Happy Birthday Alessandro Campagna!!
Alessandro Campagna (ITA)
Honor Water Polo (2019)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: AS A PLAYER: 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 1986 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver; 1994 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 1987 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze; 1989 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze; 1993 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; AS A COACH: 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 2014 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze
He was born in Palermo, on the beautiful island of Sicily, but he grew up in Syracuse, where he began learning to swim at the age of six. Sandro, as he is affectionately known, was afraid at first, but the more time he spent in the water, the more confident he became, and he soon came to love it. At the same time, he also loved football and trained seriously in both sports.
At the age of 12, Sandro was introduced to the sport of water polo. For him, it merged the two sports he loved, and the rules of the sport came quickly to him. In the very first game in which he played, he scored three goals and was hooked! He transferred his love of swimming to water polo and never looked back.
In 1976, when Sandro was 13 years old, he watched Italy win the silver medal in water polo at the Montreal Olympic Games. It was then that he decided that one day, he too would stand on the Olympic podium, playing water polo for his country, just like his idol, ISHOF Honoree, Gianni De Magistris.
Five years later, Sandro was playing for Ortigia, in the first division of the Italian League. In a game against Florentine, and their star, Gianni DeMagistris, Sandro scored three goals. Ortigia won the game 5 to 4 and Sandro was invited to join the Settebello. Literally translated, Settebello means “beautiful seven”, an affectionate nickname the Italian water polo team earned after winning the gold medal at the 1948 London Olympic Games.
Just as his career was beginning to take off, Sandro suffered a serious injury that kept him out of the water for a year. When he returned, he helped the Settebello win the silver medal at the 1986 World Championships and Sandro was voted one of the world’s best.
Unfortunately, after finishing a disappointing seventh in Seoul in 1988, the Italian Federation turned to a foreign coach to make their team beautiful again. That coach was ISHOF Honoree, Ratko Rudic. With two Olympic gold medals for Yugoslavia to his name, Rudic brought with him a winning culture based on discipline and hard work.
The results were immediate. Behind the play of Alessandro Campagna, Italy won gold at the 1992 Olympic Games Barcelona…gold at the1993 FINA Cup in Athens… gold at the 1993 European Championships at Sheffield…and finally, the 1994 World Championships in Rome. It was an unprecedented Water polo GRAND SLAM.
Alessandro (Sandro) Campanga was one of the most complete water polo players of all time. In his professional career, he played for two clubs: The first was, Ortigia Siracusa, where he was the captain and the leading player for ten championship seasons, and the second, Roma, where he won the Coppa delle Coppe, also known as the LEN Cup Winner’s Cup and the Len Cup. The winners of the LEN Cup Winner’s Cup went on to face the European Champions in the European Super Cup.
Campagna credits his success to the four coaches he trained under during his career. To his first coach, Romolo Parodi, he credits getting his love of the game. To Gianni Lonzi, for selecting him to the national team as a young player at 18 years old. He believes Fritz Dennerlein completed him tactically, and lastly he believes Ratko Rudic made him go further mentally than he would have on his own.
Upon retirement, after accumulating 409 caps playing for the Settebello, Campagna decided to put his water polo knowledge to use in coaching. As head coach of the Italian National Team, he led Italy to the top of the podium at the 2011 FINA World Championships, they took the silver medal at the 2012 London Games, bronze at 2014 European Championships in Budapest, and bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In May 2015, he was selected among the 100 Legends of Sport: in Italy for the Italian Walk of Fame CONI at the Foro Italico, in Roma.
Happy Birthday Bernie Wrightson!!
Bernie Wrightson (USA)
Honor Diver (1984)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1968 gold (springboard); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1967 (springboard); NCAA CHAMPION: 1966 (1m, 3m springboard); AAU NATIONALS: 8 (1964 (1m, 3m springboard), 1965 (1m, 3m springboard; platform), 1966 (1m, 3m springboard), 1968 (3m springboard); 1966 recipient of “Lawrence J Johnson” award.
Bernie Wrightson, the 1968 Olympic gold medal winner, was the best springboard diver by gold medal count and championship head-to-head competition from 1964 to 1968. His eight U.S. AAU and two NCAA titles included one platform title which proved he didn’t always need a springboard for success; although he certainly was king of the sport when he had one. Wrightson’s 1966 honors–winning all major U.S. springboard titles–made him the last diver to win the prestigious Lawrence J. Johnson ‘Swimming” Award. Wrightson’s 170.15 score in the 1968 Mexico Games was a record up until that time.
The key characterization of Wrightson’s diving was the determination on his face during every dive. It was obvious to everyone watching. After retiring from active diving, this blonde-haired, blue-eyed champion coached the Swedish divers for a short time before pursuing a business career as a stockbroker.
Virginie Dedieu (FRA) to be inducted as Honor Synchronized Artistic Swimmer in 2024
Virginie Dedieu is the most successful artistic swimmer from the country of France and one of the most impressive to ever come from the continent of Europe. Her combination of stunning artistry and technical excellence earned her three consecutive FINA World Championship solo titles (2003, 2005 and 2007). In 2005, while watching her free solo performance, the television commentator called Virginie the “perfect swimmer.”
Virginie was known for her unique moves based on her flexibility and her ability to move her body in ways never before thought of in artistic swimming. Her ability to command the attention of the crowd with her passion and choreographic excellence was beyond anything seen up to that time in artistic swimming.
Virginie is the only solo champion to come from a country that is NOT a powerhouse in artistic swimming. She stands out among other artistic solo champions. Most all solo champions is artistic swimming have had teams behind them that have scored medals in other events at the same World Championships. Virginie did not. She is unique not only because of this fact, but also because of her talent, and her influence as a choreographer. Virginie has worked extensively with Ona Carbonell, helping her achieve several medals in solo in World Championship and World Series meets.
Come join Dedieu and the rest of this year’s class of 2024 in Fort Lauderdale. If you cannot join us, please consider making a donation.
To make a donation, click here: https://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) 2023
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)
ISHOF 59th Annual Honoree Induction weekend
~ 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
~ TICKET INFORMATION ~
Friday, October 4, 2024: Includes:
The Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) Induction Ceremony
The ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal and
The ISHOF Specialty Awards
Click here to purchase tickets: MISHOF/AWARDS
Saturday, October 5, 2024: Includes
The 59th Annual International Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree Induction Ceremony
The Al Schoenfield Media Award and
The 2024 ISHOF Gold Medallion Award
Click here to purchase tickets: INDUCTION
Get your Tickets NOW!!!! ISHOF’s 59th Annual Honoree Induction Weekend
The International Swimming Hall of Fame is proud to present the 59th annual Honoree Induction Weekend.
Tickets are now available for purchase. Come, be part of history and rub elbows with the greatest aquatic athletes in the world! You just never know who you might run into!
International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2024
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 Diver (2023)
Honor Synchronized/Artistic Swimmer:
Virginie Dedieu (FRA)
Honor Water Polo Players:
Carmela “Lilli” Allucci (ITA)
Vladimir Akimov* (USSR)
Honor Coach:
Dennis “Denny” Pursley (USA)
Honor Contributor:
Dale Neuburger (USA)
2024 ISHOF Gold Medallion Award:
Alex Blavatnik (URS/USA)
Honor Masters Swimmers
Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2023
Glen Christiansen (SWE)
Clary Munns (AUS)
Tom Wolf (USA)
Honor Masters Diver
Tarja Liljeström (FIN)
Honor Masters Artistic Swimmer
Lizzi Jakobsen* (USA)
Honor Water Polo Player
Jose Luis Gomez (ESP)
Honor Contributor
Nadine Day (USA)
*deceased
2024 ISHOF Specialty Awards
Buck Dawson Author’s Award: Ian Hugh McAllister (GBR), Lost Olympics: The Hilda James Story
Every Child A Swimmer Award: Dominic Calabro (USA)
Virginia Hunt Newman Award: Sandra Rossi Madormo (BRA)
John K. Williams, Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award: Rodna Metz Bordner (USA)
Al Schoenfield Media Award: Peter Diamond (USA)
(to be presented Sat. night)
2024 ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal
Competitive Swimming: Jay Thomas (USA)
Water Polo: Pedro and Cristiana Pinciroli (BRA)
Competitive Diving: Sheilagh Boudia (USA)
Synchronized Swimming: Sandra Roberts (CAN)
Aquatic Safety: Chris and Jenny McCuiston (USA)
Recreational Swimming: Beth Root (USA)
EVENT INFORMATION
TICKETS
Friday, October 4, 2024
(Masters MISHOF Honoree Induction, ISHOF Aquatic Awards, presented by AquaCal and ISHOF Specialty Awards)
Click here for Tickets – MISHOF/AWARDS
Saturday, October 5, 2024
ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies, Al Schoenfield Media Award, ISHOF Gold Medallion Award
Click here for Tickets – INDUCTION
~ 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 $219 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
If you have questions, call Meg-Keller-Marvin at 570 594-4367 or e-mail: meg@ishof.org or visit www.ishof.org
U.S. Olympic Trials: Michael Andrew, Ryan Held Tie for 50 Free Top Seed; Caeleb Dressel Tied for Seventh
Michael Andrew — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by DAVID RIEDER – SENIOR WRITER
20 June 2024, 09:13am
U.S. Olympic Trials: Michael Andrew, Ryan Held Tie for 50 Free Top Seed; Caeleb Dressel Tied for Seventh
Michael Andrew returned to the competition pool Thursday morning for the first time since fading to eighth in the 100 breaststroke final, and he will try to sneak onto the Olympic team in the 50 free. Andrew was the World Championships silver medalist in the event in 2022, and his lifetime best is 21.41, second-best in the field behind Caeleb Dressel.
In prelims, Andrew tied for the top qualifying mark as he blasted his way to a time of 21.70 in heat nine while Ryan Held equaled that mark two heats later. Held, who was left off the Olympic team in heartbreaking fashion three years ago after finishing sixth in the 100 free, is again in limbo after Wednesday night’s 100-meter final, but he is sitting in a much stronger position after taking fifth this time around.
The two men who earned individual spots in the 100 free were just behind, with Jack Alexy touching in 21.74 for the third seed and Chris Guiliano claiming the fourth seed in 21.83. Guiliano is the first American man since Matt Biondi in 1988 to qualify for both the 100 and 200 free at the Olympics, and Biondi also swam the 50-meter event at those Olympics.
August Lamb dropped almost a half-second from his seed time to take fifth in 21.87, followed by Quintin McCarty (21.98) and a tie for seventh between Caeleb Dressel and Matt King at 22.00. Dressel qualified for his third Olympic team Wednesday with his third-place finish in the 100 free.
Jonny Kulow finished ninth in 22.01, and Jack Dolan was 10th (22.07). The remaining semifinalists include David Curtiss (22.18),Payton Sorenson (22.19), Matthew Jensen (22.24), Adam Chaney (22.26), Drew Salls (22.28) and Daniel Bates (22.28).
ISHOF Honoree and Board Member Dara Torres Named Head Coach at Boston College
18 June 2024
Five-Time Olympian and four-time Olympic gold medalist Dara Torres has been named the head swimming and diving coach at Boston College.
In the midst of Olympic Trials taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Torres made the announcement on her personal social media.
“Hello from Olympic Trials! Boston College just announced that I’m joining the program as head swimming & diving coach. It’s been a busy day here. But I want to take a minute for something important. There’s a saying I love: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’ To my coaches, teammates, competitors, sponsors, teachers, advisors, business partners, professional colleagues, family and friends: Thank you. I’m here because you were there. I can’t wait to share my plan with you. Stay tuned-I’ll be in touch!! Thank you!!!”
In a statement from Boston College Torres further elaborated on what it means to be named the Head Coach of the Eagles.
“This is a full-circle moment for me,” Torres said. “I’ve learned from great coaches at every point in my career. This opportunity to share what I’ve learned, in and out of the pool, and pass along technique, confidence, and support as part of the Boston College Athletics Department is a dream. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.”
Boston College Director of Athletics Blake James added: “We are thrilled to welcome Dara Torres as our new head swimming & diving coach.
“From the moment we met with Dara, it was evident that she was exactly the fit we were looking for to begin a fresh, new chapter of Boston College swimming & diving. Her record as a world-class competitor is historic and her ability to clearly articulate her vision as a coach and leader will allow our student-athletes to develop and excel in and out of the pool.”
Torres, a five-time Olympian, competed at the 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, and 2008 Olympic Games and became the first American woman to qualify for five Olympiads. Additionally in 2008 Torres became the oldest U.S. women to qualify for an Olympic Swimming Team.
Collegiately Torres swam at the University of Florida for Head Coach Randy Reese. During her time with the Gators Torres was a 28-time All-American and the 1988 SEC Female Athlete of the Year.
Torres is taking over an Eagle program that parted ways with former Head Coach Joe Brinkman in January following the suspension of the program as a whole due to hazing allegations.
USA’s Dana VOLLMER to be inducted as Honor Swimmer into ISHOF Class of 2024
American Dana Vollmer is a three-time Olympian, competing in 2004, 2012, and 2016, who specialized in the freestyle and the butterfly events. She is a five-time Olympic gold medalist and broke six world records.
At the age of 12, Vollmer was the youngest swimmer to compete at the 2000 Olympic Trials, however, she did not make the team. Four years later, Vollmer did make the 2004 Centennial Olympic Games in Athens, where she won her first Olympic gold medal as a member of the winning U.S. team in the 800m freestyle relay, setting a new world record, breaking one which had stood for the previous 17 years. She just missed making the 2008 Olympic team, but that did not discourage her. At the London Games in 2012, Vollmer had qualified for the 100-meter butterfly and she walked away with her first individual Olympic gold medal of the Olympics, while also setting a new world record. In addition, she swam as a member of the 800m freestyle relay, where she and her teammates won gold, and then again in the 4 x 100 medley relay, where the USA women’s team again won the gold, breaking the world record, previously set by China in 2009.
17 months after giving birth to her first son, in March 2015, Vollmer was in top shape again and ready for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. She walked away from her third Games not only with a medal of each color: a gold in the 400m medley relay, a silver in the 400m freestyle relay and a bronze in the 100m butterfly, but as the only Mother in the sport of swimming to win a gold medal.
Vollmer won a total of 32 medals in major international competitions, including 19 gold, eight silver and five bronze medals. The events included the Olympic Games, the FINA World Championships, the Pan American Games, the Pan-Pac Championships, and the Goodwill Games, making her one of the most decorated Olympic female swimmers.
Come join Vollmer and the rest of this year’s class of 2024 in Fort Lauderdale. If you cannot join us, please consider making a donation.
To make a donation, click here: https://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) 2023
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)
ISHOF 59th Annual Honoree Induction weekend
~ 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
~ TICKET INFORMATION ~
Friday, October 4, 2024: Includes:
The Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) Induction Ceremony
The ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal and
The ISHOF Specialty Awards
Click here to purchase tickets: MISHOF/AWARDS
Saturday, October 5, 2024: Includes
The 59th Annual International Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree Induction Ceremony
The Al Schoenfield Media Award and
The 2024 ISHOF Gold Medallion Award
Click here to purchase tickets: INDUCTION
MISHOF ~ Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame October Induction Information and Updates
MISHOF 2019 Induction Ceremony, St. Louis, MO, USAS convention (photo above)
The Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) was proud to announce its prestigious Masters Class of 2023 back in March. This year ISHOF will be inducting the class of seven (7) honorees from five countries that were selected last year: three swimmers, one diver, one water polo player, one synchronized/artistic swimmer, and one contributor. The Masters (MISHOF) induction event will be held in conjunction with the ISHOF Honoree weekend, Saturday, October 4-5, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Today, we are proud to announce that five will be with us for the event, which will be held Friday, October 4, at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort in conjunction with the ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal and the ISHOF Specialty Awards.
This year’s Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) honorees include:
HONOR SWIMMERS: Clary Munns (AUS), Glen Christiansen (SWE), and Tom Wolf (USA); HONOR DIVER: Tarja Liljestrom (FIN); HONOR SYNCHRONIZED (ARTISTIC) SWIMMER: Lizzi Jakobsen* (USA); HONOR WATER POLO: Jose Luis Martin Gomez (ESP); and HONOR CONTRIBUTOR: Nadine Day (USA) *deceased
The following Masters Honorees will be in attendance in Fort Lauderdale:
SWIMMERS:
TOM WOLF (USA)
Tom Wolf began swimming Masters in the 25-29 age group. He is currently swimming in the 65-69, meaning he has competed in eight different age groups. He has set 28 FINA Masters World Records competing in the backstroke and the I.M. events and has been in the world rankings since 1983.
Wolf has been in the Top Ten 16 times in his career. He previously swam for North Texas Masters and is currently swimming for Lone Star Masters in the USA.
Like Clary Munns, Wolf has not competed in any FINA Masters World Championships, accumulating all his 949 world points by breaking world records and setting world rankings.
GLEN CHRISTIANSEN (SWE)
Glen Christiansen is a former Swedish Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics, where he finished 11th in the 200-meter breaststroke.
Since then, he has had continued success as a Masters swimmer and has pursued an international career as a swimming coach. He broke 24 world records between 1986 and 2009 and has competed in eight Masters World Championships (1986, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010 and 2014), winning a total of 26 medals. He has been in the Top Ten a total of 32 times and has acquired a total of 908 world points.
He has been in the World Rankings in both the long and short course, with a total of 33, almost exclusively in the breaststroke events.
researcher for the University of Helsinki in Helsinki, Finland.
WATER POLO PLAYER:
JOSE LUIS MARTIN GOMEZ (ESP)
In 1998 Jose started playing for Real Canoe Masters of Madrid; a few years prior to that, he was playing in the regional league, as there was no Masters league. Jose imported the traveling spirit of his former club that he played in as a child, to Real Canoe and now the club makes two to three trips a year to any part of the world to play in Masters tournaments. He also organizes the Spanish Cup of Masters water polo every two years.
Jose has competed in eight FINA Masters World Championships between 2004 and 2017, earning one silver and two bronze in tournament play. In 2017 he won gold at the World Master Games; He has competed in six European Masters Championships, coming away with one gold, one silver and two bronze.
He has also competed in numerous international tournaments throughout Europe and Spain, as a member of the Real Canoe Team, between 2002-2017, earning ten gold medals, five silver medals and four bronze medals.
ARTISTIC SWIMMER:
LIZZI JAKOBSEN (USA)*
*deceased (Lizzi’s daughter, is coming to represent her)
Lizzi Jakobsen was one of the five original members of the team that became the Southern California Unsyncables. Inspired by the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, they decided to enter the Masters National Championships that year. Lizzie and her team competed in nationals again in 1986, ‘88, ‘90, and ‘91. With the FINA World Masters being held in Indianapolis in 1992, they planned to enter their first ever FINA World Masters Championships. With the help of Dawn Bean as coach, they were elated to come home with medals in four events including gold medals in the 50-59 age group team.
After their success in Indianapolis, the Unsyncables began competing in the FINA Masters World Championships. Lizzi attended a total of seven FINA Masters Championships winning a total of 15 medals: 12 gold, two silver and one bronze. Indianapolis (1992), Montreal (1994), Sheffield, England (1996), Munich (2000), Christchurch, New Zealand (2002), Riccione, Italy (2004), Stanford, California (2006), and Goteborg, Sweden (2010).
Unfortunately, Lizzi passed away last year before she learned of her induction.
CONTRIBUTOR:
NADINE DAY (USA) – Masters Swimming Contributor
Nadine Day has devoted the last 25 years of her life to Masters swimming. Her volunteer work began in 2001 when she became the Illinois Local Masters Swimming Committee (LMSC) Sanctions Chair. Attending her first USMS convention a year later, she soon joined several USMS committees, all the while continuing to take on more responsibility within her local MSC. Nadine served as her LMSC’s Vice Chair and subsequently its Chair in addition to balancing the demands of multiple USMS Committee assignments.
In 2005, Nadine was elected to the USMS Board of Directors for the first time. After serving two terms as the Great Lakes Director, she was elected Vice President of Community Services. In 2012, Nadine was elected President of United States Masters Swimming, where she served one term. During her 16 years as a leader on the USMS Board, Day was involved in numerous task forces and committees. In the late twenty-teens, Nadine was named the United States Aquatic Sports Convention Chairperson, which is no small undertaking. Day and her committee took it over flawlessly from a crew that had been running it for years and years.
Nadine continued serving in leadership positions on committees and international organizations, once off the USMS board. In Nadine’s own words: “To me it’s about giving back to a sport I love and encouraging other adults to love swimming—it’s about providing opportunities for others. Making sacrifices for others is easy when you want our sport to be successful”. Nadine’s contributions to USMS have touched countless lives and helped USMS to grow and evolve.
Nadine has received numerous awards through the years, showing her continued dedication to Masters swimming. She won the USMS Dorothy Donnelly Service Award; in 2015, USMS, gave her the Ted Haartz Staff Appreciation Award and in 2016, she received USMS’s highest honor, the Capt. Ransom J. Arthur M.D. Award. In 2018 Swimming World Magazine named her “One of the 10 Most Impactful People” in Swimming. And lastly, in 2020 United States Aquatic Sports presented Nadine with the Women in Swimming Award.
EVENT INFORMATION
TICKETS
Friday, October 4, 2024
(Masters MISHOF Honoree Induction, ISHOF Aquatic Awards, presented by AquaCal and ISHOF Specialty Awards)
Click here for Tickets – MISHOF/AWARDS
Saturday, October 5, 2024
ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies, Al Schoenfield Media Award, ISHOF Gold Medallion Award
Click here for Tickets – INDUCTION
~ 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
If you have questions, call Meg-Keller-Marvin at 570 594-4367 or e-mail: meg@ishof.org or visit www.ishof.org
Honorees who are not able to attend:
CLARY MUNNS (AUS)
78-year-old grandmother Clary Munns swims for the Blacktown City Masters Swimming Club.
As of her selection in early 2023, she had set eight long course and 25 short course FINA Masters world records in the backstroke, butterfly and I.M events, since 1988 with 13 world records in 2019 alone. Munns has not competed in any FINA Masters World Championships, accumulating all her 1297 world points by breaking world records, and setting world rankings. Since 1986, Clary has been in the Top Ten, 25 times.
Clary is a great ambassador for Blacktown City at the state, national and world levels, and is proof that age is no barrier to sporting success. In 2016 she was New South Wales Masters Athlete of the Year.
DIVER:
TARJA LILJESTROM (FIN)
Prior to her Masters career, Tarja Liljestrom was a competitor in the 1968 Olympic Games for Finland on both the 3M Springboard and 10M Platform.
Tarja has competed in nine FINA World Championships, and has won 24 medals: 10 Gold, 13 Silver, 1 Bronze. In addition, she has set three World Records, has competed in numerous European Masters competitions, and serves as a judge in the same competitions. She is currently competing in the 65-69 age group.
About MISHOF
The purpose of the MISHOF is to promote a healthy lifestyle, lifelong fitness, and participation in adult aquatic programs. MISHOF recognizes the achievements of individuals who have participated in Masters programs through at least four different Masters age groups. Most must pre-qualify by an objective point system based on world records performances, world Top Ten rankings and World Championship performances. The MISHOF is a division of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please visit: www.ishof.org
About ISHOF
The International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. (ISHOF), established in 1965, is a not-for-profit educational organization located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. It was first recognized by FINA, the International Olympic Committee’s recognized governing body for the aquatic sports, in 1968. ISHOF’s mission is to collaborate with aquatic organizations worldwide to preserve, educate and celebrate history, showcase events, share cultures, increase participation in aquatic sports, while working toward making “Every child A Swimmer”.
For more information, call Meg-Keller-Marvin at 570 594-4367 or e-mail: meg@ishof.org or visit www.ishof.org
U.S. Olympic Trials: Jack Alexy Pops U.S. Open Record 47.08 in 100 Free; Caeleb Dressel 4th
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by MATTHEW DE GEORGE – SENIOR WRITER
18 June 2024, 09:12am
U.S. Olympic Trials: Jack Alexy Pops U.S. Open Record 47.08 in 100 Free
Jack Alexy entered the men’s 100 freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials as the on-paper favorite. He did nothing to dissuade people of that notion.
Alexy won the final heat of nine with an authoritative swim of 47.08 seconds. It’s the second fastest time in the world this year. It downs the U.S. Open record held jointly by Ryan Held from Nationals in 2019 and Caeleb Dressel from Olympic Trials in 2021. The latter was the meet record.
Alexy was out in 22.44, the fastest in the field and one of only five sub-23 splits. He came back in 24.64, again the fastest in the field and one of only five sub-25 splits.
Second was Chris Guiliano, who Monday night booked a spot for himself in the 200 free. The Notre Dame swimmer went 47.65. Joining him under 48 seconds was Dressel in 47.82 and Hunter Armstrong in 47.93.
Held won the first of three circle-seeded heats to finish sixth in 48.15, .01 behind Destin Lasco. Patrick Sammon is seventh, with Matt King eighth.
Among the 200 swimmers from the night before, Kieran Smith made semifinals in ninth. Brooks Curry tied for 11th, with Worlds relay qualifier Henry McFadden, and Drew Kibler snuck into the 16th and final spot. Luke Hobson was not so lucky, finishing 20th. Carson Foster scratched the event, as he did the 200 fly.
Kibler denied two swimmers from non-circle-seeded heats, with Matthew Jensen (heat six) 17th and Quintin McCarty (heat 2) in 18th.
Alexy represented the U.S. at the 2023 World Championships, where he won a silver medal. Guiliano didn’t make it out of prelims in Fukuoka. A year earlier, Curry finished fifth in Budapest, an event marked by Dressel’s early withdrawal.
Held, Alexy, Guliano and King swam the relay in Fukuoka, with Lasco and Justin Ress in prelims. Ress was perhaps the biggest name to miss out, finishing 24th in 49.19.
Passages: Brent Rutemiller, Former Swimming World Publisher, ISHOF CEO Dies After Multiple Cancer Battles
by DAN D’ADDONA — SWIMMING WORLD MANAGING EDITOR
17 June 2024, 07:53am
Former Swimming World Magazine Publisher and International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) CEO Brent Rutemiller has died after multiple bouts with cancer.
He died early June 17, 2024, surrounded by his family. His daughter Shoshanna posted in the Rutemiller’s Army Facebook page this morning.
“Hi all, Brent passed away peacefully last night with his loving wife by his side. He contracted a lung infection over the weekend and deteriorated quickly. We are so thankful he was not in pain and was able to visit with his children and grandchildren before passing. He was lucid and himself to the very end. He will be missed greatly.”
Rutemiller, the recipient of the ISHOF Lifetime Achievement Award, had battled several forms of cancer into remission.
It started with a 2021 diagnoses of a rare bone marrow cancer called plasma cell leukemia. He battled that into remission, but cancer returned in 2022 and he underwent a bone marrow transplant and stem cell boosts.
He served Swimming World Magazine in multiple roles for more than 30 years and has won several major awards over the years after a lifetime in and around the water.
Rutemiller swam at Eastern Kentucky University but his involvement in the sport really hit a new level as a coach. He was a Level 5 certified coach by the American Swimming Coaches Association and coached teams in Indiana and Kentucky. He then was a coached with the Mission Viejo Nadadores, the Phoenix Swim Club and Scottsdale Aquatic Club, leading several swimmers to state championships and All-American honors.
Rutemiller also made huge contributions to the Special Olympics and coached several athletes at the games over the years.
He created Aquazoids, an animated educational series that has been printed in more than 150 countries, including Swimming World, where he first joined the team.
Brent Rutemiller joined Swimming World full time in 1985 as head of advertising and continued to grow in leadership until he was the magazine’s publisher.
Since taking the helm at Swimming World, he grew the product to a daily online source of news in addition to the monthly print magazine. He started The Morning Swim Show, an online TV series in a podcast format well ahead of its time.
USA Swimming once recognized Rutemiller as one of the 30 most-influential figures in the sport and the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association presented Brent Rutemiller with its Collegiate Award in 2023.
Even throughout his battles with cancer, he was in the water. He swam for himself, and for others, helping raise money for cancer research with Swim Across America, along with his supporters, dubbed “Rutemiller’s Army.
“I want to thank everyone for all of their support over the years. Leading the International Swimming Hall of Fame and Swimming World was a privilege as well as a responsibility that I took very,” Brent Rutemiller wrote when he retired. “I believe that to truly win in life, you must first help someone else win. That is what philanthropy and running a non-profit corporation is all about. I think my inner drive to be ethical and credible has rung true through the years.”
Indeed it has, and it has guided Swimming World, the ISHOF and the entire sport of swimming into its rise that continues to ascend.