Greg Louganis: On this Day, September 18, 1988
On this day:
September 19, 1988 — Greg Louganis wins Olympic gold medal in springboard diving, one day after hitting his head on the diving board in the preliminary round.
Louganis, who needed five stitches, is solid throughout the 11-dive program. His 730.80 points wins the gold.
With a total of four Olympic gold wins, his record is unbroken to this day. Greg Louganis remains the greatest diver in history.
USA Diving Welcomes New Chair, Board Members At Convention
BY USA DIVING | SEPT. 18, 2019, 2:03 P.M. (ET)
As Olivia Rosendahl recounted her World Championships experience at the United States Aquatics Sports banquet in conjunction with USA Diving’s annual meeting in St. Louis, she closed with the following:
“Representing our country, having a blast, meeting new athletes, it was an amazing experience. That’s what we’re here for. This sport, this community. I’m proud to represent USA Diving athletes, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this next year holds for all of us,” Rosendahl said.
This next year will be a busy yet exciting one for USA Diving, and the 2019 convention was a great way to kick off the next 12 months. Athlete representatives provided inspiration. Committee meetings sparked discussion. Education sessions provided valuable information for coaches to take back to their clubs. New leadership was put in place.
Dave Gascon was elected as USA Diving’s new Chair of the Board as he and three other independent directors joined the Board of Directors after bylaw changes were adopted to meet USOPC requirements.
Alison Alfers, Peter Ban and Preston McAfee will join Gascon as independent directors on the board. Alfers and McAfee will serve through 2022, and Gascon and Ban will serve through 2024.
Gascon indicated he was very happy to be joining the Board with the other Independent Members.
“I am elated to be joining USA Diving at this critical moment in time especially with Alison Alfers, Preston McAfee, and Peter Ban. Alison and Peter are lawyers and Preston is a PhD in economics. They are all distinguished professionals in their fields and all obviously exceptionally smart people who are committed to helping the Board guide USA Diving. We are delighted to be joining the existing members of the Board who have decades of diving expertise,” said Gascon, who was Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department before retiring in 2002 after 31 years on the force.
McAfee has served as a chief economist with Microsoft and has also worked for Yahoo! and Google. Ban has worked for companies such as iHeart Media, HBO and Time Warner. Alfers has served as general counsel and chief legal officer for several organizations, most recently joining Cherwell Software after previously working at HawkEye 360.
Gascon said he has great sensitivity to the interests of athletes as his daughter Sarah is an athlete representative and captain of the USA Team Handball Women’s National Team.
“I believe we need to be committed to our athletes, listen to them, and ensure they have a seat at the table as we collectively deal with their concerns. We need to do all we can to enhance their development in their quest to become the best of which they are capable. If that sounds John Wooden like, it’s because it is. That’s how we achieve competitive greatness. We want our athletes to be at their best when their best is needed. However, that philosophy also applies to each of us, especially coaches,” Gascon said.
USA Diving’s best was needed at this summer’s World Championships, the first opportunity for countries to qualify their 2020 Olympic spots. The U.S. athletes came through with one of their most successful World Championships in recent years. Rosendahl told USAS banquet attendees that she was very nervous and intimidated by the atmosphere at her first World Championships. Previous international experience didn’t prepare her for what it would be like to stand on the platform next to an Olympic medalist she’d idolized for years or to sit in a waiting room for 20 minutes before being allowed to dive. She said the support the U.S. team members had for each other contributed to everyone’s success, including her own.
“My team was there for me and they were super supportive. I got fifth, and I’m really proud of that. Being a part of that team, watching us do better than we’ve done in years. Coming away with four medals, most of which were won by female athletes. Coming away with seven out of a possible 12 Olympic spots when at the 2015 World Championships, we came away with two. Being a part of that team that stood on the sidelines and cheered at every single event and every awards ceremony. It was amazing,” Rosendahl recalled at the banquet.
Although Gascon joins the board as an independent director, he has followed the sport closely and is very aware of the success the U.S. has had in the sport.
“I am someone who is a huge supporter of the U.S. Olympic movement and have fond memories of watching America’s best take on the world in diving. I was fortunate to spend time with the great Micki King this past weekend at the USAS convention. I told Micki I can vividly remember her winning the Gold Medal in the 1972 Munich Olympics. USA Diving has a fantastic legacy of success and I hope we recapture our rightful position as the gold standard for diving.”
USA Diving’s success in South Korea this summer is another step in that direction.
In addition to the four new independent directors, a Masters Diving Representative was added to the Board of Directors. Gerry Dunn will fill that seat. Previous chair Michele Mitchell will remain on the board as immediate past chair in a non-voting role.
Gascon expressed his appreciation for the efforts of his predecessor.
“I am grateful to outgoing Chair Michelle Mitchell for her incredible commitment to the athletes, coaches, and membership of USA Diving. I hope to continue with my partners on the Board to provide proper guidance and support as we head down the homestretch toward the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, as well as plan for the significant challenges leading to future World Championships and the Olympic Games of Paris and Los Angeles,” Gascon said.
Construction Update on ISHOF Aquatic Complex…..Moving right along
How lucky are we in the City of Fort Lauderdale?
Renovation update – The bleachers and two pools (one competition and the diving well) are being ripped out! One competition pool is getting a major overhaul. Great things in store for City of Fort Lauderdale.
One last look at the bleachers that have stood on the site of the complex for the last 50+ years. Oh, if those bleachers could talk…..They saw alot of world records fall: Mary T, Michael Phelps, Natalie Couglin, hometown boy, Andy Coan, Kim Linehan, Who will we see in the future ?
The newest on the pools (built in 1991 is getting an upgrade too!)
Stayed tuned for more photos and updates
FURNISS BROTHERS AND ISHOF HONOR COACH DICK JOCHUMS TO BE INDUCTED INTO 2019 AQUATIC CAPITAL OF AMERICA HALL OF FAME.
Long Beach, CA – Olympic swimmers Bruce and Steve Furniss, along with their Long Beach Swim Club Coach, Dick Jochums, will be inducted into the 2019 Aquatic Capital of America Hall of Fame September 19, 2019 at the Pete Archer Rowing Center in Long Beach. The ACOA Hall of Fame honors Long Beach, California’s rich history of athletes from various aquatic disciplines; Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Sailing, Rowing, Surfing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Skiing and Lifeguarding.
The Furniss brothers were part of the powerhouse Long Beach Swim Club coached by Dick Jochums in the mid-70’s. Bruce was a 1976 Olympic double gold medalist setting world records in each race. One of the most versatile swimmers during his era, Bruce broke the 200m freestyle world record four different times, claiming the world record from 1975 to 1979. He also broke his brother Steve’s 200m. individual medley record in 1975, an event not contested in the 1976 Olympic program due to Cold War politics. Over Bruce’s career he set ten world records and was part of two NCAA National Championship team titles while at USC. He was named “World Swimmer of the Year” by Swimming World Magazine in 1975 and 1976. In 2004, he was recognized with the prestigious “Silver Anniversary Award,” by the NCAA, an honor bestowed
annually on six former collegiate athletes for their professional accomplishments and charitable endeavors in the 25 years since graduating from college. Bruce has been inducted into the International Swimming, the Orange County Sports, and the USC Halls of Fame. In 2000, Bruce was selected to USA Swimming’s “Swim Team of the 20th Century” and in 2016 was named a member of the Pac-12 All Century Swim Team.
Brother Steve was a two-time Olympian winning a bronze medal in the 200 IM in 1972 and was co-captain of what most sports historians consider to be the most successful Olympic team in history; the 1976 Men’s team that won 12 out of the 13 (92%) events contested and 27 of the 35 (77%) swimming medals awarded in 1976. During his career Steve set two world records, won four NCAA individual titles and was part of three NCAA team titles while competing for USC. Steve was named to Pac-12 All-Century Swim Team and was also a two-time All-American Water Polo player while at USC. In 1984, Steve co-founded TYR Sport, and was named Inc. Magazine’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” for Orange County in 1994. Steve is recipient of the 2014 Endurance Live Industry Award for his contributions to the sports of swimming and triathlon.
While swimming for Jochums and Long Beach Swim Club, Bruce and Steve teamed up with Tim Shaw and Rex Favero to set the 800m freestyle relay world record which currently stands as the last club team, which was not a national or Olympic team, to hold a relay world record, a feat not replicated in 44 years.
Dick Jochums was one of the most prolific swimming coaches of his time placing swimmers on every major USA international team from 1968 to 2006. He placed five swimmers and one woman on the 1976 Olympic swim team, more than any other coach and a team largely regarded as the best sports team in Olympic history. He coached 1975 Sullivan Award winner Tim Shaw who simultaneously held the world record in all four freestyle distances from 200m to 1500m. He coached 25 world record swimmers and two Olympic gold medalists (Bruce Furniss and George DiCarlo), five Olympic silver medalists, and five Olympic bronze medalists. An early proponent of high-quality interval training, he was considered to be among the best middle distance coaches in the world while at Long Beach, the University of Arizona and Santa Clara Swim Club. In 2017, Jochums was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and in 2004 to the American Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was ASCA’s Coach of the Year in 1974.
“It is a special honor to be part of the 2019 ACOA Hall of Fame class along with such distinguished athletes from other aquatic disciplines, but it is truly special to be inducted alongside my brother Steve and our coach, Dick Jochums,” said Bruce Furniss. “We were blessed to swim in an incredible era for men’s swimming and under the guidance of one of the best coaches of our time.”
The Furniss brothers and Dick Jochums will be inducted at the Annual ACOA Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony on Sept 19th in Long Beach, CA.
Aquatic Capital of America Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed in 2008 to promote the myriad of aquatic activities offered in Long Beach, California; to recognize, honor and support the City of Long Beach and its aquatic athletes, coaches, and organizations; and to promote water safety and education. The foundation also supports community and regional efforts to cleanse local waterways as well as to increase the number of local aquatic
facilities.
For tickets go to HTTPS://ACOAHALLOFFAME.FUNRAISE.ORG
Sarah Thomas, Cancer Survivor, Swims Pioneering Four Laps Of English Channel For “All The Survivors Out There”
by CRAIG LORD
17 September 2019, 02:42am
Sarah Thomas Swims First Four-Way English Channel In 54 Hours
Four laps. A fair bit more than 200m, though. As the crow flies, about 20 miles each lap. In the reality of the wash, the shipping lanes, tides and swells, 130 miles, 54 hours and 10 minutes. A pioneering four laps straight across and back twice in the English Channel.
Sarah Thomas, a 37-year-old from Colorado who completed treatment for breast cancer a year ago, just became the first person to swim across the English Channel four times in a row. The swim represents one of the greatest feats of human endurance.
Thomas began the epic challenge in the early hours of Sunday and finished after more than 54 hours just after dawn today around 6.30, London time.
She dedicated her mega-swimathon to “all the survivors out there”. Speaking to the BBC on the shore soon after clambering out of the Channel, Thomas said:
“I’m really just pretty numb. There was a lot of people on the beach to meet me and wish me well and it was really nice of them, but I feel just mostly stunned.”
She planned another marathon straight away: bed for the rest of the day: “I’m pretty tired right now”.
First up, though, there was champagne and chocolates to celebrate making dry land at Dover in England.
On the last lap, Thomas encountered choppy seas and ever-worsening conditions. Had there been any doubts along the way, the BBC asked. Said Thomas:
“I almost didn’t go back when I got back to England. I thought I should just finish and quit, but my team said, ‘Guess what? You can do better. You can keep going’.”
Lewis Pugh – Photo Courtesy: Speedo
Sarah Thomas – Photo Courtesy: Twitter
Accolades for Thomas included this from Lewis Pugh, the cold-water adventure swimmer, campaigner and fundraiser for a cleaner world: “Extraordinary, amazing, super-human!!! Just when we think we’ve reached the limit of human endurance, someone shatters the records. Huge congratulations to Sarah Thomas on swimming the English Channel 4x continuously!!!”
Thomas cited salt water as the toughest opponent, soar throat and mouth of bigger concern than aching arms. Asked how she got through it, Thomas told the BBC:
“My crew was really great about helping me out and keeping me strong. Every length had something that was really hard about it. Coming back from France the last time was definitely hard. It took forever and the current pushed me all over. I got stung in the face by a jellyfish and it wasn’t as cold as I thought it might be but it was still chilly.”
Only four swimmers had previously crossed the Channel three times without stopping, including Alison Streeter, the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Famer.
Thomas is na four-lap pioneer. Her mother, Becky Baxter, told BBC Radio 4: “I’ve been on a lot of her trips. This was by far the scariest.”
She said her daughter, who used swimming as a way of coping with her cancer treatment, was a “freak of nature” but did have “a lot of trouble with stomach ache” on this trip.
“We were a little worried at the end of the first day as she was not able to hold anything down,” she said. The cold was a challenge but Thomas is used to training in the cool waters of Colorado streams and lakes, her mother noted.
Protein recovery drink mixed with electrolytes and a little bit of caffeine helped keep Thomas going. Her mother noted that feeding was every 30 minutes in small doses, the bottle tide to a rope and thrown to the swimmer when the crew could catch her attention.
Official observer Kevin Murphy said:
“It is a triumph, she has tested the limits of endurance. It is amazing, absolutely inspirational. At the end we were very emotional.”
That means much coming from Hall of Famer Murphy: his own tally of a record 34 crossings includes three double-channel swims. Murphy also holds the record for the earliest Channel crossing of the year, set on 29 May 1990. In 1964, aged just 15, he completed his first long distance swim – 6 hours 29 minutes for the 10 miles (16 km) of Lake Windermere – and in 1968, he completed his first Channel swim – England to France in 15 hours 15 minutes.
The record book now includes a four-way swim.
Thomas’ mother agreed that all were “immensely proud” of her daughter. Baxter said: “We didn’t know if she would make it all the way to her reaching Shakepeare Beach in Dover. She had to really dig deep to finish.”
There had been 10-minute rests at the end of each lap. The tide was against Thomas on the way to the last beach, so much so that in the last 400m of the swim, “we had to do some screamin’ and yellin’ to get her through the tide,” said Baxter.
The Founder of The Channel Pioneers Club – Captain Webb
Pioneer Captain Webb and all that – Photo Courtesy: International Swimming Hall of Fame collections
Long the aquatic Everest, the English Channel might well be considered to be the greater human challenge in this age. There are no sherpas, for a start. Then, you have to be able to swim; you have to be able to swim in open water; you have to be able to swim a long way; and you have to be able to overcome the conditions and the coolness of the water, even in late summer.
There are other stats on the scale of challenge that tip towards the Channel as a champion of challenges. Swimming from England to France beat climbing Mount Everest by 78 years. Captain Matthew Webb was first to take the purge and get out on the other side: 1875. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay flew the flag on Mount Everest in 1953. During that timeline, more than 3,000 have got to the top of Everest; fewer than 900 have made it across the Channel.
Captain Webb’s crossing, well told in Kathy Watson‘s “The Crossing“, among other books and parts of volumes down the years, predated sport as a business. It was about pure achievement for the sake of it. The Channel Swimming Association would be born 52 years after Webb showed the way.
In 2015, Captain Webb hit the big screen. The film was directed by Justin Hardy and starred actors Warren Brown, Steve Oram, Georgia Maguire, Terry Mynott, Tom Stourton and Hannah Tointon. Hardy said at the time:
“Captain Webb is a largely forgotten British hero. He attempted to swim the English Channel when the very idea was seen as beyond impossible, equipped only with his moustache, doses of Brandy and a wire wool swimsuit. We want to tell the story of a classic underdog who fought against all odds to make it to the other side.”
J.B. Johnson tried and was forced to abandon the 22-miles-or-so crossing in his 1873 attempt to swim across the English Channel. Two years on, Captain Webb made history. His coach, the excitable Professor Beckwith (Oram) could not swim. So, how to instruct his pupil? Beckwith catches a frog and tells Webb to ape nature: “Be a frog! Forget the arms, a frog does not have arms.” Failure followed.
Abandoned by all about him, Webb turns to his one supporter and fan: Beckwith’s daughter Agnes (Maguire), also a swimmer. At one point she offers her body to Webb’s American rival, Paul Boyton (Mynott) in exchange for Webb being left alone to attempt his next crossing without the threat of sabotage. Boyton declines and charts a different course as the architect of the first shiny suit saga in swimming: he becomes the first to cross the channel – wearing a buoyant suit designed by the inventor Clark S. Merriman, the prop allowing him to drift and propel himself forward with a wooden oar. Not quite swimming as we know it; not quite swimming at all.
In the mix are references to Webb attempting and failing to save a seaman from drowning. That drama suggests motivation for his crossing but they truth may rest more in the age of Victorian society and sensibility. Webb did not swim to proof he could live; he crossed to prove he could; to show his chivalry, manliness, valour, courage, persistence and derring-do, for self and country at a time when such things spoke to a sense of national identity.
Worth watching – but read The Crossing for greater richness of detail.
MISHOF Class of 2019 and USAS Convention
United States Aquatic Sports Convention
and
MISHOF Class of 2019
ISHOF booth at USAS /old friends and new
As in years past, ISHOF attended the United States Aquatic Sports convention. We were joined by the City of Fort Lauderdale and Laura Voet, to promote the new aquatic facility and construction project, in addition to promoting ISHOF and producing the MISHOF induction.
ISHOF enjoys being supportive of the United States Aquatic Sports and this year we were a proud sponsor of the annual banquet. A very special thank you to the new staff of USAS for all their hard work in their first year in putting together this convention. A special thank you to Nadine Day, who went above and beyond for ISHOF, as she always does. Great job guys, you hit it out of the park!
One of the best parts of having a booth at USAS is all the friends that stop by to say hello; but almost as good as seeing our friends, are all the strangers that stop to tell us how important ISHOF and the aquatic facility are in their memories and that they cannot wait for the new facility and museum to open, and to make a return trip to Fort Lauderdale!
MISHOF Class of 2019
L-R: Rowdy Gaines, Rick Colella, Willard “Wink Lamb”, Marjorie Anderson,
Caroline Krattli, Dr. Jim Miller, Asta Girdauskiene, Joao “Pepito” Meirelles
We (ISHOF) hosted the Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, September 13th in St. Louis, Missouri. The class of 2019 included five swimmers, Caroline Krattli (USA), Willard Lamb (USA), Rick Colella (USA), Rowdy Gaines (USA) and Satoko Takeuji (JPN); one Diver, Asta Girdauskiene (LIT), one Water Polo Player, Pepito Meirelles (BRA); one Synchronized Swimmer, Marjorie Anderson (CAN) and one Contributor, Dr, Jim Miller (USA).
The St. Louis Arch
The MISHOF ceremony was held at the Hyatt Regency St Louis at the Arch in conjunction with the United States Aquatic Sports convention. The ceremony began with a cocktail reception at 6:00 pm featuring hors d’oeuvres with a St. Louis flair. The event was held in one of the most spectacular venues in the city. We were on the 18th floor of the Hyatt, overlooking the St. Louis Arch on the banks of the Mississippi River.
David Johannsen, Laura Val, Rich Burns, Ron Copeland
USMS delegates and MISHOF Honorees got to mingle and relax for an evening of celebration to honor the aquatic greats in Masters sports. The turnout was one of the best ever and with nine honorees from five different countries, it was a very eclectic group and one of the largest to date.
Willard “Wink” Lamb and Rich Burns
Eight of the nine Honorees were present for their induction and it was agreed by all that it was one of the best ceremonies ever. The honorees, speeches, venue, guests and food……they all added to make it a fabulous evening for everyone.
97-year old Wink Lamb was the hit of the evening with his humor and stories. He is the reason we all swim and can only hope that we make it to his age and are as smart, sharp and witty as Wink at the age of 97. A big thank you to Matt Miller, Wink’s Coach, and Wink’s son, for bringing this gem of a USMS Swimmer to our event!
Asta Girdauskiene, children and John Denninger
Honor Diver, Asta Girdauskiene, travelled with her children from Lithuania to accept her award in person. MISHOF Honoree and friend, John Denninger inducted Asta. John has been a long-time friend of Asta, travelling to her meets, he even dives under the flag of Lithuania sometimes!
Rowdy Gaines and Jack Groselle
As usual, everyone enjoyed swimming celebrity, Rowdy Gaines’ induction and speech. We were thrilled that Rowdy was able to re-arrange his schedule and be with us, and his USMS family for his induction and celebration. The USMS delegates were happy to talk with Rowdy and share stories after the induction.
We will all look forward to watching Rowdy in Tokyo in 2020 covering the Olympic Games. No one has the enthusiasm or spirit of Rowdy! Go USA!
The evening closed with a full Harvest moon rising over the Mississippi River and USMS delegates, family and friends alike, not wanting to part, but knowing that next year we would be together again to celebrate a new class of Honorees.
See you In Jacksonville, September 25, 2020
All that glitters is gold for Fort Lauderdale diver Juliet Radich
Juliet will be honored at a commission meeting in October. She is also the 10M US National Champion. The highest level at the Jr. Pan Am Games is 5M for her age group.
By EMMETT HALL
SUN SENTINEL CORRESPONDENT |
Standing on the podium with the American flag draped across her shoulders as the United States National Anthem played was a golden moment Juliet Radich will savor for a lifetime. Representing Team USA at the 2019 Junior Pan American Championships in Santiago, Chile, the 11-year-old struck gold in the five-meter platform diving event to cap off a memorable summer.
“Winning the gold was definitely a highlight and very exciting,” Radich said. “Having the American flag on my back with the national anthem playing was the greatest experience. If someone told me a year ago that I would be representing the U.S. I would have told them no way.”
The Fort Lauderdale Dive Team member parlayed her two golds at the USA Diving Junior National Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, to earn a selection to the 24-member USA squad. Boca Raton’s Emile Moore, of Coral Springs Diving, was also a member of Team USA competing in the girls 14-15 age division.
“I just wanted to do well and didn’t know what to expect at this level of a meet,” Radich said. “I was pretty calm, helped my teammates and just did my best. Our Team USA teammates were really nice and cheered everyone on during our dives. I’m sad that I’m not going to see them for a while. It was really cool to dive in a different country and a great overall experience. I was very happy with my performance.”
Radich had one week to add another dive to her repertoire as international rules required the divers to perform six dives compared to customary five dives in the states. She nailed the new 1 ½ somersault pike and closed out the competition with her signature inward double somersault to win by a comfortable margin. The last dive earned Radich 59 points to push her total to 242.65 points compared to the second-place Canadian diver’s 217 points. She also competed in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard finishing in sixth place.
The one-week interruption from school was well worth it for Radich who made the journey with her mother and father. Back home in Fort Lauderdale, the coaches and dive team members closely monitored her performance as well as her classmates at Bethany Christian School. Upon settling down and getting back into her normal routine, the sixth-grader received a hero’s welcome at school.
“All my coaches and teammates wished me luck and were happy for me,” she said. “I just really liked hanging out with Team USA while we got to know each other. I will be training and getting ready for competition season in January. The Pan Am games was a great, great experience.”
47 Years ago today MARK SPITZ wins 7th OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL in Munich
On this day, in 1972, in Munich, Germany, MARK SPITZ won his 7th OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL.
Forty-seven years ago today Mark Spitz won his 7th gold medal at the Munich Olympic Games. Seven gold medals in seven world records, an incredible achievement. It would be another 13 years until Michael Phelps was even born.
At the 1972 Games, Spitz was actually in a quest to win six gold medals, but he did even better, coming away with seven! Even more impressive, Spitz set a world record in each of the events. His four individual events: the 100m freestyle (51.22), the 200m freestyle (1:52.78), the 100m butterfly (54.27), the 200m butterfly (2:00.70), and the three relays: the 4 x 100m freestyle (3:26.42), the 4 x 200m freestyle relay (7:35.78) and the 4 x 100m meter medley relay (Spitz swam the fly) (3:48.16).
Mark Spitz was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1977, his write up is below.
Mark Spitz and Bruce Wigo at ISHOF event
MARK SPITZ (USA)
1977 Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1968 gold (4x100m, 4x200m freestyle relay), silver (100m butterfly), bronze (100m freestyle); 1972 gold (100m, 200m freestyle; 100m, 200m butterfly; 4x100m, 4x200m freestyle relay; 4x100m medley relay); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1967 (5 gold); WORLD RECORDS: 33; NATIONAL AAU CHAMPIONSHIPS: 24; AMERICAN RECORDS: 38; NCAA Titles: 8; 1972 “World Swimmer of the Year”.
Mark Spitz was the 1971 Sullivan Award winner as the AAU’s top athlete in any sport, an omen of things to come. His 7 gold medals in the 1972 Olympics are all the more remarkable in that all were World Records. They were in such varied distances as the sprint 100m Freestyle and the endurance 200m Butterfly. He was everybody’s World Athlete of the Year for 1972 and along with Johnny Weissmuller is rated one of the greatest swimmers the world has ever known. This remarkable consistency was not easily come by. Always brilliant he ranged from the World’s best 10-and-under to the most disappointing swimmer at the 1968 Olympics before sticking it to his critics once and for all in Munich. Spitz was fortunate to have three of the greatest swim coaches the United States has known — Hall of Famers Sherm Chavoor, Doc Counsilman and George Haines.
Hall of Famers Mark Spitz and George Haines
HONOR SWIMMER: Aussie Libby Trickett ready to release new book
2018 ISHOF Honor Swimmer Libby Lenton Trickett is set to release her new book:
The brave and inspiring memoir of one of Australian Swimming’s Golden Girls, whose extraordinary achievements masked her private battles with anxiety and depression.
Australians know Libby Trickett as one of our golden girls of swimming. Winner of multiple Olympic gold medals and setter of world records, Libby wasn’t just a champion, she was Australia’s girl next door, the humble superstar from suburban Brisbane with the infectious grin and sunny nature.
Yet what we saw on the surface – the confidence, competitiveness and warmth that were her hallmarks – belied the very private battles she fought in her own head. Beneath the incredible achievements and that trademark smile, Libby suffered from crippling depression.
During her swimming career she managed to keep her demons more or less at bay, but when an injury forced her to retire in 2013 Libby was suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar world. With few, if any, qualifications to handle it, her self-doubts began to overwhelm her. The birth of her first baby added further complications to her fragile mental health, and she suffered intense postnatal depression. When she finally recognised the depression for what it was, and sought help for it, it was a major turning point in her life.
Libby’s memoir is an extraordinarily candid, revealing and inspiring account of both her public life as one of our greatest swimming champions, and her struggle to overcome her mental health challenges.
Earlier this week, Libby posted on her Instagram page, “It’s here. I can’t believe it’s a for release book now! Coming to a book store near you in October or you can pre-order now! Libby’s book will be available on Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.com
Libby Trickett (AUS)
2018 Honor Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100m freestyle), bronze (50m freestyle); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m butterfly, 4x100m medley), silver (100m freestyle), bronze (4x100m freestyle); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4x100m freestyle); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): bronze (50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle); 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle, 4x100m medley), silver (100m butterfly, 4×200m freestyle); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4×100 m freestyle, 4×100m medley); 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (4×100 m medley), bronze (100m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle); 2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (100m freestyle, 4×100m medley), silver (50m freestyle, 4×200m freestyle), bronze (50m butterfly, 4×100m freestyle); 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4×200m freestyle, 4×100m medley) silver (4×100m freestyle); 2006 Commonwealth Games: gold (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4×100m freestyle, 4×200m freestyle, 4×100m medley), silver (200m freestyle, 100m butterfly)
Libby Lenton, joined her first swim team at age four. By age ten, she was one of Queensland’s top age groupers. In 1995, the family moved to Brisbane, where Libby started training under coach John Carew, mentor of Hall of Famer, Kieren Perkins. But in early 2002, Libby began training under coach Stephan Widmar.
Her progress under Widmar was rapid and explosive. Suddenly, the 18-year old girl who had never reached the podium at the state level, stood on the top step four times, for the 50 and 100m freestyle and 50 and 100m butterfly, at the Queensland Champs in January, 2003. This qualified her for the Australian Senior National Team.
She made her international debut in April at the inaugural Mutual of Omaha “Duel in the Pool” meet in Indianapolis. She beat Hall of Famer Jenny Thompson to win the 100m freestyle. She finished first in the 50m freestyle in 24.92, but she was disqualified for a false start. However, officials later ruled her start was fair and she was credited with setting a new Australian record and the first Australian to break 25 seconds.
Libby qualified for and swam in three events in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. She earned a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle and her 4x100m freestyle relay team made up of Libby, Petria Thomas, Jodie Henry and Alice Mills overtook Team USA on the final leg to win the gold in the event for the first time in 48 years!
Libby cemented her position among the world’s top swimmers in 2005. First at the Montreal FINA World Championships by reeling in gold in the 50m freestyle, silver in the 100m butterfly and two golds and a silver for the three relays. Back in Australia, she twice broke the world record in the 100m freestyle at the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships.
In 2006, it was on to Shanghai, for the Short Course World Championships, where she repeated her performance, won five of Australia’s twelve gold medals, as well as being named “Leading Female Swimmer of the Meet”.
Libby won five more gold medals at the 2007 FINA World Championships. This time, three individual, the 50 and 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly as well as two relays, with the 4x100m freestyle relay in a record-breaking time of 3:35.48. A week later, at the third USA-Australia “Duel in the Pool” in Sydney, she led off the 4x100m mixed relay against Michael Phelps. Although Phelps beat her to the wall, her time of :52.99, broke the world record of Britta Steffens by nearly a third of a second. A race she says she’ll always remember. Four days later, on April 7, 2007, Libby married fellow swimmer, Luke Trickett and started swimming under the name Libby Trickett.
Her performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games brought her two gold, one silver and one bronze. She was part of the world record winning relay team, the 4x100m medley relay, that brought home the gold, and her 4x100m freestyle relay team took bronze. Individually, Trickett won a gold medal in the 100m butterfly and took silver in the 100m freestyle.
Libby briefly retired from swimming in 2009, at the age of 24, but decided to return to competition in 2010 to be part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team at the 2012 London Olympic Games, winning yet another gold, her fourth and final Olympic gold medal of her career. Libby retired in 2013 for the final time.
Libby gave birth to daughter Poppy in 2015 and struggled with the transition to motherhood. Trickett had struggled with depression throughout other times in her life as well. She had worked with sports psychologists and by seeking that advice and guidance, Libby says, that “the biggest lesson she learned was that it’s OK to ask for help and that help is really valuable.” Libby is currently Queensland’s Mental Health Ambassador.
Longtime Friends of ISHOF: Bob and Norma, The Maxwells
Through the years, ISHOF has been lucky to have so many friends that have the most interesting and successful backgrounds from all over the world. Bob and Norma Maxwell were two of those people. For many years, Bob Maxwell donated his time and talents and was the voice and announcer of ISHOF’s International Dive Meets each May. Norma was always with him to lend a helping hand when needed. Here is their story.
They met because they were divers.
Bob was world renown as the greatest “spotter” diver (a back somersault to the board before the take
off). He organized many divers and is the only man in the world to have completed 7 ½ consecutive
somersaults utilizing the diving boards. A New York City native of Jones Beach, he was featured for
six years with water show troupes in the US and Canada, as the World’s Acrobatic Springboard Diving Champion.
During the same period, Norma Dean also of New York, was a featured diver and performer at Sam
Snyder’s “Water Follies” of the US, Canada and Europe. She performed in Johnny Weissmuller’s
“Watercade”; Noel Sheridan’s “Water Capers” of South America; Al Sheehan’s “Minneapolis
Aquatennial” and “Seattle Seafare”; the Canadian National Exhibition Lakefront Water Shows and
George Hamid’s Steel Pier Water- Circus in Atlantic City, NJ. Her diving act at the Steel Pier was a
“Ripley’s Believe It or Not”, as she rode a horse off a 35 foot platform into a 12 foot deep tank of water, six times a day! She graduated from New York University where she was Middle Atlantic States Inter Collegiate 3- meter Springboard Diving Champion. This
helped her be a stand-in for film star Esther Williams, when diving scenes were in the script.
In the early 1950’s, Norma met Bob at Sam Snyder’s Show. Their relationship blossomed into a 43 year long marriage that bore two
children and a strong business partnership. Bob had formed the winter-time, Miami Beach “Aqua Spectacular” traveling show unit
and with Olympic Diving Champion, Pete Desjardins, they put on over 100 shows a year. After five years of the traveling circuit
and providing talent for film, television, and other live show producers, Bob and Norma formed “Maxwell Associates”.
Together they became the icon for water show productions. When amusement parks became
more prevalent, they began putting water shows into the parks increasing park attendance. They
signed up with Great Adventure in New Jersey and stayed for 12 consecutive years. Some of the
over 500 parks in which they conducted shows included Disneyland, Sea World, Six Flags, Great
Escape, Dutch Wonderland and Busch Gardens. They became mainstays in parks throughout the
world including Safari Park in Austria and Ocean Park in Hong Kong. At one time, they had over
300 divers and performers under contract performing in such places as Hawaii, Taipei, Bangkok
and Miami.
The Maxwells were pioneers when it came to exposing diving to television. They created and formatted a variety of high dive shows for ABC’s Wide World of Sports and NBC’s Sports World,
including the Acapulco Cliff Diving Championships, the Men’s High Diving Championships, the Women’s Cliff Diving Championship and the Mixed Doubles World Target Diving Championships. They were honored with an award from Roone Arledge, head
of ABC Sports, when the Acapulco Cliff Diving Championships became the longest-running show on Wide World of Sports – 20
years of Acapulco Championships.
Bob and Norma had a perfect combination of talent. Bob was busy promoting the shows, while
Norma produced them. Bob conceived and designed the Acapulco CICI Water Park in Mexico and
served as General Manager of Disney on Parade at the Walt Disney Theme Park. Together they promoted and produced three Worlds Fair Aquacades – 1964 New York, 1984 New Orleans and 1988
Brisbane. Their water shows were the most ambitious of their time and set the standard for what
was to come. To assure crowd interest, the shows featured a combination of acts like precision water
ballets, highboard antics by the Aqua Maniacs, aquabatics by college diving champions and even a
water “circus” with animal acts, jugglers and tumblers and World Championship diving. Emphasis
was on creating a wholesome, family-style show that appealed to whole families around the world.
Performers were recruited world-wide, providing an opportunity to travel and earn money. Many
stayed with the Maxwell’s for years.
After Bob’s untimely death in 1997, Norma continued to run the business until her retirement a few
years ago. She and Bob stood high above their competition, not because they were high divers, but because of the impact they had
on what could be accomplished in promoting and producing shows around the water.
Always the thrill seeker, Norma celebrated her recent 80th birthday by jumping out of an airplane, only this time wearing a parachute and not diving into a pail of water.
The Maxwells were given the ISHOF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
