketball team, would have been a starting pitcher on the baseball team, and could have been a sprinter on the swim team. He was that talented.” Hall of Fame coach Pete Cutino did not see Humbert play water polo before offering him a scholarship to Cal. Instead, he offered Humbert a scholarship after watching him play a high school basketball game. During the recruiting process, Humbert’s mother asked Cutino whether Humbert would receive much playing time if he went to Cal. Cutino answered, “Mrs. Humbert, if Jesus Christ were on my bench and the starters were playing well, he wouldn’t get into the game.” In spite of Cutino’s cautionary remarks, Humbert was a 3rd team All-American in his freshman season, a 1st team All-American in his sophomore season, and a 1st team All-American and the Player of the Year in his junior and senior seasons.
Photo Courtesy: 6-8 Sports
2. Tony Azevedo – Long Beach Wilson High School and Stanford (4x California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division 1 champion, 3x CIF Southern Section Division 1 Player of the Year, 2x NCAA champion, 4x 1st team All-American, 4x Cutino Award winner, 3x ACWPC Player of the Year, 5x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
Azevedo, the son of a Hall of Fame coach and the only person to win four Cutino Awards, may be the most highly-decorated American water polo player. He scored 61 goals in the Olympics (the 4th most in Olympic history) and 332 goals at Stanford. He had a long international career, playing for Can Bissolati in Italy, JK Primorac in Montenegro, Fluminense in Brazil, VK Jug in Croatia, and Sesi in Brazil, and is better known internationally than he is in the United States. Hall of Fame coach Dante Dettamanti recruited Azevedo to Stanford and coached him in 2001 when Stanford won the NCAA championship. Dettamanti speaking about Azevedo: “He’s without a doubt the best player we’ve ever produced in this country and also the best player we ever had at Stanford. The reason Michael Jordan is a great player is the same reason Tony is a great player. He’s a natural leader. In my 32 years as a college coach, I’ve never had an athlete like this. I’ve never had a freshman selected by his teammates as team captain. He’s a lot like Jordan in that if you drop off him, he’ll shoot from outside and if you press him, he’ll drive on you. He can create things on his own. He’s impossible to guard.” Hall of Fame coach John Vargas followed Dettamanti at Stanford, coaching Azevedo for three years in college and on the 2000 Olympic team. Vargas on Azevedo: “He’s the best player the United States has had. No one’s done what Tony has done. He knows where everybody is at all times. We’ve seen other guys with the same physical ability, but his knowledge of the game separated him from all the rest. He made all his teammates better.”
1. Craig Wilson – 6’5” LH goalie, Davis High Schol and UCSB for 2 years (1x NCAA champion, 1x All-American, 3x Olympian, 2x silver medalist, 1x FINA World Cup champion, Hall of Fame).
During my discussions with coaches, players, and fans, I often asked this question: Who is the greatest player of the NCAA era? There is no consensus. Craig Wilson, Tony Azevedo, Chris Humbert, Terry Schroeder, and Ben Hallock all received some support for this distinction. In a very close call, I chose Craig Wilson because he played goalie (the most important position in water polo), was probably more responsible for the success of his teams than any other player, and would be my first choice if we were selecting players for an imaginary round-robin tournament. Wilson, voted the top goalie in the world on two occasions, is generally considered to be one of the top 4 or 5 goalies of all time. He played professionally for three years, two years for CC Ortigia in Italy and one year for CN Barcelona in Spain. Wilson recorded the most saves in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympics. After winning the silver medal in the 1988 Olympics, United States coach Bill Barnett said, “Without Craig, we would have never gone as far as we did. He was our saving grace.” One of Wilson’s UCSB teammates told me, “Wilson is known far better in Europe for being the GOAT than in the United States.” Craig Boyer, another one of Wilson’s UCSB teammates, describing Wilson’s shot-blocking skills: “During shooting warmups before games at UCSB, it was not uncommon for Craig to block 100 percent of the team’s shots. The opposing teams noticed this and nobody was confident shooting against him. He also knew my shooting tendencies very well. He would guess where I was going to shoot, and not only block a good shot with two hands, but catch it with a laugh. He often blocked shots that looked like certain goals. Wilson made every good team he was on a great team.” Wilson was also an outstanding passer. Rich Corso, the goalie coach on the 1984 Olympic team, said, “Craig was incredible at getting the ball out fast during the counter-attack. He was aggressive. He was never afraid to throw the long touchdown pass.” Wilson describing one of his greatest Olympic performances: “Sometimes the water polo ball looks like a beach ball coming in slowly. Sometimes it looks like a golf ball coming in quickly. That day was a beach ball day.” An NCAA champion told me: “Wilson stuck with the sport for a very long time and is the reason several of the players on your list made it to the Olympics and competed for medals. You simply cannot win at the highest level without superb goalie play. I played with Wilson for years but never on the national team. My perception based on those years is that Wilson was a fabulous talking goalie—directing the defense in front of him especially on power plays. Wilson could determine which player(s) on an opposing team should be allowed to shoot and in what situation. He could pass 30 meters on a dime. Wilson could bait a lob and catch it having already told someone to counter off the top. When Wilson says ‘the ball is looking like a beach ball today,’ you know the other team is not scoring. I realize Tony Azevedo went to the most Olympics, won the Cutino Award four times, won two NCAA titles, and won a medal. I would still place Wilson first. No Wilson no winning and no medals for many others.”
Special Note: If I revisit this article after the 2028 Olympics, Ryder Dodd will probably deserve a spot on my list, perhaps in the top 10.
Ryder Dodd – attacker, Huntington Beach and JSerra High Schools and UCLA (1x NCAA champion, 1x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 1x ACWPC Player of the Year, 1x Olympian, 1x bronze medalist).
Dodd, who just completed his first year at UCLA, played in the 2024 Olympics before entering UCLA. He probably had the greatest true freshman season of any player in the NCAA era. He is expected to be a member of the 2028 Olympic team. Adam Wright, Dodd’s coach at UCLA, speaking in June 2024 after Dodd was named to the 2024 Olympic team: “When we started recruiting Ryder, we laid out an eight-year plan that would position him to be a part of the squad for the 2028 Olympic Games here in Los Angeles. We also listed a short-term goal of him becoming the best player in high school, which he’s done and his high school team winning the CIF Championship, which they did this past season while going undefeated. Over the course of the past year and a half he’s been recognized on the junior national level as one of the best players in his age group in the world and that quickly pushed him to our Senior National Team. Even though we haven’t had the chance to start working with Ryder here at UCLA, the progress that I’ve seen him make over the course of the last year is quite simply special. His attacking abilities from both sides of the pool and his speed are truly a problem for opponents. He’s only the second player in our sport to be in high school and go to the Olympic Games before he steps foot on campus here at UCLA. We look forward to helping Ryder develop into one of the best players in the world.” I asked Brett Ormsby, Dodd’s coach at JSerra, what makes Dodd such a special player. His response: “Ryder is competitive as hell, fearless, and works harder than anybody. He’s as disruptive on defense as he is dangerous on offense. He’s willing to play within a system and always prioritizes the team and winning over his own production. He’s incredibly aquatic, born to move in the water, this is probably the most innate part of his game. He continues to grow as a leader and communicator, which is ultimately where I think his biggest impact will be over the course of his career. He is at his best when his best is needed, in the biggest games and the biggest moments and making winning plays. But ultimately, if I had to pick what stands out most, it’s Ryder’s mind. He is so present at all times, always absorbing information, learning and then applying it to his game. And his game just keeps growing at every step. As a coach, I think it’s an awesome lesson for other kids to know that what makes Ryder special isn’t ultimately the talent, the talent sets a baseline for his success, but we’ve seen tons of talented failures. It’s Ryder’s hunger to learn, his desire for feedback, and his constant pursuit of improvement that set him apart in this early stage of his career, and he still has a lot of time and growth in front of him.”
Happy Birthday Michael Phelps!!
Country: USA
Honoree Type: Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: GREATEST ATHLETE/SWIMMER IN THE HISTORY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES; 28 total Olympic medals: 23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze; 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (200m butterfly, 200m I.M., 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay), silver (100m butterfly); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m butterfly, 200m, I.M., 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 200m freestyle relay), silver (200m butterfly, 4 x 100m freestyle relay); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle, 200m, 400m I.M., 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 200m, 400m I.M., 4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2013 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay), silver (200m freestyle, 200 I.M.), bronze (4 x 100m freestyle relay); 2011 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay) silver (200m freestyle, 200 I.M.), bronze (4 x 100m freestyle relay); 2009 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay), silver (200m freestyle); 2007 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle, 200m, 400m I.M., 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2005 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m freestyle, 200m, 400m I.M., 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay), silver (100m butterfly); 2003 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m butterfly, 200m, 400m I.M.), silver (100m butterfly, 4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2001 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m butterfly).
More than 20 years ago, a teenager from Baltimore arrived on the swimming scene, hungry to showcase his prodigious talent. Yet, for all the potential he flashed at a young age and for all the promise recognized by coach Bob Bowman, there was still no way of predicting a career that can only be described as one-of-a-kind.
The summer of 2000 was a transformative period for the sport as USA Swimming watched a special group of teenage boys emerge as cornerstones for the future. One of them was Phelps, who as a 15-year-old qualified for the Olympic Games in Sydney in the 200-meter butterfly, in the process becoming the youngest male swimmer to qualify for Team USA in 68 years. A month later, Phelps claimed a fifth-place finish at the Games, and his journey to greatness was underway.
Within a year of making his Olympic debut, Phelps had elevated to another level, thanks to a world record in the 200 fly while still 15 years old, and by claiming the first world championship of his career in the summer of 2001. From there, additional events were added to Phelps’ program, this expansion providing the opportunity to showcase his vast skill. While additional world records were registered in the 200 fly, Phelps also defined himself as a world-record setter in the 100 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley.
At the 2004 Games in Athens, the birthplace of the Olympics, Phelps embraced an eight-event schedule that resulted in eight medals – six gold and two bronze. A world record in the 400 individual medley launched his efforts in Greece, which also included solo titles in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly and 200 fly. A bronze was earned in the 200 freestyle, where Phelps challenged himself on the turf of legends Ian Thorpe and Pieter van den Hoogenband.
Over the next few years, Phelps continued to reign, enhancing his portfolio via the World Championships and Pan Pacific Championships, and by encouraging growth in the sport among young boys who envisioned themselves as the next Michael Phelps. When he walked away from the 2007 World Champs in Melbourne with seven gold medals, including four solo world records, the stage was set for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Not since the great Mark Spitz in 1972 had an athlete captured seven gold medals in a single Olympiad, and inside the Water Cube in China, Phelps was prepared to chase eight. To accomplish the feat, Phelps needed to be at his peak, and required a little good fortune. Both proved true. From August 9 through August 17, Phelps was perfect. Eight events. Eight gold medals. There were also seven world records.
In the 400 freestyle relay, Phelps’ pursuit of history was kept alive by the greatest relay leg in history, Jason Lezak’s epic anchor and rundown of France’s Alain Bernard. Meanwhile, Phelps’ instinctual decision to take an extra half-stroke at the finish of the 100 butterfly handed him an improbable comeback triumph over Serbia’s Milorad Cavic, the margin of victory as small as possible – .01. Simply, it was a special week, one forever etched in the annals of the Olympic Games and the sport of swimming.
Following Beijing, Phelps remained an ever-present force, evident in further world championships, world records and epic performances, including another comeback victory over Cavic in the 100 fly at the 2009 World Champs. Come the 2012 Olympics in London, Phelps may not have been in peak form, but he still secured six medals – four of them gold. When the torch was extinguished in the British capital, Phelps headed for retirement.
Eventually, Phelps returned to the pool, eager to end his competitive career with a flourish at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Again, Phelps collected six medals, headlined by a fourth consecutive title in the 200 individual medley and the recapturing of gold in the 200 butterfly, the event that initially sparked the Phelps phenomenon.
All told, Phelps captured 28 Olympic medals during his illustrious career, 10 more than the second-most ever. Of that total, Phelps won 23 gold medals, 14 more than the second-most in history. His career featured 33 medals from the World Championships and 21 medals from the Pan Pacific Championships, along with an incredible 39 world records.
As impressive, Phelps has served as an inspiration to the next generation of athletes to walk the deck, and his public emphasis on the importance of mental health has highlighted the need to take care of oneself and seek support when necessary.
The information on this page was written the year of their induction