SANDRA BUCHA: She’s One in A Thousand !
Sandra Bucha, ISHOF Board Member, Honoree,
Open Water Superstar. She is One in a Thousand!
When asked why she wanted
to join the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s One in A Thousand Club, Bucha
said, “ISHOF signifies the fulfillment of a dream – a dream I never imagined
would be realized. ISHOF preserves the
memory of those who have preceded all of us – whose achievements will serve to
inspire others in future years.
The history of swimming
needs to be preserved. The accomplishments
of our predecessors should always be treasured.
ISHOF does that – and so much more. Our new building will properly
reflect its significance for all who come to visit!
Join the One in a
Thousand Club by helping ISHOF on a monthly or one-time basis.
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SANDRA BUCHA
(USA)
2014 Honor
Open Water Swimmer
FOR THE
RECORD: PROFESSIONAL MARATHON SWIMMING ASSOCIATION WORLD RANKING: 1973 (4th
place), 1974 (2nd place); CHICAGO LAKE FRONT RACE: First Place (1973, 1974,
1975); LA TOQUE 24 HOUR RACE: First Place (1974, 1975); LAC ST. JEAN RACE:
First Place (1974, 1975); LAVAL, CANADA RACE: First Place; ONE AMERICAN RECORD:
200m freestyle, S.C.M.
Like Annette
Kellerman before her, this little girl earned her place in swimming history in
the water and in the courtroom.
Sandra Bucha
had been a top age-grouper in Washington D.C. before her family moved to
Illinois. Swimming under Hall of Fame coach Don Watson, in Hinsdale, she became
an American record holder and national champion. She trained with the boy’s
high school team, as there were no high school swim teams for girls in the
state of Illinois in the 1960’s; Before her senior year, with the support of
her coach and parents, she filed suit against the Illinois High School Athletic
Association to allow her to compete as a member of the boys team. This was before the passage of the Title IX amendment
to the civil rights act. Unfortunately, she
lost the suit. But it was a sign of
things to come.
She decided
to retire from swimming at 18 when she did not make the 1972 Olympic team. She attended Stanford University, which, like
Hinsdale, did not have a women’s swimming team.
Returning
home in the summer of 1973, Sandra saw an ad for a 10-mile swim in Lake
Michigan with a prize purse of $5,000 for the winner and cash awards for second
and third. She had never swum 10 miles straight before, but Sandra thought this
was good time to try. She trained only a couple of weeks and broke the race
record. It was there, at the Lake Michigan swim, where she first discovered
there was a professional circuit in Canada for open water swims.
Sandra Bucha
competed in nine marathon swims between 1973 and 1975 and finished first in every
race. Only once did she come in third to a male and every other swim, she
finished a close second to the first male swimmer. For the two La Toque 24-hour
swims, she teamed up with her high school teammate and Hall of Fame Swimmer,
John Kinsella, to set a record of 190 laps around the lake, winning the race twice.
She won two Lac St. Jean Races (26 miles) and two Laval Canada Swims (10 miles)
and three Lake Michigan Swims (10 miles). Most of her swims were race records
with only three males finishing ahead in her nine races. She retired in 1975 to
pursue a career in law.
Her
accomplishments in the water helped pave the way for thousands of girls and
women to participate in sports. Her
accomplishments in the water helped pave the way for the acceptance of women in
the male dominated sport of marathon swimming and for marathon swimming to
become an Olympic sport.
Sandra
Bucha was ahead of her time in so many ways.
And now, she is “One in A Thousand.”
Won’t you join her?
International Swimming
Hall of Fame wants to know if you are one in a thousand? We think you
are! Show how special you are and become a member of the International
Swimming Hall of Fame’s “One In
A Thousand” Club.
Help keep the International Swimming Hall of Fame moving forward toward a new
vision and museum by joining now!
During these
unprecedented times, the ISHOF Board is calling on every member in the aquatic
community to make a small monthly commitment of support to show how special you
are and how special the International Swimming Hall of Fame is to everyone.
“Our goal is simple.
If we get 1,000 people to simply commit $10, $25 or $50 per month, we will generate
enough revenue to go beyond this Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis.” – Bill
Kent – Chairman of the ISHOF Board
“Those that believe in
our vision, mission, and goals can join us in taking ISHOF into the future and
be a part of aquatic history.” – Brent Rutemiller – CEO and
President of ISHOF
Since 1965, ISHOF has
been the global focal point for recording and sharing the history of aquatics,
promoting swimming as an essential life-skill, and developing educational
programs and events related to water sports. ISHOF’s vision for the future is
to build a new museum and expand its reach by offering its museum artifacts
digitally through a redesigned website.
The ISHOF Board of
Directors is calling on all members of the aquatics community to make a small
monthly commitment to show their dedication to aquatics and how special the
International Swimming Hall of Fame is to everyone.
About ISHOF Take a Virtual Tour
The International
Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) museum opened its doors to the public in December
of 1968 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That same year, the Fédération
Internationale de Natation (FINA) – the governing body for Olympic aquatic
sports – designated the ISHOF museum as the “Official Repository for Aquatic
History”. In 2018, Sports Publications Inc, publisher of Swimming
World Magazine and its multi-media platforms, merged with ISHOF to
expand the museum’s reach and impact. Today, ISHOF’s vision is to be the
global focal point for recording and sharing the history of aquatics, promoting
swimming as an essential life-skill, and developing educational programs and
events related to water sports. Show your support for the sport of
swimming by becoming a member of ISHOF.
ISHOF Vision Statement
To be the global focal point for recording and sharing the history of aquatics,
promoting swimming as an essential life-skill, and developing educational
programs and events related to water sports.
ISHOF Mission Statement
To collaborate with aquatic organizations worldwide to preserve, educate and
celebrate history, showcase events, share cultures, and increase participation
in aquatic sports.
Passages: William ‘Bill’ Yorzyk, 1956 Olympic Champion in 200 Butterfly
by JOHN LOHN – ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
02 September 2020, 07:20pm
Passages: William ‘Bill’ Yorzyk, 1956 Olympic Champion in 200 Butterfly
The sport of swimming lost a giant on Wednesday when William “Bill” Yorzyk, the first Olympic champion in the dolphin-kick version of the butterfly, died at 87. A 1971 inductee into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Yorzyk was born on May 29, 1933, but he did not travel the typical path of an internationally acclaimed swimmer, as he was a late entry to the sport.
According to his ISHOF biography, Yorzyk was a beginner when he enrolled at Springfield College as a 16-year-old. However, that delayed introduction to the competitive scene hardly deterred Yorzyk on his march to the Hall of Fame. Under the guidance of coach Charles “Red” Silvia, Yorzyk showed great potential and developed on a yearly basis. By his junior year of college, he was an All-American, and bigger accomplishments were to come.
Bill Yorzyk getting inducted with Johnny Weissmuller & Buck Dawson. Photo Courtesy: ISHOF Archives
With the breaststroke and butterfly split for the first time at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Yorzyk etched his name in history by capturing the 200 butterfly Down Under. Yorzyk covered his four laps in a world-record time of 2:19.3, which supplied a convincing triumph over Japan’s Takashi Ishimoto (2:23.8) and Hungary’s Gyorgy Tumpek (2:23.9). He was the only male gold medalist for the United States.
By capturing gold in the 200 butterfly, Yorzyk jumpstarted a spectacular tradition in the event for the United States. He has been joined as an Olympic champion in the discipline by legends such as Mike Troy, Carl Robie, Mark Spitz, Mike Bruner, Mel Stewart, Tom Malchow and Michael Phelps.
Bill Yorzyk visiting the Hall of Fame. Photo Courtesy: ISHOF Archives
At Springfield College, Yorzyk could only train in a 20-yard pool, but he clearly made the most of his training environment. Yorzyk was a multi-time world-record setter and complemented his Olympic title with national crowns. Yorzyk also excelled in the 400 individual medley.
Yorzyk went into medicine after his career and was a successful doctor who made sure his coach received credit for his guidance. After graduating from Springfield College, he attended medical school at the University of Toronto and twice won the school’s scholar-athlete award. He served as a captain in the United States Air Force medical corps.
“You’ll find it nailed to the wall (at Linkletter Natatorium),” he said of his gold medal in an interview with MassLive. “I gave it to the college out of gratitude because Springfield and Red Silvia did so much for me. Besides, I feel that seeing the medal might inspire some of the young athletes on campus.”
William “Bill” Yorzyk – ISHOF Biography
Today in 1972: ISHOF Honor Swimmer Roland Matthes wins GOLD in Munich
Swimmer Roland Matthes
On this day in Swimming History:
September 2, 1972: East German swimmer Roland Matthes wraps up the Olympic backstroke double with a world record 2:02.82 in the 200m in Munich, having already won the 100m in Olympic record time.
The world of swimming sadly lost Matthes last year, at the age of 69, after a brief illness.
On this day in 1879, German Olympic gold medallist, ERNST HOPPENBERG was born !!!
ERNST HOPPENBERG (GER)
1988 Honor Pioneer Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1900 gold (200m backstroke). First Olympic backstroke champion.
Ernst Hoppenberg was the very first Olympic backstroke champion when the dorsal stroke was added to the Olympic bill in 1900 at the second Olympic Games in Paris. Hoppenberg’s winning tradition continued for Germany in the backstroke event for the next two Olympiads. (Brack 1904, Bieberstein 1908). Hoppenberg remained the 200 meter backstroke Olympic record holder until 1964 when USA’s Jed Graef captured the gold after the 200 meter distance was again added to the program. Hoppenberg won a second gold medal on the winning team race (freestyle relay) for Germany, thus showing his versatility and all around prowess in more than one stroke.
Hoppenberg was even more versatile than just swimming, as he played water polo as well, but did not compete in the only march for Germany in the 1900 tournament. Ernst was killed suddenly in late September 1937 in a traffic accident.
On this Day in Olympic Swimming History !!!
August 31, 1972
American superstar swimmer, Mark Spitz, wrapped up the Olympic butterfly double in world record time of 54.27 in the 100-meter at the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, having already won the 200-meter in world record time in 2:00.70
1977 ISHOF Honor Swimmer Mark Spitz
Happy Birthday IAN CROCKER !!!
Ian Crocker (USA)
2017 Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4x100m medley); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4x100m medley), silver (100m butterfly), bronze (4x100m freestyle); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4x100m medley); TWO LONG COURS and THREE SHORT COURSE WORLD RECORD: (50 & 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle); 2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (100m butterfly; 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (100m butterfly, 4x100m medley), silver (50m butterfly); 2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 4x100m medley, 4x100m freestyle); 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (100m butterfly, 4x100m medley), silver (50m butterfly); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (50m butterfly,100m butterfly); 2002 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m butterfly); 2004 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m butterfly, 4x100m medley)
When 17-year old Ian Crocker entered the 2000 US Olympic Trials, it was with a view to gain experience for 2004, but he left the meet winning the 100m butterfly. Then, at the Olympic Games in Sydney, he won a gold medal as a member of the USA’s world record breaking 4x100m medley relay team.
After graduating from high school, he left Maine to swim for Eddie Reese at the University of Texas and won the NCAA title in the 100yd butterfly as a freshman. He was America’s top flyer and won a silver medal at the 2001 FINA World Championships. At the 2002 Phillips Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, 17-year old Michael Phelps rallied in the final yards to beat him and claim his American record of the 100m butterfly. Thus began an incredible rivalry that would last through the Beijing Olympic Games.
At the 2003 FINA World Championships, Crocker won the 100m butterfly, beating Phelps and becoming the first in history to break 51 seconds. He beat Phelps and bettered his world record again at the 2004 Olympic Trials while also finishing second behind Jason Lezak in the 100m freestyle.
Before their race in Athens, it was clear that Ian had not been feeling well or swimming well. In fact, he arrived at the Olympic village with a sore throat. He performed poorly in the 100m freestyle and freestyle relay and as he was starting to feel better, Phelps took the gold with a brilliant touch at the wall to beat him in the 100m butterfly, which knocked him off the relay, one that he had been a part of since 2000. In a magnanimous gesture of grace and sportsmanship, Michael Phelps gave his medley spot to Crocker. “He wasn’t feeling too well,” said Phelps. “He deserved another shot.” The gesture brought Crocker to near tears and he didn’t disappoint, splitting a world best time of 50.28 seconds, to help his team win gold and set a new world record.
In 2005, Phelps had backed off a bit on training, while Crocker was wholly focused on the FINA World Championships. In the much anticipated rematch, Crocker took the lead and never looked back, finishing a full body length ahead of the field and breaking his world record by more than three tenths of a second.
At the 2008 Beijing Olmpic Games, despite not earning a medal in his signature event, Crocker swam in the prelims of the USA’s 4×100m medley relay and received his third Olympic relay gold medal.
Ian Crocker retired after the Beijing Games with 21 medals in major international competition, spanning three Olympics and four FINA World Championships. He is one of the only swimmers in history to win the same event – the 100yd butterfly – all four years of college. History will remember him as one of the greatest butterflyers, a man who held onto the 100m butterfly world record for six years.
Today we Celebrate one of Swimming’s brightest minds !!!!
CECIL COLWIN (CAN)
1993 Honor Contributor
FOR THE RECORD: Swimming coach in South Africa from 1945-1971, introducing age group swimming and coaching swimmers to every Olympic Team; founder of South African Professional Swimming Coaches Association, swimmers broke four world records and won 45 Senior South African Championships; Coach in Australia 1971-1972; National Technical Director of Canada 1973-1977; Introduced the successful “TAG” (Top Age Group) and event identification program in Canada; First to conduct extensive research into the fluid dynamics of swimming (“Vortex Theory” and “Functional Shaping”); author of over 100 articles and 3 books: Cecil Colwin On Swimming (1969), Introduction To Swimming Coaching (1977), (Canadian Level I Manual) and Swimming Into The 21st Century (1991); Editor of Level II and Level III Manuals of the Canadian Coaches Certification Program; swimming book illustrator and cartoonist.
A competitive swim coach since 1945, Cecil Colwin has long been known for his work on the technical aspects and history of swimming. Internationally, he is know as a coach, stroke technician, administrator, educator, lecturer, researcher, author, cartoonist, and illustrator.
He is the only person to coach and serve on three continents–Africa, Australia, and North America. Born in Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, Colwin became South Africa’s first full-time swimming coach and for 26 years, placed swimmers on every Olympic team until which time South Africa was banned from Olympic competition. His 1956 squad, with the exception of one swimmer, comprised the entire Olympic team. The women’s 400 meter freestyle relay team, which finished third to Australia and the United States, was from Colwin’s home team.
In 1952, he originated the age group swimming program of South Africa and before he moved to Australia in 1971, his swimmers had broken four world records which included Ann Fairlee’s 100 meter backstroke record, earned eight positions on Olympic teams (six on British Empire teams and fourteen on other international squads). During his tenure in Australia, Colwin’s swimmers won nineteen state championships and three national championships.
In 1973, after a world-wide search, he was appointed National Technical Director of Canada, during which time he implemented the early stages of Canada’s successful “TAG” (Top Age Group), talent identification program for discovering aspiring young swimmers. He edited the “Level II” and Level III” Canadian Certification manuals and has served on almost every Canadian organizational committee. Colwin developed a six-point plan for Canadian swimming for the 1986 Montreal Olympics where the Canadian percentage of finalists improved 15.4 percent (USA 18%) from five percent the previous three Olympic Games.
Colwin was the first to conduct extensive research into the fluid dynamics of swimming. Based on his observations of vortex flow reactions in the water, he developed the “functional shaping” method of coaching stroke mechanics. He has written over 100 articles and papers for a variety of periodicals and is the author of Cecil Colwin On Swimming and Introduction To Swimming Coaching, Canada’s official Level I coaching manual which has been printed every year since 1977 in English, French, and German.
In 1991, his major work, Swimming Into The 21st Century, was published with over 300 of Cecil’s own illustrations. It was the result of a lifetime of work and six years of writing. Over the years, he has delivered over 200 lectures and clinics internationally on the sport of swimming.
Cecil Colwin was inducted into ISHOF in 1993 as an Honor Contributor and swimming lost this great man in 2012.
Happy Birthday JANET EVANS !!!
JANET EVANS (USA)
Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 400m IM); 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (800m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle); 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES: participant; SEVEN WORLD RECORDS: 2 (400m freestyle), 3 (800m freestyle), 2 (1500m freestyle); 1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle), silver (200m freestyle); 1994 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (800m freestyle), bronze (4x200m freestyle relay); 1993 SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 4x2OOm freestyle relay); 45 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 11 (400m freestyle),
2 (400y freestyle), 2 (1000y freestyle), 12 (800m freestyle), 1 (1650y freestyle), 8 (1500m freestyle), 1 (200m IM), 2 (400y IM), 5 (400m IM); 7 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (500y freestyle), 2 (1650y freestyle), 2 (400y IM), 2 (4x200y freestyle relay).
Being teased by other swimmers because of her lack of height and weight while growing up only fueled her to be more competitive and vigorous in the water. Even at 5 feet 4 inches and 99 pounds during her peak years, Janet Evans turned her “windmill-in-a-hurricane” stroke into the machine that won one silver and four Olympic gold medals, set seven world records and qualified for three successive Olympic teams. She was the first American woman to win four individual Olympic gold medals in swimming. As a distance freestyler and 400 IMer, she turned in over half of the top ten 400m and 800m freestyle world best performances in a four-year period. After Shane Gould of Australia, she is only the second female swimmer to hold three world records concurrently (400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle), recognizing her as the USA’s greatest female distance swimmer. In just a few short years, she was groomed from swimmer to world hero.
Evans was a very active child who loved swimming. By age three she could do at least half of an I.M.. As a member of the Fullerton Aquatic Swim Team under coach Bud McAllister, she was a coach’s dream, always trained hard, never complained and focused on improving. All but the fly came naturally to her. In 1984 at age thirteen, she won her first U.S. Junior Nationals (1500m freestyle). In 1987 she opened onto the national and international scene winning her first of 45 U.S. National Championships over a nine year period and first of 12 Pan Pacific gold medals having qualified in four Pan Pacific Championships. 1987 was also the first year of three World Swimmer of the Year titles (1987,1989,1990).
In the year before the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, Janet set three of her seven World Records. Her 400m freestyle time of 4:05.45 broke Hall of Famer Tracy Wickham’s (AUS) nine-year-old mark and her 8:17.12 800m freestyle time broke the 1978 world record time, also held by Tracy. Janet also set the 1500m freestyle record at 16:00.73, beating Hall of Famer Kim Linehan’s 1979 world mark. During her career, Janet set each of these records a second time and a third time for the 800m.
The next year in Seoul, Janet became the first female since Hall of Famer Debbie Meyer in 1968 to win three individual Olympic events – the 400m and 800m freestyle and 400m individual medley. It was her trademark “bursts of speed,” a rapid and timely increase in stroke rate towards the end of each race, that boosted her to defeat competitors sometimes 60 pounds stronger and with longer arms and bodies. By capturing the golds, she captured the hearts of millions of people. At age 17 and still a student at El Dorado High School, Placentia, California, she became a household name, a celebrity and public speaker.
In 1989, she was elected U.S.O.C. Sports Woman of the Year and received the Sullivan Award as the most prestigious amateur athlete in the United States. This is only the fourth time in the award’s history that a female swimmer has been the recipient.
After two years at Stanford University in the early 1990s swimming for Olympic coach Richard Quick and winning 7 NCAA National Championships as well as NCAA Swimmer of the Year, Janet moved to Austin, Texas to be with Olympic coach Mark Schubert who prepared her for the 1992 and 1996 Olympic teams. In Barcelona in 1992, Janet made Olympic history by becoming the first female to win the 800m freestyle for a second time. She also won the silver in the 400m freestyle. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics at the age of 24, she competed as captain on her third U.S.A. Olympic team, culminating a career filled with success and excitement.
Janet’s familiar pose was standing on top of the victory stand. She won six medals at the 1991 and 1993 short course and 1994 World Championships. After college competition, she became eligible to pursue many sponsorship endorsements. She was elected to the First FINA Athletes Commission (1992), chosen as the Atlantic Games Olympic stadium torchbearer with Mohammed Ali and had “The Janet Evans International” in Los Angeles named in her honor. This energy-efficient, two-beat freestyle swimmer, unusually humble with a smile that won a million hearts, is a swimmer who loved competition, loved racing and loved sharing it with all who asked.
Janet has been a great friend to ISHOF since she was inducted in 2001 (has it really been 19 years ago?) She has been back many times to visit, emcee the Honoree Ceremonies, represent USA Swimming and more! We are ready for your next trip to Fort Lauderdale Janet! We miss you!
Passages: Andy Burke, Devoted US Water Polo Administrator, 91
25 August 2020
Andy Burke, a long-time administrator for water polo who served on numerous U.S. and international committees, passed away last Friday at the age of 91.
For his efforts on behalf of American water polo, in 2018 Burke was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) for his substantial contributions to the sport.
[Andy Burke 2018 induction to ISHOF]
A long-time member of The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Burke recently became one of a handful of members to have earned a 75th anniversary membership pin. An unbridled supporter of the club’s master’s water polo program, for more than half a century he was likely to be found anywhere polo was being played, especially when it came to his beloved OC.
Burke (far right) and The Olympic Club men’s water polo team. Photo Courtesy: The OC
In 1945—while still a high school student in San Francisco—Burke beganplaying water polo for The Olympic Club. He narrowly missed selection for the U.S. men’s polo teams that competed at the Pan American Games of 1955 in Mexico City, and 1959 in Chicago, as well as the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and the 1960 Games in Rome.
Following his final failed attempt at Olympic glory, Burke traded in his speedo for a referee’s whistle. He also took on administrative duties with the U.S. men’s national program. In 1960, he was elected Chairman of the National AAU water polo committee; from 1961 through 1964 he also served as chairman of water polo for the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Burke realized his dream to participate in the Games when he oversaw the Olympic team selection process and also served as manager for the USA water polo squad at the 1964 Tokyo Games. From 1966 through 1976, he served as Chairman of the AAU Water Polo Rules Committee; internationally, he served on the Technical Water Polo Committee UANA, the Swimming Union of the Americas, from 1963 through 1975, and on the UANA Executive Board from 1975 to 1995.
As described by Michael Haley, a longtime Olympic Club competitor, Burke was almost never absent when the OC men participated in polo competition—a three decade period that coincided with the Club’s most enduring period of polo success.
“I can only recall a handful of games over the last 30 years that Andy wasn’t on our bench,” Haley write in an email. closing with: “Andy Burke We Love Your Show.”
Along with Russ Hafferkamp Burke produced Water Polo at The Olympic Club, 1896-2012: A Century of Excellence, a comprehensive publication on The Olympic Club’s century-long polo success. He was also intimately involved in the Peter J, Cutino Award, which for the past two decades has been annually presented to the top male and female collegiate athlete in the U.S.
Burke with the Cutino Award. Photo Courtesy: The OC
His passing touched many in the polo community; following are a selection of tributes for Burke, considered one of the country’s greatest supporters of the sport in America.
Andy Burke turned 91 last Saturday and as little as a year ago, he was right in the mix at FINA World Masters Championships with many of us enjoying yet another epic OC polo trip.
His dedication to our sport was unparalleled and his commitment to our Club was inspiring. He was recently awarded his 75th anniversary membership card and special lapel pin from the OC which put him in the rarified air of only 26 other people, [that accomplishment] speaks for itself…
Bennett Indart, Olympic Club member, Co-founder and Chairman, Peter J. Cutino Award
***
I am so saddened to hear about Andy’s passing. Over the course of the past few years we have lost legends of the sport we all love. Each one of those legends were selfless to the game of water polo. It was never about them and all about the players and the betterment of our sport.
I will forever be thankful for Andy’s support—no matter what team you played for. I had the privilege of becoming close with him during my time with the national team and during the premier league with NYAC. It was always great to saddle up to the bar with Andy and hear about our sport’s history. USA Water Polo is in a better place because of Andy’s contributions and there will be a void on the OC bench without the man in a bucket hat.
Adam Wright, head men’s and women’s coach, UCLA; three-time Olympian
***
Terribly sad news indeed, for the Club and the entire water polo universe. An incredible man, dedicated to doing the right thing by his teams, teammates, friends and family.
John Tanner, head women’s coach, Stanford
***
Andy was a true sportsman and someone always willing to advise and help in any way possible. I will miss him as he was devoted to the Club in water polo, basketball, the Cutino Award, committee functions and life and people in general. Thank you, Andy for being a mentor and friend.
Gary Crook, Athletic Director at The Olympic Club
***
Burke, Denny Harper (left), Russ Hafferkamp (right). Photo Courtesy: The OC
“The Legend passed away at 1am today surrounded by all of his boys. He was peaceful and ready to be with Carolyn. A new chapter has begun and we shall all take on the challenge to continue the O Club legacy in the name of the legend Andy Burke.”
I think Rich Ambidge said it best and certainly how Andy would want it. He would want us to continue to pick up the ball and run with it. We will forever be grateful for all that Andy has done for our sport.
While it would be almost impossible individually, my hope is that collectively, we can fill the incredibly big shoes he leaves behind. So as Rich stated above it is “Our” challenge to continue the O Club legacy in the name of Andy Burke.
Michael Haley, masters’ player for The Olympic Club, induction in the ISHOF for water polo in 2013
***
How do I put it? He was like the president, sergeant at arms and secretary of water polo for so long. He organized tournaments, knew the rules, kept people in line and has helped US Water Polo with running nationals.
In the late sixties in one of my first club games he kicked me out for a profanity—I was a little kid. That’s just the way Andy was. Things were by the rules.
He was a wonderful guy, a real gentleman and just super for water polo. He was organized, kept us legitimate… pretty amazing.
– Was Burke one of a kind, never to be experienced again?
Yes and no. We’re gonna miss Andy [because] there aren’t a lot of people who commit their lives to the the sport. Barbara Kalbus comes to mind—someone like that. They were always there and always helping organize and keep us going.
I’m sure there will be people in the future who will be as involved. [Polo’s] more widespread now—it’s nationwide—than it was in the past.
The five years that I coached the Olympic Club group, Andy was always hanging out with us and kept those guys in line because [they were] kind of a crazy group.
Absolutely one of a kind.
Bruce Watson, head coach, San Jose State men’s team; former head coach The Olympic Club men’s master’s team
Water Polo Fans: Today we celebrate the birth of Jimmy Smith, the Father of Modern Water Polo
JAMES “JIMMY” SMITH (USA)
1992 Honor Pioneer Water Polo/Contributor
FOR THE RECORD: Father of modern water polo; Designer of modern water polo ball; 1955 PAN AMERICAN GAMES Coach; Author of first water polo textbook, 1936.
Jimmy Smith, father of modern water polo, knew more rules and history of the sport than anyone before or after him. Smith introduced and wrote them, developing many of the modern rules which are used in competition today, including the use of the yellow rubberized ball adopted by FINA in 1956.
A native of Oakland, California, Jimmy began his athletic career at the University of Southern California in 1924. Elected team captain of both the swimming and water polo teams, Smith earned an undergraduate degree in Business (1928) and a Masters degree in Education (1935).
Smith used his athletic experience to begin his professional career as a swimming and water polo coach and collegiate athletic director. For over thirty years, Smith served as the athletic director of Fullerton Junior College and Fullerton High School. His water polo and swimming teams amassed 164 team championships, including five national, five AAU, and six California State Championship titles. Internationally, Smith coached the United States Pan American Water Polo Team in 1955 at the second Pan American Games in Mexico City.
Smith was a mentor to many of America’s top coaches, including Hall of Famer Monte Nitzkowski, United States National and Olympic team water polo coach. “He was the man who launched my career,” said Nitzkowski. “It was Jimmy’s guidance, leadership, and undying love for the sport that inspired me.”
Smith authored several works on water polo mechanics and coaching. His first book, Playing and Coaching Water Polo, published in 1936 and revised in 1948, was the world’s first complete textbook on the sport. Smith also produced and edited The World Encyclopedia of Water Polo, published in 1989. A member of the 1948 and 1952 United States Olympic Water Polo Committees, Smith was elected to the United States Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1976, and in 1985 received the highest honor in the United States Water Polo, the Peter Uebberoth Award, for his contributions to water polo.
Smith was an innovator and his creation of the modern day water polo ball was instrumental in the development of the above-the-water, faster-moving, ball-controlled game. From the 1912 Olympics, the leather soccer ball absorbed water and became extremely heavy, slippery and out-of-control when wet. Following the 1936 Olympic in Berlin, Jimmy developed a ball made with a cotton bladder, which later changed to nylon to improve performance, with a rubber fabric cover. The new ball was red, but by 1948 yellow was adopted for better visibility. It became an official Olympic ball in 1956, greatly increasing spectator interest.
Jimmy Smith is honored for his achievements, friendships, and trail-blazing accomplishments in the sport of water polo. As competitor, coach, and author, water polo was his life.
