Great Britain and the ISHOF family lose a great one: David Wilkie loses his battle with cancer…..
David Wilkie at his ISHOF Induction along with fellow Inductees
Gertrude Ederle’s family comes to ISHOF for a visit!
The first real modern day movie about a swimmer’s life story…….. our very own Honoree, Gertrude “Trudy” Ederle”. The movie opens nationwide next Friday, May 31, 2024, but Disney hosted some early premiers, inviting some top swimmers and Paralympians, and some of our favorite Honorees were included, like John Naber, Janet Evans, Jeff Farrell, Brian Goodell, John Kinsella, Bruce Furniss, MISHOF Honoree, 102-year old Maurine Kornfeld and others!
Disney asked Olympians, prominent swimmers and Paralympians to pose with star, Daisy Ridley at L.A. premier…..
Just as Disney is getting ready to release its new movie, “Young Woman and the Sea”, portraying the life of ISHOF Honoree, Gertrude Ederle, ISHOF got a visit from Ederle’s Grand Nephew, Justin and his son, Greyson. The Ederle’s were in South Florida on vacation and knew that had to make one important stop: at the International Swimming Hall of Fame and see the display of their Aunt Trudy. Justin says he was young when his Aunt Trudy was alive, (Ederle died in 2003) but he remembers her telling him exciting stories. Now that he is older and a father, he realizes he didn’t appreciate the significance of the stories, and what he was hearing; he was just too young. But he certainly does now! And he will carry those stories on to his son, Greyson and her sister.
Gertrude Ederle’s Great Nephew, Justin Ederle and his son, Greyson visit Aunt Trudy’s display at ISHOF last week, May, 2024
The Ederle family is very excited about the upcoming film and is planning on going to see it as soon as it opens. At six, Greyson, is a great swimmer, like his great Aunt Trudy and absolutely loves the water. After his visit to the museum, he made a point to go over and have a swim in the new Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center. Aunt Trudy would have approved!
Young Woman and the Sea is an upcoming American film based on the life of 1965 ISHOF Honoree Gertrude Ederle. The movie is produced by Walt Disney and stars Daisy Ridley, who plays the title role of “Trudy”, who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel.
Development on the film began in 2015 after producer Jerry Bruckheimer acquired the film rights to the book and settled in up at Paramount Pictures with Nathanson attached to write it and Lily James was cast as Ederle. Paramount eventually put the project in turnaround. In 2020, it was announced it was acquired by Walt Disney Pictures, with Ridley set to portray Ederle. The majority of the photography took place between May and June 2022. Originally set for release on the streaming service DisneyPlus. Walt Disney Pictures opted to release the film theatrically after positive test screenings from the public.
Young Woman and the Sea is scheduled to be released on May 31, 2024.
To read Trudy’s 1965 ISHOF Induction bio, click here: https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-gertrude-ederle/
Let’s hear for Gertrude Ederle and her unlady-like behavior!
Click the link below and watch the fabulous short story by PBS on the life of Gertrude Ederle, who’s movie, The Young Woman and the Sea is set to open next Friday, May 31, 2024. Ederle was one of the original ISHOF Honorees in the first Class of 1965.
Katie Ledecky, Ryan Murphy, Caeleb Dressel Well-Positioned For Another Successful Trials
Katie Ledecky — Photo Courtesy: Andrea Staccioli / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
by DAVID RIEDER – SENIOR WRITER
21 May 2024, 05:22am
Katie Ledecky, Ryan Murphy, Caeleb Dressel Well-Positioned For Another Successful Trials
Top American swimmers have begun their final preparations for next month’s Olympic Trials, with most having completed their final in-season races prior to their all-important trip to Indianapolis. All of their training and racing efforts this year and from the previous two years will culminate in a football stadium in four weeks.
With Olympic spots and even swimming careers on the line, the pressure will be immense as always, although perhaps slightly less than the last edition of Olympic Trials when a one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic gave veterans and hopefuls even more time to overthink and overanalyze the meet. At any Trials, though, not all possible contenders can handle the weight of Olympic selection. Some might tighten up behind the blocks or deviate from their race strategy — and the results will be costly.
So much about Trials is unpredictable, but here is a rather safe bet: expect multi-time individual Olympic champions like Katie Ledecky, Ryan Murphy and Caeleb Dressel to be ready. None of those three have provided any sizzling performances thus far in 2024, but that’s no concern. All three have built steadily throughout the season and recorded some of their quickest times during this weekend’s Club Excellence Series.
Ledecky, competing at the Atlanta Classic, swam the world’s fastest time in the 1500 freestyle, a result which might be faster than the eventual silver-medal-winning time at the Paris Games, and she swam her first sub-4:00 400 free performance of the season, notching a time that only Summer McIntosh and Ariarne Titmus have beaten in 2024.
The 27-year-old Ledecky has literally never had a poor end-of-season performance since she rose to prominence at the London Olympics in 2012. Her one blemish came when she was sick at the World Championships in 2019, but she still earned a gold medal and two silvers. Ledecky has already won seven Olympic gold medals, and should everything proceed as expected over the next two months, she will likely move into a tie for second-most Olympic gold medals of any athlete regardless of sport. Golds in the 800 and 1500 free, which Ledecky is heavily favored for, would give her nine, behind only the other-worldly 23 of Michael Phelps.
Does anyone really think Ledecky will be unprepared for Trials?
Similar story for Murphy, the top American backstroker for the better part of a decade. His results thus far in 2024 had been forgettable, particularly in the 200 back, but he recorded his season-best mark in the event by more than a second at the Southern California Invite this weekend while also clipping his season-best in the 100 back.
Ryan Murphy — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Murphy is known for holding some of his cards until absolutely necessary, so we can reasonably expect to see times at Trials that will vault him into the gold-medal conversation in both backstroke distances. Remember, Murphy has won gold or silver in the 200 back at every major meet since the 2016 Olympics, and he has been on the podium for the 100 back at every meet but one during that time. It also will not hurt that Russian rivals Evgeni Rylov, Kliment Kolesnikov and Miron Lifintsev are all expected Paris because of the country’s current ban from Olympic sport aside from neutral athletes.
As for Dressel, after a shaky cameo at last year’s U.S. Nationals, we have seen him steadily progress back toward the form that made him the most dominant swimmer in the world for five years. His times have been notable, including a 48.30 season-best mark in the 100 free at the Atlanta Classic, but just as impressive was his performance Friday night: a solid 1:47.38 in the 200 free, potentially putting himself in the 800 free relay conversation for the Olympics, followed by a 51.38 in the 100 fly not long after.
Dressel’s closing speed is on point; his 26.15 homecoming split in that fly race was three tenths quicker than he went in his world-record-setting performance at the Tokyo Games.
His Olympic cycle might have included its significant hurdles, but like Ledecky, his current University of Florida training partner, and Murphy, his former club teammate and friend for more than 20 years, Dressel is on track, producing the sort of confidence-building swims that bode extremely well for what is to come.
We have no hesitation in projecting that next month in Indianapolis, these three swimmers will spend plenty of time in the spotlight as they each pick up tickets to another Olympic Games.
Happy Birthday Vladimir Salnikov!!
Vladimir Salnikov (URS)
Honor Swimmer (1993)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 12 WORLD RECORDS: 400m freestyle (5), 800m freestyle (4), 1500m freestyle (3); OLYMPIC GAMES: 1976 (participant), 1980 gold (400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 800m freestyle relay), 1984 (boycott), 1988 gold (1500m freestyle); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1978 gold (400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle), 1982 gold (400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle); EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1977 gold (1500m freestyle), 1981 gold (1500m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle), 1983 gold (1500m freestyle, 400m freestyle).
Regarded as one of the greatest distance freestylers of all time, Vladimir Salnikov joins the ranks of the Hall of Famers Arne Borg of Sweden, Murray Rose of Australia, and Mike Burton of the United States. A 12-time world record holder and 1980 and 1988 Olympic gold medalist, Salnikov was the first man to swim under the 15-minute mark for the 1500-meter freestyle.
Salnikov first emerged into the world swimming scene at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. At age 15, Salnikov became the first Soviet swimmer to make the Olympic finals in the 1500-meter freestyle with a fifth place finish. It is interesting to note that distance times dropped rapidly during the 1970s. Salnikov’s time of 15:29.45 would have given him the gold medal four years earlier in Munich.
The first of Salnikov’s many triumphs and world records came at the 1978 World Championships in Berlin. Salnikov won the 400 and 1500-meter freestyle and established a new world mark for 400-meters. One year later Salnikov, known as a “monster in the waves,” became the first man to swim under eight minutes for 800 meters freestyle, establishing another world record of 7:56.49.
At the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Salnikov accomplished what long-distance swimmers had been trying to do for years–he swam under 15 minutes (14:58.27) for 1500 meters freestyle. Not only did he establish another milestone in world swimming history, but Salnikov’s victory was all the more sweet since he set the world mark in front of a roaring home crowd by shaving four seconds off of Brian Goodell’s record of 1976. Salnikov also won gold medals for his performances in the 800-meter freestyle relay and the 500-meter freestyle.
Salnikov went on to swim under the 15-minute mark three more times during his career. His fastest record, 14:54.76, which he set in 1983, lasted nearly a decade. It wasn’t until 1991 that Salnikov’s record fell to Jorg Hoffman of Germany, who swam 14:50.36 at the World Championships in Perth, Australia.
The son of a sea captain in Leningrad, Salnikov began swimming at age eight, and like many youngsters, had an unfortunate predisposition to colds and ear infections. As a teenager, his perseverance was noticed by Coach Igor Koshkin, who is credited with developing Salnikov to his world-class stature. Salnikov’s training also included short period at Mission Viejo with coach Mark Shubert and Hall of Famers Brian Goodell and Tim Shaw.
In 1984, Salnikov’s wife Marina took over as his coach. Marina is a former Soviet national track and field record holder in the 100-meters and a sports training psychologist. It is with his wife Marina that Salnikov trained for the 1988 Olympic Games and another change at Olympic victory.
At age 28, when most people consider a swimmer “over the hill”, Salnikov came back from a 10-second deficit to defeat West German’s Stefan Pfeiffer and East German’s Uwe Dassler to win the 1500-meter freestyle. His time of 15:00.40 was the fifth fastest in history (Salnikov owned the top four at this time as well). For his remarkable performance, Salnikov received a standing ovation from his peers that night in the Olympic Village. No other athlete in Seoul received such a spontaneous outburst of congratulations.
Lars Frölander to be inducted into ISHOF as Honor Swimmer ~ ninth Honoree representing Sweden
Swedish Swimmer Lars Frölander to be join the ISHOF Class of 2024
Swedish Swimmer, Lars Frölander is a six-time Olympian, competing in six consecutive Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012). In the 1992 Olympic Games, he competed in the 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay along with teammates, Christer Wallin, Anders Holmertz and Tommy Werner. The Swedish team finished second behind the Unified Team. In the 1996 Olympic Games, Frölander again finished second in the 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay with the Swedish team. This time the United States took the gold medal. Frölander also competed in the 100-meter freestyle, where he finished ninth in the heats but scratched the B-final, and in the 100-meter butterfly event, he finished a respectable 19th.
The pinnacle of Frolander’s career had to be when he captured gold in the 100-meter butterfly at the Centennial Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Several months prior he broke the world record in the men’s 100-meter butterfly twice (short course).
He is a nine-time World Champion and 12-time European Champion in the freestyle and butterfly events. Frölander went on to win a total of 21 World Championship medals in his career: nine of them gold, seven silver, and four bronze. 14 of his World Championship medals were won at the Short Course Championships
Lars attended university in the U.S.A., where he swam for Coach Eddie Sinnott in Dallas, Texas, (1995-1998) at Southern Methodist University. One of the great swimmers in SMU history, Frolander dominated the pool during his career as a Mustang. Frolander was the 1998 NCAA Swimmer of the Year, winning the NCAA Championship in two events – the 100-yd freestyle and 100-yd butterfly. Frolander won the same pair of championships in 1997 and the 100-yd butterfly as a freshman in 1995.
Come join Swedish Swimmer Lars Frölander and hear the rest of his amazing story, along with this year’s spectacular class of 2024 in Fort Lauderdale. If you cannot join us, please consider making a donation.
To make a donation, click here: https://www.ishof.org/donate/
This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:
Honor Swimmers:
Lars Frölander (SWE)
Daniel Gyurta (HUN)
Dana Vollmer (USA)
1976 Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Gold Medal Relay Team (USA)
(Includes Shirley Babashoff, Wendy Boglioli, Kim Peyton*, Jill Sterkel)
Honor Divers:
Alexandre Despatie (CAN)
Yulia Pakhalina (RUS)
Wu Minxia (CHN)
Honor Artistic Swimmer:
Virginie Dedieu (FRA)
Honor Water Polo Players:
Carmela “Lilli” Allucci (ITA)
Vladimir Akimov* (USSR)
Honor Coach:
Dennis Pursley (USA)
Honor Contributor:
Dale Neuburger (USA)
Additional Awards presented Saturday night:
Al Schoenfield Media Award:
Peter Diamond (USA)
ISHOF Gold Medallion Award:
Alex Blavatnik (USA)
ISHOF 59th Annual Honoree Induction weekend
October 4-5, 2024 – Complete schedule will be forthcoming soon.
~ HOTEL INFORMATION ~
Host Hotel: Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort & Spa
To make reservations click here: https://book.passkey.com/e/50757008
321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 467-1111.
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $229 per night,
Additional Hotel Option:
Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach
Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony
440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 524-8733
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 – $199 per night
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE AND TICKETS.
ISHOF Honoree Michael Phelps Joins ‘Meet the Press’ To Reflect on Olympic Experience
MEET THE PRESS — Moderator Kristen Welker interviews former Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps in Phoenix, AZ — Pictured: (l-r) Michael Phelps, Kristen Welker — (Photo by: Mark Peterman/NBC)
by DAN D’ADDONA — SWIMMING WORLD MANAGING EDITOR
17 May 2024, 06:02am
With the 2024 Paris Olympics in full focus, Olympic champion Michael Phelps sat down with NBC’s “Meet the Press” to discuss his experiences at the pinnacle of swimming.
The full interview will air on Sunday on NBC.
Phelps is a 23-time Olympic gold medalist and 28-time overall medalist in Olympic competition, setting a record with eight golds in the 2008 games in Beijing.
Off the pool deck, Phelps has opened up about his struggles with mental health issues, including depression.
He speaks about all of that and more in this candid interview on “Meet the Press” – here is a first look.
VIDEO courtesy of NBC/Meet the Press: Michael Phelps reflects on depression and mental health: ‘I saw it as a sign of weakness’
KRISTEN WELKER: When did you first realize you were really struggling with depression?
MICHAEL PHELPS: I would say probably 2004. 2004 was my first taste of post-Olympic depression. Coming off such a high when it’s basically you get to like the edge of the cliff, and you’re like, “Cool. Now what? Oh, I guess I’ve got to wait four more years to have the chance to do it again.” Right? And for those who don’t have a successful Olympics, those four years can be like an absolute eternity. So, for me, 2004 is my first, 2008 was my second taste of post-Olympic depression. Because coming off of that high after doing something, like, you set out to do your whole entire life. My goal was to do something no one else had ever done before. I did it by the age of 19, 20, or so.
KRISTEN WELKER: Did you know it was depression, or did you just think, “I’m feeling a little off”?
MICHAEL PHELPS: I think at that point I’ll say as a male athlete I could tell something was off. But I think I saw it as a sign of weakness and if I shared anything about it then it would give my competitors an edge. And I’m not trying to do that, right? I don’t want to give my competitors an edge. I’m trying to be better than anybody, period, has ever been. So, for me, I looked at it as weakness. So, for me, I had to learn that vulnerability is a good thing. And it was scary at first, but I learned that vulnerability just means change. And for me, it was a great change.
On looking ahead to Paris Olympics amid conflict and global division: “I always think that, no matter what’s going on, whether it’s in the U.S. or all over the globe, the Olympics is something that brings everybody together”
KRISTEN WELKER: As we all get ready to watch the Olympics, there’s so much pain right now all over the world. Do you see the Olympics as a moment that can help bring people together?
MICHAEL PHELPS: Oh, that question. That was something, as a competitor, I always saw. Every four years we have the presidential race. And it’s always kind of a crazy time. But I always think that, no matter what’s going on, whether it’s in the U.S. or all over the globe, the Olympics is something that brings everybody together. The spirit of the Olympic Games is so magical. And for me, it’s just something that I can’t imagine life without. This summer is going to be an incredible opportunity to have Paris really show what that city’s all about. Some of these iconic venues and these amazing pools, volleyball courts, whatever it might be that you’re going to have. Hold on. These iconic landmarks that Paris has, and to be able to play beach volleyball under the Eiffel Tower, all of these things, I just have these visions in my head of this summer’s games and nothing but happiness. For me, that’s what I feel around an Olympic Games, and I can’t wait to get to Paris.
Happy Birthday Jayne Owen Bruner!!
Jayne Owen Bruner (USA)
Honor Masters Swimmer (2003)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 32 MASTERS WORLD RECORDS: 50m & 100m freestyle, 50m & 100m backstroke, 50m & 100m breaststroke, 50m & 100m butterfly, 200m I.M.; 1986 MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m freestyle, 50m & 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m I.M.); 1988 MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (3 events); 1989 MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (50m & 100m freestyle, 100m & 200m I.M.); 1996 MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 62 long course (50m/100m/200m freestyle, 50m & 100m backstroke, 50m/100m/200m breaststroke, 50m & 100m butterfly, 200m & 400m I.M.), 34 short course (50y/100y/200y freestyle, 50y/100y/200y breaststroke, 50y & 100y butterfly, 100y & 200y I.M.); 104 MASTERS NATIONAL RECORDS: 38 long course, 66 short course; MASTERS ALL AMERICAN.
She likes to win and she enjoys being at the top of her age group. She is a competitor and she enjoys swimming fast. She enjoys being number one. For over a 16 year period, Jayne Bruner has become one of the most successful Masters swimmers in the world.
Jayne is a swimmer who developed her elite athletic prowess during the years of her Masters swimming, not necessarily as a youngster. When Olympic Swimmer Ann Curtis visited Jayne’s hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, Jayne began swimming at the Riviera Club and competed in the National Championships for coach Bud Sawin. But it was only for a three year period. When the team disbanded in 1951, so did her zest for competitive swimming.
It was 21 years later at age 39, that Jayne took up swimming again, this time to lose weight. Although she lost the weight, she didn’t lose her appetite for the sport and in 1974 with the coaxing of husband Bob, she joined the Masters Program. Since that time, she has not looked back. She was coached by Jan Smith (1974-1982), Bob Clemmer (1981-1990), Mark Davin (1990-1993) and Steve Ercolano (1996-present). They have all proclaimed her positive attitude and sincere desire as the qualities that make her one of the most coachable swimmers they have coached.
Her first 24 years of Masters Swimming was spent in Pittsburgh with Team Pittsburgh Aquatics. She credits the coaching techniques in stroke mechanics and training for her improvement in the sport. She swam 6 days per week, lifted weights 3 days per week and stayed on a strict diet of healthy food. She would spend extra time in the pool just to feel better and to compete on the elite level. She has always been a hard worker, but enjoys the friendships and social opportunities that develop within Masters swimming. Although she now trains with Curl-Burke Swim Team in Northern Virginia, she competes with the D.C. Masters Team of Washington, D.C., a team she competed with even while living in Pittsburgh. She relaxes by being physical, scuba diving, taking diving trips to the Caribbean, etc. She must have gills, she would rather swim a mile than walk one.
To date, Jane has set 40 world records in all four strokes plus the individual medley. Those include 25 long course records and 15 short course records competing in the Age groups from 45 to 65 years. She has won 13 World Championship gold medals. She has set 39 U.S. National long course records, 48 U.S. short course yards records and 20 U.S. short course meters records. She is a perennial U.S.M.S. All-American and All-Star (outstanding swimmer in age group).
Masters Swimming has become a part of Jayne’s life as much as eating and sleeping. She represents the epitome for which other Masters swimmers strive, for she not only is an example of racing success in the sport, she is an example of the camaraderie, wholesome environment and healthy living which Masters Swimming promotes.
Happy Birthday Andrea Gyarmati!!
Andrea Gyarmati (HUN)
Honor Swimmer (1995)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (100m backstroke), bronze (100m butterfly); 1 WORLD RECORD: (100m butterfly); 1973 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze (200m backstroke); 1970 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m backstroke, 100m butterfly), silver (100m backstroke, 4x100m medley relay); 28 HUNGARIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: freestyle, backstroke, butterfly.
Andrea Gyarmati was born in 1954 in Budapest, Hungary, to parents who had an Olympic heritage. Andrea’s commitment to succeed in her life goals developed as a result of her parents’ example. Her mother, Eva Szekely, known as “Madame Butterfly,” overcame rough treatment as a Jew in the European community of World War II to become the 100m breaststroke world record holder and 1952 Olympic gold medalist. Her father, Dezso Gyarmati, was a three-time water polo Olympic gold medalist and the first to succeed as a great player and coach from this giant of a swimming and water polo country.
She was taught to swim at the age of three by her mother’s coach, the master and Hall of Famer, Imre Sarosi. By the age four, Andrea was jumping off the 10m diving tower. As Andrea improved and her swimming became more important, Eva became her coach and taught Andrea the butterfly stroke – the stroke first performed in the 1940s by Eva as the over arm breaststroke which earned her the title of “Madame Butterfly.”
Twenty-five years later, it was Andrea Gyarmati setting records at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Her goal was the Olympic gold medal, and she had not lost a 100m fly race in the preceding four years. In the semi-finals, she set a new Olympic and world record 1:03.34. Eight of her competitors qualified for the finals within seven-tenths of a second of each other, but the finals were a disappointment to Andrea. to anyone else, a bronze medal would have been acceptable; Andrea was gong for the gold. But she was strong and spirited and knew that only the winners can cry. She returned the next day to win a silver medal in the 100m backstroke, only one-tenth of a second behind Hall of Famer Melissa Belote of the U.S.A.
All told, Andrea was Europe’s best butterflyer and backstroker in the late 1960s and early ’70s and was honored as Hungary’s “Sportswoman of the Year” from 1968 through 1972. She won 28 Hungarian National Championships in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, winning the 100meter butterfly seven consecutive years and the 100m backstroke four consecutive years.
Andrea Gyarmati joins her parents to become the only mother, father, and daughter family ever to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Dennis Pursley to be inducted in Fort Lauderdale as Honor Coach in October, as part of ISHOF’s Class of 2024
During Dennis Pursley’s coaching career he was a five-time Olympic coach, a recipient of the U.S. Olympic Committee Chair’s Coaching Award, an American Swimming Coaches Association “Coach of The Year” and “Hall of Fame inductee” and was recognized in 2003 as one of the “25 Most Influential People in the History of USA Swimming”. He personally coached swimmers of both genders to world record performances as well as to the podium of the Olympic Games and/or to the long course World Championships in all four competitive strokes and both individual medley events.
Lakeside Swim Club
His coaching career began as a volunteer assistant coach under 1983 ISHOF Honor Coach, Don Gambril at the University of Alabama. In 1974, Dennis returned to his hometown as the head coach of Louisville’s Lakeside Swim Club, where he took a team of unranked status to a top 10 national championship finish. From Lakeside Swim Club, he moved on to the head coach for the Cincinnati Marlins and led them to three national championship team titles. After placing six swimmers on the 1980 USA Olympic Team, he was appointed to the USA Olympic Team coaching staff.
Cincinnati Marlins
He was named the first head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) where he served as the head coach of the combined team for two years and of the men’s team until August 1984. At the 1984 Olympic Games, the AIS led a resurgence in Australian swimming with a second-place finish to the United States in the medal count.
Australian Sports Institute
In 1989, Pursley was appointed the first National Team Director of USA Swimming and was responsible for all aspects of the National Team program. During his 14-year tenure in this position the medal production of the USA in international competition increased substantially. The USA team finished first in the medal count in both men’s and women’s competitions in all three Olympiads, culminating with 33 medals (14 gold) in the 2000 Olympics which was described by “Sports Illustrated” magazine as the greatest team performance of all time. In recognition of his contributions, Pursley was presented the United States Olympic Committee Chairman’s Coaching Award for 2000.
In 2008 he was named head coach of British Swimming and served in that capacity through the 2012 London Olympics. After the 2012 Olympics, Coach Pursley returned to the University of Alabama as the head coach to lead his alma mater back to a position of national prominence. Pursley’s second year, the men’s team was named “Breakout Team of the Year” by the College Swimming Coaches Association and went on to achieve six consecutive top 15 finishes in the NCAA Championships in his seven-year tenure, including four top 10 finishes. His women’s team rewrote the school record books establishing new school records in 17 of the 19 events.
University of Alabama
Come join Coach Dennis Pursley and hear the rest of his amazing story, along with this year’s spectacular class of 2024 in Fort Lauderdale. If you cannot join us, please consider making a donation.
To make a donation, click here: https://www.ishof.org/donate/
This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:
Honor Swimmers:
Lars Frölander (SWE)
Daniel Gyurta (HUN)
Dana Vollmer (USA)
1976 Women’s 4×100 Freestyle Gold Medal Relay Team (USA)
(Includes Shirley Babashoff, Wendy Boglioli, Kim Peyton*, Jill Sterkel)
Honor Divers:
Alexandre Despatie (CAN)
Yulia Pakhalina (RUS)
Wu Minxia (CHN)
Honor Artistic Swimmer:
Virginie Dedieu (FRA)
Honor Water Polo Players:
Carmela “Lilli” Allucci (ITA)
Vladimir Akimov* (USSR)
Honor Coach:
Dennis Pursley (USA)
Honor Contributor:
Dale Neuburger (USA)
Additional Awards presented Saturday night:
Al Schoenfield Media Award:
Peter Diamond (USA)
ISHOF Gold Medallion Award:
Alex Blavatnik (USA)
ISHOF 59th Annual Honoree Induction weekend
October 4-5, 2024 – Complete schedule will be forthcoming soon.
~ HOTEL INFORMATION ~
Host Hotel: Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort & Spa
To make reservations click here: https://book.passkey.com/e/50757008
321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 467-1111.
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $229 per night,
Additional Hotel Option:
Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach
Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony
440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 524-8733
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 – $199 per night
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE AND TICKETS.