Happy Birthday JESSE VASSALLO !!!
JESSE VASSALLO (USA)
1997 Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 1980 US OLYMPIC TEAM: Boycott; 1984 US OLYMPIC TEAM: 4th (400m IM); WORLD RECORDS (3): 200m IM, 400m IM; 1978 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m backstroke, 400m IM): silver (200m IM); 1979 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold (200m IM, 400m IM), silver (200m backstroke); US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES (17): 7 short course (200yd backstroke, 200yd, 400yd IM, 400yd medley relay), 10 long course (200m backstroke, 200m 400m IM); NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE: (400yd IM); 1978 WORLD SWIMMER OF THE YEAR.
He began his swimming career at Club Deportivo de Ponce and became the most successful swimmer ever from the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico. Given the name Jesus David, dubbed Cheyenne by his mother, Daise, but known throughout the world as Jesse, this young swimmer, at an early age, became the hero to many a younger competitor. During his six year international career, Jesse Vassallo set three world records in the individual medley, lasting a combined five years.
Because his father wanted better and faster training for Jesse and Jesse’s four brothers, and also to improve upon their English, the family moved from Ponce, Puerto Rico, to Miami, where, at age 11, in 1974, Jesse began swimming with the Hurricane Swim Club. Soon he won his first national record at age 13 in the 200m backstroke. At that point, his father, a successful businessman and professional basketball player, knew his son had what it took to be a champion. That year became a pivotal year for Jesse and the family as they moved to California to train under the famed Mission Viejo coach, Mark Schubert.
Under Schubert’s cautious guidance, Jesse improved enough to compete in his first National Championship meet (1976) and win his first National Championship race (1977) at Kelly Pool in Philadelphia.
In 1978, as a 17 year old “Gold Fish,” Jesse got gold fever at the Berlin World Championships, winning both the 200m and the 400m individual medleys and setting a world record in the 400m individual medley, a record he broke once more and held for four years; all while he was still in high school.
In 1979, Vassallo claimed five more US National Championships and prepared for his first swim in his native Puerto Rico since his family had left seven years previously. “I was a little nervous about swimming at the Pan American Games in Puerto Rico, a little unsure how the people would like me having gone to the United States to train. But they were great. Once I got there, I knew I wanted to swim super fast for the people and for my family,” Vassallo said. And super fast he swam, winning the 200m IM in world record time (2:03.29) and the 400m IM, and taking the silver in the 200m backstroke. Friends and relatives, all sporting yellow “Vassallo” t-shirts led the crowd in “Viva Vassallo” cheers.
Jesse Vassallo was the Kid of the IM; world record holder in both the 200m and 400m IM, World Championship gold medalist in the 400m IM, and Pan American Games gold medalist in both the 200m and 400m IM. Swimming World magazine selected him as World Swimmer of the Year and the European press chose him as one of the world’s top ten athletes, among major sports stars as Mohammed Ali, Bjorn Borg and Mario Andretti.
But hardships fell upon Jesse. He was riding high to compete at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Like many other athletes, his dreams were shattered with the Olympic boycott. His father was struck by a car on the road and never recovered, and during his illustrious career as a student athlete at the University of Miami swimming under Coach Bill Diaz, Jesse seriously damaged his left knee ligaments, requiring surgery and almost two years of recovery, keeping him out of the 1982 Guayaquil World Championships. “You don’t know what you’ve got until you don’t have it anymore. Now I want it back,” said Jesse.
Propelled by his passion for sports he inherited from his father, and the relentless spirit of a true champion, his comeback in 1984 included another national title in the 200m backstroke and another spot on the US Olympic Team where he managed a fourth place in the 400m IM race at Los Angeles.
The recovery time before the Olympics was not quite long enough to fully heal and prepare for international competition.
After 14 years, following the 1984 Games, he announced his retirement from competitive swimming. Since then, he has conducted swimming clinics in the US, Puerto Rico and Central and South America and currently coaches the swim team in his hometown. He and his brothers have established a successful manufacturing operation. Jesse lives with his wife Bethsabee and their three children Jess, Victor and Alejandro, in Puerto Rico.
Happy Birthday Esther Williams !!!
ESTHER WILLIAMS
1966 HONOR SWIMMER
2007 GOLD MEDALLION RECIPIENT
No other person is asked or talked about more at the International Swimming Hall of Fame than Esther Williams, the most celebrated swimming, stage and screen star Hollywood has ever seen. She was a competitive swimmer who used her swimming talent to become one of Hollywood’s most famous actresses.
Born in Los Angeles, she grew up swimming in playground pools and surfing at local beaches. In 1939, swimming for the Los Angeles Athletic Club, she became the U.S. National Champion in the 100m freestyle as well as a member of three LAAC National Championship relay teams – the medley relays swimming breaststroke, and the freestyle relay. As a favorite for the 1940 U.S. Olympic Team, World War II intervened, canceling the Games and her hopes for gold and fame.
Esther decided to go pro and switched from breaking records in the pool to breaking records at the box office. With her stunning good looks and tall, muscular frame, she was a standout! Legendary showman Billy Rose hired her to star opposite Johnny Weissmuller in his “San Francisco Aquacade”, a Broadway musical of swimmers, divers, singing and special effects. MGM executives soon offered her a screen test paired with Clark Gable. She signed her first contract and debuted with Mickey Rooney in “Andy Hardy’s Double Life”. Audience response was phenomenal and her movie career soared into high gear.
“Bathing Beauty” with Red Skelton was Hollywood’s first swimming movie. A special deep pool was built on the MGM lot complete with lifts, hidden air hoses and special camera cranes for overhead shots. “No one had ever done a swimming movie before” she exclaimed, “so we just made it up as we went along.” Busby Berkley was responsible for the water scenes – the fountains, flames and smoke, and lots of pretty girls. “Bathing Beauty” was second only to “Gone with the Wind” as the most successful film of 1944.
In “Million Dollar Mermaid”, Esther played Annette Kellerman who in 1907 was arrested on a Boston beach for wearing a shocking one-piece swimsuit that revealed her arms and legs. It was the first film to cost over $1 million dollars. “Dangerous When Wet”, “Pagan Love Song” and “Easy to Love” were others of her 26 career films. Her movies inspired many youngsters to take up water ballet and popularized synchronized swimming.
Following her stellar movie career, she put her name on the Esther Williams Above Ground Swimming Pool. Her Esther Williams swim suit collection, sold in department stores, was designed for the more mature woman. For more than 18 years, she was America’s sweetheart. In 1953, the foreign press voted her the most popular actress in 50 countries.
Aquatic Complex Update – Dive Well Floor – First Pour
ISHOF / Aquatic Complex Update – August 7, 2020
From: Laura Voet <LVoet@fortlauderdale.gov>
Subject: FLAC Update: Dive Well Floor – First Pour! Whoo Hoo
Date: August 7, 2020 at 1:13:48 PM EDT
Hi. I can’t believe it is already August. We’ve already had one hurricane, glad it scooted by as a tropical storm. Whew.
No further updates on high school sports in Florida, there are several adjusted season options that are being discussed. Right now they have an August 24 start date for swimming. Broward Schools still have a start date of August 19.
The Florida Gold Coast Officials had a Zoom meeting this week, we discussed new protocols and how teams are running meets, including the status of high school officiating.
Construction is moving along. The first concrete placement for the Dive Well was Tuesday, August 4! Whoo Hoo!! The Main competition pool foundation and plumbing is complete too.
Hensel Phelps took drone videos, I’ll send them when they become available.
DIVE WELL FLOOR – August 4, 2020
Start: 5:00 AM
End: 9:30 AM
Trucks: 36
Concrete: 355 yards
CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE
CONCRETE: The next large concrete pour will be the week before the Labor Day holiday – Dive Well Walls
SHEET PILES: Hensel Phelps is tracking to mobilize the steel sheet pile contractor on August 17 to begin removing the steel sheet piles from the Main Competition Pool as the concrete is cured and pool plumbing is set. Once the dive well walls are poured and cured, those sheet pile will be removed as well. Timeframe: August 17-October 2; 8am to 5pm Monday – Friday.
PAUL ASMUTH…He’s One in A Thousand!
PAUL ASMUTH……He’s One in A Thousand!
Paul Asmuth ascended on the world scene in the 1980’s
becoming the most dominant racer on the professional circuit and one of the
world’s greatest professional marathon swimmers. Paul Asmuth– He’s One in A Thousand!
When asked why he wanted to join the International Swimming Hall
of Fame’s One in A Thousand Club, Asmuth said,
“We continue to support the ISHOF in honor of those who have
made such incredible historical contributions to aquatic sports as athletes,
coaches, and in all areas of significance.”
Join
the One in a Thousand Club by helping ISHOF on a monthly or one-time basis.
·
$10 Monthly Commitment
·
$25 Monthly Commitment
·
$50 Monthly Commitment
·
Make a One-Time Commitment
For
larger corporate sponsorships and estate-planning donations, please contact us
at customerservice@ishof.org
Paul
Asmuth grew up in the sunshine state of Florida and swam his way through school
with the Fort Myers Swimming Association. He continued in college at Auburn and
Arizona State with career stops at Mission Viejo, Bolles Sharks and Santa
Barbara Swim Club.
Along
the way, Paul had some of the world’s greatest coaches: Ginny Duenkel, Gregg
Troy, Eddie Reese, Ron Johnson, Mark Schubert, Larry Leibowitz and Charles
“Red” Silvia. With his own mental toughness, he grew to become one of the
world’s greatest professional marathon swimmers. He was one of the first to
utilize speed techniques from the pool into open water. Asmuth became the marathon swimmer to
beat on the professional circuit during the 1980’s. He won the 23 mile “Around
the Island Swim” in Atlantic City, an unprecedented eight times in water
temperatures ranging from the low 60’s F to the 80’s F. He has a record six
wins in the 27 mile Traversee Memphremagog, in Canada, holding the record from
1980 to 1994.
Paul
won the granddaddy of marathon swims, the Lac St. Jean crossing in Roberval,
Quebec two times at 21 miles and once at 40 miles setting a record of 17h 6m in
50 degree water. He won the 20 mile Capri-Napoli Swim three times and holds the
record at 6h 35m. Paul also set the course record for the 50 degree F 14 mile
Les Quatorze Mille de Paspe-biac Swim at 5h 35m, winning it four times. All
totaled he has seven World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation Titles.
Paul
Asmuth’s solo swims include three English Channel crossings including the men’s
record (8h 12m). He was the only swimmer to complete the 31 mile Nantucket to
Cape Cod Massachusetts, and the first person to swim under seven hours around
28 mile Manhattan Island.
The
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.
The
International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. is registered as a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization, incorporated in the State of Florida. Contributions to
ISHOF are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. ISHOF’s tax
identification number is 59-1087179. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND
FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY
CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR FROM , www.800helpfla.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT,
APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. You can find out more about us
on guidestar.org under
International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc.
Happy Birthday Gary Hall Sr.!!!
DR. GARY HALL, SR. (USA)
1981 Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1968 silver (400m individual medley); 1972 silver (200m butterfly); 1976 bronze (100m butterfly); WORLD RECORDS: 10; NATIONAL AAU Swimming titles: 23; NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS titles: 7; AMERICAN RECORDS: 23.
In the 1976 Olympic Opening Ceremonies Gary Hall, like Harry Hebner (1912) and Johnny Weissmuller (1928), was elected the American flag bearer for the United States Olympic Team. It was at Montreal and the third Olympic Games in which Dr. Hall was to medal. This Indiana University graduate held 10 World Records, won 30 U.S. National titles and was the first swimmer under four minutes for the 400 individual medley. He won championships in 3 of 4 strokes and was the dominate world figure in the I.M. for a decade. He was the World Swimmer of the Year in 1969 and 1970. Gary was a claim to fame for the 5 great coaches who trained him at some time during his 14 years of competition. Gary’s Olympic medals were in 3 different events and 3 successive Olympics.
Happy Birthday YANA KLOCHKOVA !!!
Yana Klochkova (UKR)
2013 Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (200m individual medley, 400m individual medley), silver (800m freestyle); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (200m individual medley, 400m individual medley); TWO WORLD RECORDS: (50m); 400m individual medley, (25m) 400m individual medley; 1998 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (400m individual medley); 2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (400m individual medley, 400m freestyle), silver (200m individual medley); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m individual medley, 400m individual medley); 1999 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (25m): gold (400m individual medley), silver (200m individual medley); 2000 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (25m): gold (200m individual medley, 400m individual medley) silver (400m freestyle); 2002 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (25m): gold (400m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 400 individual medley); EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (50m): 10 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze; (25m): 8 gold, 1 silver; WORLD AND EUROPEAN SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: 2004.
She was born into an athletic minded family in 1982, in Simferopol, Ukraine, when it was the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within the old Soviet Union. Because of the Soviet Union’s emphasis on physical education, the Ukraine was left with hundreds of stadiums and swimming pools. This little girl picked the swimming pool to excel. She first started in gymnastics, but once she started swimming at age seven, she never looked back.
By age eight, she was training four hours daily with an hour a day of dry-land. Her hard work paid off as Yana Klochkova became the greatest individual medley swimmer in the first decade of the 21st century and maybe of all-time.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she won gold medals in the 200 meter and the 400 meter individual medley, the latter in world record time, lasting seven years. She also won the silver medal in the 800 meter freestyle behind Hall of Fame swimmer Brooke Bennett of the United States.
Between 2000 and 2004, she lost only one individual medley race at the short course European Championships in Antwerp, 2001.
At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Klochkova became the first swimmer to win consecutive pairs of Olympic gold medals in the 200 meter and the 400 meter individual medley and was dubbed the “Medley Queen”.
She was both the “European Swimmer of the Year” and the “World Swimmer of the Year” in 2004.
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, she was the flag bearer for her country. With her successive Olympic wins, she will always be remembered as the greatest individual medley swimmer in the history of the Olympic Games.
Happy Birthday PAUL ASMUTH !!!
PAUL ASMUTH (USA)
2010 Honor Open Water Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: SEVEN WORLD PROFESSIONAL MARATHON SWIMMING FEDERATION TITLES: 1980-1985, 1988; MOST WINS LA TRA-VERSEE DU LAC MEMPHREMAGOG: SIX CROSSINGS; FIRST AROUND MANHATTAN ISLAND UNDER SEVEN HOURS; ATLANTIC CITY PRESS NAMES ASMUTH ATHLETE OF THE DECADE (1990); COMPETED IN 59 INTERNATIONAL MARATHON SWIMMING RACES.
Move over Abou Heif, Herman Williamsee and John Kinsella, the greatest mara-thon swimming racers the world had seen. That’s until Paul Asmuth ascended on the world scene in the 1980’s becoming the most dominant racer on the professional circuit and one of the world’s greatest professional marathon swimmers.
Growing up in the sunshine state of Florida, he swam his way through school as an age-group swimmer with the Fort Myers Swimming Association and continuing in college at Auburn and Arizona State with career stops at Mission Viejo, Bolles Sharks and Santa Barbara Swim Club. Along the way, he had some of the world’s greatest coaches: Ginny Duenkel, Gregg Troy, Eddie Reese, Ron Johnson, Mark Schubert, Larry Leibowitz and Charles “Red” Silvia. With his own mental toughness, he grew to become one of the world’s greatest professional marathon swimmers.
One of the first to utilize speed techniques from the pool into open water, Asmuth became the marathon swimmer to beat on the professional circuit during the 1980’s. He won the 23 mile Around the Island Swim in Atlantic City an unprecedented eight times in water temperatures ranging from the low 60’s F to the 80’s F. He has a record six wins in the 27 mile Traversee Memphremagog, in Canada, holding the record from 1980 to 1994. He won the granddaddy of marathon swims, the Lac St. Jean crossing in Roberval, Quebec two times at 21 miles and once at 40 miles setting a record of 17h 6m in 50 degree water. He won the 20 mile Capri-Napoli Swim three times and holds the record at 6h 35m. He won four times and set the course record for the 50 degree F 14 mile Les Quatorze Mille de Paspe-biac Swim at 5h 35m. All totaled he has seven World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation Titles.
His solo swims include three English Channel crossings including the men’s record (8h 12m), the only swimmer to complete the 31 mile Nantucket to Cape Cod Massachusetts and the first person under seven hours around 28 mile Manhattan Island.
Happy Birthday Soichi Sakamoto
SOICHI SAKAMOTO (USA)
1966 Honor Coach
FOR THE RECORD: Great Hawaiian coach who developed many of the world champions between 1948-1956. All of his swimmers became National Champions during this period.
Soichi Sakamoto is the great coach responsible for modern Hawaiian swimming success. Hawaiian swimmers dominated the sport from 1912, but Buster Crabbe, in the 1932 Olympics, was their last champion of that long illustrious era.
Then came a drought and Japanese-Hawaiian Sakamoto, starting with children in an irrigation ditch, was developing new ideas of pace and rhythm with a metronome. His young swimmers were not the greats of Punaho School, then and still going on to Yale, but a new breed of public school swimmers going on to Ohio State and Indiana–Hirose, Nakama, Smith, Konno, Oyakawa, Onekea, Cleveland, Woolsey, Tenabe, Miki and the girls Kalama Kleinschmidt, Kawamoto and Hoe. All became national champions, most made the Olympic teams of 1948, 1952 and 1956.
During this period, Sakamoto was sought out by swimmers all over the world, journeying to Hawaii in search of the magic touch. They found technique, method dedication and conditioning, which produced champions at all strokes and distances, but as the coach told all in his somewhat difficult-to-understand English, “Magic, No!”
“The swimming stroke is a ‘working tool’,” says this master coach, “and therefore it must be one which must be sound in its practical use–to get the most out of a given effort. It must be simple and efficient, and one which can be controlled at will by the individual. . . Swimming with and not against the water.”
“Patience, above all, is tantamount and a rule,” Sakamoto continues, “as improvement, growth, speed and success come only at a snail’s pace. First, it is learning to swim, training and conditioning, competing and going through the bitter experiences of defeat and chagrin. The light of success comes only when everything seems hopeless and wasted.”
Happy Birthday TAMAS FARAGO – Mr. Water Polo!!!
TAMAS FARAGO (HUN)
1993 HONOR WATER POLO PLAYER
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1972 silver, 1976 gold, 1980 bronze; WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1975 gold, 1978 silver; EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1970 silver, 1977 gold; FINA CUP: 1979 gold; JADRAN CUP: 1971 silver; TUNGSRAM CUP: 1972 gold, 1980 silver.
In the opinion of many international judges and players, Tamas Farago is one of the best athletes to ever play the game of water polo. Known for his amazing attacking and shooting skills Farago was the single most reason for Hungary’s Olympic medal performances of 1972, 1976, and 1980.
Water polo is Hungary’s national sport, and games are played with the same intensity as football games are played throughout Europe. Because of its strong teams of the 1970s, Hungary was always considered a contender for a medal in any tournament, and Tamas Farago was the main reason why.
After Hungary’s close gold medal loss to the Soviet Union at the 1972 Olympics, Farago and company returned in 1973 to the first World Championships in Belgrade to defeat the same Soviet team for the gold medal. Again in Montreal, at the 1976 Olympics, Farago returned to lead his team to a 6-to-5 gold medal victory in the first game of the final round against Italy. Farago, who led all scorers with a total of 22 goals, added the winning goal in the final seconds of the game to secure the gold medal. Four of the six goals for Hungary were scored by Farago in the championship game. Farago also played on the silver medal-winning teams of the 1985 and 1978 World Championships and the gold medal-winning teams of the 1974 and 1977 European Championships.
It is because of players like Tamas Farago that Hungary was able to win a medal at every Olympic Games from 1928 through 1980.
Happy Birthday SHELLEY TAYLOR-SMITH !!!
Shelley Taylor-Smith (AUS)
2008 Honor Open Water Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (25K); Women’s Number 1 World Ranking in Marathon Swimming: 1988- 1995; Honorary Secretary FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee (2000-present); Author of Book Detailing Training and Mental Preparation for Swimming a Marathon;
Born in Perth, Australia in 1961, she was so passionate about swimming, she would sneak off to bed each night in her bathers. Not overly talented and diagnosed with crippling scoliosis, her determination over ruled what her doctors predicted and her swimming took off to heights which no one but she anticipated.
Her introduction to Marathon swimming began at the University of Arkansas in 1983. Her first professional race was in 1985 and by 1998, she retired as a seven-time World Marathon Swimming Champion. In 1991, she was the only woman of any sport, world wide, to hold the world’s number one ranking for both men and women. For seven consecutive years, 1988-1995, she was ranked as the number one World Marathon Swimming Champion in races ranging from 30 to 90 kilometers, set 15 world race records, scored 51 first places in international marathon swims, set the record for the around Manhattan Island Swim and swam the English Channel.
Shelley Taylor-Smith had become one of the world’s most coveted female marathon swimmers. From athlete to contributor, she has served since 2000 as Honorary Secretary for the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and was instrumental in the IOC’s decision to include the 10 kilometer swim in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She was a FINA Athlete Representative for 12 years. As Director and founder of Champion Mindset Consulting, she is a motivational teacher, mental toughness coach and international best selling author.
