ISHOF Honoree Brenda Villa Returns as Associate Head Coach For Stanford Water Polo
by Matthew De George – Senior Writer
21 August 2025
Brenda Villa, one of the most accomplished women’s water polo players in history, is returning to her alma mater Stanford as associate head coach.
Stanford coach John Tanner made the announcement on Wednesday. He coached Villa, who in 2002 led the Cardinal to the first of its 10 national titles under Tanner.
Villa is one of only two four-time Olympic medalists in the history of the sport, winning gold in London in 2012 to cap her career. She had won silver medals at the 2000 and 2008 Olympics plus bronze in 2004, in addition to three Pan Am Games golds and three World Championships golds. Villa was a three-time All-American at Stanford and won the Peter J. Cutino Award as the national player of the year in 2002. She graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
She is a member of the both the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.
“Brenda is an icon in the water polo world, as one of our sport’s greatest ever athletes, as a global ambassador for the sport, and as an extraordinary coach who engenders belief, self-reliance and resilience in her athletes and teams,” Tanner said in a press release. “Brenda’s path to Stanford was exceptional, a journey made possible by the City of Commerce, her family, teachers, coaches and her own relentless drive. Brenda’s journey since graduating has been equally remarkable.”
Villa retired from playing in 2012. She was the head coach at Orange Lutheran High School since 2022, leading the Lancers to CIF Regional State titles in 2024 and 2025, the former in an undefeated season. She was twice named the CIF Open Division Coach of the Year.
Villa was previously an assistant coach at Cerritos College from 2005-09 and the head coach at Palo Alto’s Castilleja School for 10 season starting in 2010. She also has coached Team USA’s Under-16 team.
“Returning to Stanford is incredibly special to me,” Villa said. “Being part of the first NCAA championship team here wasn’t just about winning — it was about laying the foundation for what this program could become. As one of the early athletes to help shape that era, I feel honored to now give back as a coach and help lead the next generation of student-athletes who will carry that legacy forward.”
August Featured Honoree: Manuel Estiarte (ESP) and his Memorabilia
Each month ISHOF will feature an Honoree and some of their aquatic memorabilia, that they have so graciously either given or loaned to us. Since we are closed, and everything is in storage, we wanted to still be able to highlight some of the amazing artifacts that ISHOF has and to be able to share these items with you.
We continue in August 2025, with 2007 ISHOF Honoree, Manuel Estiarte, Honor Water Polo. Manuel donated many fabulous things to ISHOF and we want to share some of them with you now. Also below is his ISHOF Honoree bio that was written the year he was inducted.
1 1996 Olympic Water Polo Cap donated by Stephan Andreades (COL.204)
2 Olympic Game Tickets, 3 Photographs donated by Stephan Andreades
1 1996 Photograph of the Victory Water Polo Ceremony donated by Stephan Andreades (COL.204)
A Poster of Manuel Estiarte (removed from frame)
ISHOF Honorees Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie Honored with Blue Plaques
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
11 July 2025
Fanny Durack and Mina Wylie, Australia’s first two female swimming stars, have been awarded Blue Plaques by the government of New South Wales. The Blue Plaque honor is designed to recognize people and events that have shaped the Australian state, with the plaques placed in publicly accessible places.
Durack and Wylie represented Australia at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, with the women winning gold and silver medals, respectively, in the 100-meter freestyle. Great Britain’s Jennie Fletcher was the bronze medalist. The Stockholm Games marked the first time in which women competed in Olympic swimming competition.
Durack’s Blue Plaque was unveiled on Thursday outside of her childhood home in Stanmore. Durack was the world-record holder in the 100 freestyle from 1912-1920 and she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1967. After the 1916 Olympics were canceled by World War I, Durack hoped to compete at the 1920 Games in Antwerp, but illness prevented the defense of her 100 freestyle title.
Wylie finished three seconds behind Durack for the silver medal in the 100 free at the 1912 Games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975. Her Blue Plaque was unveiled outside of Wylie’s Baths, her former training ground. Wylie’s father built the Baths in 1907.
The Best American Men’s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (Part III: No. 1 to No. 10)
08 July 2025
The Best American Men’s Water Polo Players of the NCAA Era (Part III: No. 1 to No. 10)
By Jeff Moulton
In the third and final installment of this three-part series, water polo expert Jeff Moulton discusses the individuals he has ranked No. 1 to 10 in his unofficial list of the top-25 American men’s water polo players of the NCAA era. Parts I and II are linked below, with Part I including an explanation of the criteria used by Moulton to make his selections.
10. John Gansel – goalie, Foothill Hill High School and Stanford (2x NCAA champion, 4x 1st team All-American).
Gansel, the only 4x 1st team All-American goalie, is America’s greatest collegiate goalie and had an outstanding high school career at Foothill. As former El Toro High School coach Don Stoll told the L.A. Times, “If you talk to old-timers, they say Gansel did stuff that no one has done since.” Gansel graduated from Stanford in 1981. He played in the 1982 World Championships and on three World University Games teams, including the 1979 team that won the gold medal (the first gold medal the United States won during water polo’s modern era) and the 1981 team that won the silver medal. Gansel didn’t play in the Olympics. He started medical school in 1982 and, as he said, “my polo career ran out of time.” Dante Dettamanti, Gansel’s coach at Stanford, speaking about Gansel: “I have been a part of water polo in this country for the last 57 years at all levels, including the USA National team. Not only is John Gansel the best goalie that I have ever coached, he is the best goalkeeper that I have seen play in this country. It was too bad he never had a chance to play on the USA Olympic team. The timing just wasn’t right for him with the 1980 Olympic boycott, with almost every USA player returning for 1984 after the boycott, along with 1984 and 1988 conflicts with medical school and internship and residency training as a doctor.” Dettamanti describing Gansel’s time at Stanford: “Gansel was a virtual wall in the goal, allowing very few balls to get past him, even in practice. He was critical to Stanford’s counterattack game, making the block and then making the perfect full-court pass to breakaway players in the 30-meter course used in those days. He was a natural in the goal, at 6’3”, with great legs, long arms and uncanny quickness. He was also an excellent swimmer (21+ 50 freestyle in high school). In his senior year, 1980, Stanford held opponents to an average of 4.4 goals per game, the only time in school history that opponents have been held under a 5 goals-per-game average for the whole season. Stanford has had several 4-time All-Americans since 1969, but only 2 Stanford players have been 4-time First Team All-Americans, John Gansel and Tony Azevedo. In my opinion, the top goalie and top field player in USA water polo history.” More from Dettamanti: “In the 1979 World University Games in Mexico City, playing against the complete Yugoslavian and Russian national teams that were preparing for the 1980 Olympics, we won the gold medal with Gansel in the goal, limiting Yugoslavia and Russia to 5 and 6 goals in the semifinals and finals. Those teams placed first and second in the Moscow Olympics. In the 1981 World University Games, again with full national teams from other countries, we had to beat Russia to advance to the final game. We were leading by one goal with one second left in the game when a European referee called a penalty shot against the USA. Gansel blocked the penalty shot to preserve the victory.” Jody Campbell, a member of the Water Polo Hall of Fame, discussing what it was like to play with Gansel at Stanford: “We could take chances and ‘cheat’ to offense because we had Gansel. I’ve seen and played with some of the best goalies in the world. In my opinion, Gansel is the best. Other goalies have great reaction, anticipation, and initial leg strength. However, since Gansel, I have not seen the sustained leg strength he had to maintain a vertical position after multiple fakes or cross-court passes. Goalies these days may have a great initial thrust and good reactions, but they quickly lose their legs if they have to sustain their position. Gansel never lost his legs.” Craig Boyer, a teammate of Craig Wilson at UCSB and on the 1988 Olympic team, discussing Wilson and Gansel: “Craig Wilson and John Gansel were two of the best goalies in the world. I would give the slight edge to Wilson, who had a longer wingspan. Gansel saw the writing on the wall that Wilson was going to be the starting goalie on the national team. He made the right decision and retired from sports to go to medical school.”
9. Kevin Robertson – 5’9” LH attacker, Newport Harbor High School and Cal (1x NCAA Champion, 4x 1st team All-American, 1x NCAA Player of the Year, 3x Olympian, 2x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
Robertson is generally considered to be the greatest American left-handed attacker of the NCAA era. Robertson and Terry Schroeder led the United States in scoring in the 1984 Olympics, each scoring 13 goals. Jody Campbell, Robertson’s teammate on the 1984 and 1988 Olympic teams: “During his era, Robertson was one of the deadliest left-handed shooters in the world. His explosiveness and anticipation created may opportunities for him to score and to record assists. His work ethic, knowledge of the game, and speed proved that ‘size’ doesn’t dictate the effectiveness of a player.” One of Robertson’s Newport Harbor High School teammates told me: “Robertson excelled in a big man’s game by taking advantage of his quickness and intelligence. I remember him swimming across my back, picking off his defender, and then shoving off me to create space for his shot. It was like the ‘pick and roll’ in basketball but spontaneous. I still have his handprint on my back. That creativity is just one of the many facets of his greatness.”
8. Wolf Wigo – attacker, Bronx Science High School in New York and Stanford (2x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 2x 1st team All-American, 1x ACWPC Player of the Year, 3x Olympian, 1x FINA World Cup champion, Hall of Fame).
Wigo scored 31 goals in the Olympics, including 16 goals in the 2000 Olympics. He played professionally for Ethnikos Piraeus in Greece for three years. Hall of Fame coach Dante Dettamanti said that Tony Azevedo, John Gansel, Jody Campbell, and Wigo are the four greatest players he coached at Stanford. I asked Jack Bowen, Wigo’s teammate at Stanford and on the senior national team, about Wigo. He said: “If I were constructing a team and given first pick of any player in the world who’s ever played the game, I’d pick Wolf. Wolf is the most intense competitor I’ve ever known, and, really, the last guy I want to deal with as a goalie because he just finds a way to score, not to mention, will take any beating to shut down the other team’s best player.”
7. Eric Lindroth – LH center, Newport Harbor High School and UCLA (3x NCAA champion, 2x All-American, 2x Olympian and would have been a 3x Olympian if the United States had qualified for the 1976 Olympics, 1x bronze medalist, Hall of Fame).
Lindroth played for UCLA from 1969 through 1972. UCLA’s 1969 team was undefeated, winning the first NCAA water polo tournament. A member of UCLA’s 1969 coaching staff told me: “Eric was a ‘thinking’ player and always exhibited a poker face; he never showed much emotion but you knew he felt in control of any situation in the game.” Bruce Bradley, Lindroth’s teammate on the 1972 Olympic team, discussing Lindroth after his death in June 2019: “Eric was the ultimate teammate, another left hander. He came out of Newport Harbor High School as CIF Player of the year in 1968 and won several national championships at UCLA under coach Horn. He melded into our club team easily and made the ’72 Olympic team right out of college, when the best competition in the U.S. was at the club level. Eric was great at both ends of the pool, always in position on ‘D’ and a prolific scorer in the counter attack, out of the hole, or at ‘6’ in the extra man. He led by example, was unselfish, had a rocket arm and was basically a coach’s dream.”
6. Jody Campbell – center, Long Beach Wilson High School and Stanford (3x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 2x Olympian, 2x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
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Campbell was the leading scorer for the United States in the 1988 Olympics with 12 goals. Hall of Fame coach Dante Dettamanti reminiscing about Campbell when he enrolled at Stanford as a freshman: “He was a skinny kid, about 160 pounds, but he was tough. People remember him as a great shooter, but he was also a great passer. Even in difficult situations, he put the ball right in the shooter’s hand. Campbell was our starting 2-meter player as a freshman and played in the NCAA tournament with a split web between his thumb and forefinger.” Hall of Fame coach Monte Nitzkowski speaking about Campbell’s performance during the 1984 Olympics: “Whenever Jody entered the game, the tempo went up. Jody was well regarded for his toughness in the water. He was one of the reasons we never lost at the 1984 Olympics.” Greg Boyer, Campbell’s teammate on the 1988 Olympic team, told me: “Jody was an incredible center forward. He had amazing hands and great court vision. Some of his shots and passes were especially creative. While Terry Schroeder used brute force in set, Jody relied on guile and surprise. As a pair they were very formidable.”
Photo Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
5. Ben Hallock – center, Harvard-Westlake and 3 years at Stanford (2x CIF Southern Section Division 1 champion, 2x CIF Southern Section Division 1 Player of the Year, 1x NCAA champion, 3x 1st team All-American, 2x Cutino Award winner, 2x ACWPC Player of the Year, 3x Olympian, 1x bronze medalist).
Hallock played on the 2016 Olympic team before his freshman year at Stanford, and scored 194 goals in his 3 years at Stanford. He didn’t use his last year of college eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, choosing to play professionally for Pro Recco in Italy. Hallock has had a storied international career, winning 3 LEN Champions League titles, more than any other American. If Hallock continues playing, he will be on the 2028 Olympic team and could move up higher on my list. When his playing career is over, he will almost certainly be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I asked former Harvard-Westlake and current Stanford coach Brian Flacks about Hallock. His response: “I started coaching Ben when he was just 11 years old, and right from the start, it was clear he was special. A couple of things always stood out about him—first, his deep passion for water polo—he absolutely loved the sport. I remember coaching his age group, and I’d burn DVDs of games for him. Ben would text me late at night after watching the games for the third time, excitedly sharing his favorite highlights or moments, or telling me about the players he liked and wanted to mimic. Second, Ben strikes a unique balance of being incredibly calm and thoughtful, yet also hyper-competitive. That blend gave him a maturity and composure from a young age that you rarely see, and allowed him to compete in age groups much older than himself. More importantly, what really set him apart was how that composure allowed him to play his best and be the most dependable in the biggest moments and on the biggest stages. When you combine that passion, his commitment, and the fact that he’s a freak athlete, for me it’s hard not to see him as the best American water polo player of all time, and definitely one of the most dominant players our sport has ever seen. Finally, I think he’s exactly what water polo needs as we continue to grow. He’s a great student, a Stanford graduate, humble, super thoughtful, and considerate. He should be the poster child for the type of person and player we want in our sport. I have no doubt that he’ll succeed in whatever he chooses to do next—as a husband, father, and professional. This kid is one of a kind.”
4. Terry Schroeder – center, San Marcos High School and Pepperdine (3x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 4x Olympian as a player, 2x Olympian as a coach, 2x silver medalist as a player, 1x silver medalist as a coach, 1x FINA World Cup champion as a player, Hall of Fame).
Schroeder, Pepperdine’s all-time leading scorer with a remarkable 444 goals, is the only American water polo player to win an Olympic medal as a head coach and a player. Schroeder and Kevin Robertson led the United States in scoring in the 1984 Olympics, each scoring 13 goals. I asked Craig Boyer, Schroeder’s teammate on the 1988 Olympic team, about Schroeder. He said: “Terry was the strongest player on the 1988 Olympic team, but his greatest strength was his emotional composure. After a bad call or overly physical foul, he would simply smile and adjust his cap. He usually drew an exclusion or scored a goal the next time he touched the ball.” Jody Campbell, Schroeder’s teammate on the 1984 and 1888 Olympic teams, reminiscing about Schroeder: “Terry served as the face of USA Water Polo for decades and continues to serve that role. Nobody could represent the U.S. with integrity, loyalty and humility like Terry. He was the top 2M in the world for decades, with the style of an unmovable beast and a level-headed demeanor. A defender could hit him with a crowbar and he would just smile. In all the years and hundreds of games Terry played nationally, collegiately and internationally, I only once saw him get mad enough to punch someone and that was me.” Craig Klass, Schroeder’s teammate on the 1988 and 1992 Olympic teams, discussing Schroeder’s reputation in Europe: “Such a force at 2M and throughout the pool! A dominant anchor for USA water polo internationally for so many years. The Europeans dubbed Schroeder “The Unsinkable Man,” which pretty much says it all.” An NCAA champion discussing Schroeder’s place in water polo history: “Terry’s statue is at the Coliseum for a reason. I put him above Humbert and Hallock. Terry had a generational impact on the sport in the U.S. I could go on but the man was a piece of granite in the water. A rock-solid foundation for his teams and for our sport.”
3. Chris Humbert – 6’7” LH center, Lodi and Tokay High Schools and Cal (3x NCAA champion, 4x All-American, 3x 1st team All-American, 2x ACWPC Player of the Year, 3x Olympian, 2x FINA World Cup champion, Hall of Fame).
Humbert, the only American male player to win two FINA World Cup championships, is Cal’s all-time leading scorer with 296 goals, scored 37 goals in the Olympics, and usually led his teams in scoring. During Humbert’s four years at Cal, Cal won three NCAA championships, finished second once, and had a won/loss record of 114 and 9. He won two Italian League championships during his two years with Posillipo; a Greek Cup championship during his two years with Ethnikos Piraeus; and a LEN Super Final, Greek Championship, and Greek Cup championship during his one year with Olympiacos. Rich Corso, Humbert’s coach on the 1996 Olympic team, describing Humbert, “He’s like a mix between a Shaq and David Robinson because he’s big and strong and also quick.” Humbert was a freakish athlete. Russ Stryker, one of Humbert’s teammates at Cal, told me: “Humbert was probably the greatest athlete to play water polo in the United States. He could have played on the Cal basketball team, would have been a starting pitcher on the baseball team, and could have been a sprinter on the swim team. He was that talented.” Hall of Fame coach Pete Cutino did not see Humbert play water polo before offering him a scholarship to Cal. Instead, he offered Humbert a scholarship after watching him play a high school basketball game. During the recruiting process, Humbert’s mother asked Cutino whether Humbert would receive much playing time if he went to Cal. Cutino answered, “Mrs. Humbert, if Jesus Christ were on my bench and the starters were playing well, he wouldn’t get into the game.” In spite of Cutino’s cautionary remarks, Humbert was a 3rd team All-American in his freshman season, a 1st team All-American in his sophomore season, and a 1st team All-American and the Player of the Year in his junior and senior seasons.
Photo Courtesy: 6-8 Sports
2. Tony Azevedo – Long Beach Wilson High School and Stanford (4x California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division 1 champion, 3x CIF Southern Section Division 1 Player of the Year, 2x NCAA champion, 4x 1st team All-American, 4x Cutino Award winner, 3x ACWPC Player of the Year, 5x Olympian, 1x silver medalist, Hall of Fame).
Azevedo, the son of a Hall of Fame coach and the only person to win four Cutino Awards, may be the most highly-decorated American water polo player. He scored 61 goals in the Olympics (the 4th most in Olympic history) and 332 goals at Stanford. He had a long international career, playing for Can Bissolati in Italy, JK Primorac in Montenegro, Fluminense in Brazil, VK Jug in Croatia, and Sesi in Brazil, and is better known internationally than he is in the United States. Hall of Fame coach Dante Dettamanti recruited Azevedo to Stanford and coached him in 2001 when Stanford won the NCAA championship. Dettamanti speaking about Azevedo: “He’s without a doubt the best player we’ve ever produced in this country and also the best player we ever had at Stanford. The reason Michael Jordan is a great player is the same reason Tony is a great player. He’s a natural leader. In my 32 years as a college coach, I’ve never had an athlete like this. I’ve never had a freshman selected by his teammates as team captain. He’s a lot like Jordan in that if you drop off him, he’ll shoot from outside and if you press him, he’ll drive on you. He can create things on his own. He’s impossible to guard.” Hall of Fame coach John Vargas followed Dettamanti at Stanford, coaching Azevedo for three years in college and on the 2000 Olympic team. Vargas on Azevedo: “He’s the best player the United States has had. No one’s done what Tony has done. He knows where everybody is at all times. We’ve seen other guys with the same physical ability, but his knowledge of the game separated him from all the rest. He made all his teammates better.”
1. Craig Wilson – 6’5” LH goalie, Davis High Schol and UCSB for 2 years (1x NCAA champion, 1x All-American, 3x Olympian, 2x silver medalist, 1x FINA World Cup champion, Hall of Fame).
During my discussions with coaches, players, and fans, I often asked this question: Who is the greatest player of the NCAA era? There is no consensus. Craig Wilson, Tony Azevedo, Chris Humbert, Terry Schroeder, and Ben Hallock all received some support for this distinction. In a very close call, I chose Craig Wilson because he played goalie (the most important position in water polo), was probably more responsible for the success of his teams than any other player, and would be my first choice if we were selecting players for an imaginary round-robin tournament. Wilson, voted the top goalie in the world on two occasions, is generally considered to be one of the top 4 or 5 goalies of all time. He played professionally for three years, two years for CC Ortigia in Italy and one year for CN Barcelona in Spain. Wilson recorded the most saves in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Olympics. After winning the silver medal in the 1988 Olympics, United States coach Bill Barnett said, “Without Craig, we would have never gone as far as we did. He was our saving grace.” One of Wilson’s UCSB teammates told me, “Wilson is known far better in Europe for being the GOAT than in the United States.” Craig Boyer, another one of Wilson’s UCSB teammates, describing Wilson’s shot-blocking skills: “During shooting warmups before games at UCSB, it was not uncommon for Craig to block 100 percent of the team’s shots. The opposing teams noticed this and nobody was confident shooting against him. He also knew my shooting tendencies very well. He would guess where I was going to shoot, and not only block a good shot with two hands, but catch it with a laugh. He often blocked shots that looked like certain goals. Wilson made every good team he was on a great team.” Wilson was also an outstanding passer. Rich Corso, the goalie coach on the 1984 Olympic team, said, “Craig was incredible at getting the ball out fast during the counter-attack. He was aggressive. He was never afraid to throw the long touchdown pass.” Wilson describing one of his greatest Olympic performances: “Sometimes the water polo ball looks like a beach ball coming in slowly. Sometimes it looks like a golf ball coming in quickly. That day was a beach ball day.” An NCAA champion told me: “Wilson stuck with the sport for a very long time and is the reason several of the players on your list made it to the Olympics and competed for medals. You simply cannot win at the highest level without superb goalie play. I played with Wilson for years but never on the national team. My perception based on those years is that Wilson was a fabulous talking goalie—directing the defense in front of him especially on power plays. Wilson could determine which player(s) on an opposing team should be allowed to shoot and in what situation. He could pass 30 meters on a dime. Wilson could bait a lob and catch it having already told someone to counter off the top. When Wilson says ‘the ball is looking like a beach ball today,’ you know the other team is not scoring. I realize Tony Azevedo went to the most Olympics, won the Cutino Award four times, won two NCAA titles, and won a medal. I would still place Wilson first. No Wilson no winning and no medals for many others.”
Special Note: If I revisit this article after the 2028 Olympics, Ryder Dodd will probably deserve a spot on my list, perhaps in the top 10.
Ryder Dodd – attacker, Huntington Beach and JSerra High Schools and UCLA (1x NCAA champion, 1x All-American, 1x 1st team All-American, 1x Cutino Award winner, 1x ACWPC Player of the Year, 1x Olympian, 1x bronze medalist).
Dodd, who just completed his first year at UCLA, played in the 2024 Olympics before entering UCLA. He probably had the greatest true freshman season of any player in the NCAA era. He is expected to be a member of the 2028 Olympic team. Adam Wright, Dodd’s coach at UCLA, speaking in June 2024 after Dodd was named to the 2024 Olympic team: “When we started recruiting Ryder, we laid out an eight-year plan that would position him to be a part of the squad for the 2028 Olympic Games here in Los Angeles. We also listed a short-term goal of him becoming the best player in high school, which he’s done and his high school team winning the CIF Championship, which they did this past season while going undefeated. Over the course of the past year and a half he’s been recognized on the junior national level as one of the best players in his age group in the world and that quickly pushed him to our Senior National Team. Even though we haven’t had the chance to start working with Ryder here at UCLA, the progress that I’ve seen him make over the course of the last year is quite simply special. His attacking abilities from both sides of the pool and his speed are truly a problem for opponents. He’s only the second player in our sport to be in high school and go to the Olympic Games before he steps foot on campus here at UCLA. We look forward to helping Ryder develop into one of the best players in the world.” I asked Brett Ormsby, Dodd’s coach at JSerra, what makes Dodd such a special player. His response: “Ryder is competitive as hell, fearless, and works harder than anybody. He’s as disruptive on defense as he is dangerous on offense. He’s willing to play within a system and always prioritizes the team and winning over his own production. He’s incredibly aquatic, born to move in the water, this is probably the most innate part of his game. He continues to grow as a leader and communicator, which is ultimately where I think his biggest impact will be over the course of his career. He is at his best when his best is needed, in the biggest games and the biggest moments and making winning plays. But ultimately, if I had to pick what stands out most, it’s Ryder’s mind. He is so present at all times, always absorbing information, learning and then applying it to his game. And his game just keeps growing at every step. As a coach, I think it’s an awesome lesson for other kids to know that what makes Ryder special isn’t ultimately the talent, the talent sets a baseline for his success, but we’ve seen tons of talented failures. It’s Ryder’s hunger to learn, his desire for feedback, and his constant pursuit of improvement that set him apart in this early stage of his career, and he still has a lot of time and growth in front of him.”
Happy Birthday Michael Phelps!!
Country: USA
Honoree Type: Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: GREATEST ATHLETE/SWIMMER IN THE HISTORY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES; 28 total Olympic medals: 23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze; 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (200m butterfly, 200m I.M., 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay), silver (100m butterfly); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m butterfly, 200m, I.M., 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 200m freestyle relay), silver (200m butterfly, 4 x 100m freestyle relay); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle, 200m, 400m I.M., 4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 200m, 400m I.M., 4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2013 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay), silver (200m freestyle, 200 I.M.), bronze (4 x 100m freestyle relay); 2011 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay) silver (200m freestyle, 200 I.M.), bronze (4 x 100m freestyle relay); 2009 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay), silver (200m freestyle); 2007 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle, 200m, 400m I.M., 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2005 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m freestyle, 200m, 400m I.M., 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay), silver (100m butterfly); 2003 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m butterfly, 200m, 400m I.M.), silver (100m butterfly, 4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2001 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m butterfly).
More than 20 years ago, a teenager from Baltimore arrived on the swimming scene, hungry to showcase his prodigious talent. Yet, for all the potential he flashed at a young age and for all the promise recognized by coach Bob Bowman, there was still no way of predicting a career that can only be described as one-of-a-kind.
The summer of 2000 was a transformative period for the sport as USA Swimming watched a special group of teenage boys emerge as cornerstones for the future. One of them was Phelps, who as a 15-year-old qualified for the Olympic Games in Sydney in the 200-meter butterfly, in the process becoming the youngest male swimmer to qualify for Team USA in 68 years. A month later, Phelps claimed a fifth-place finish at the Games, and his journey to greatness was underway.
Within a year of making his Olympic debut, Phelps had elevated to another level, thanks to a world record in the 200 fly while still 15 years old, and by claiming the first world championship of his career in the summer of 2001. From there, additional events were added to Phelps’ program, this expansion providing the opportunity to showcase his vast skill. While additional world records were registered in the 200 fly, Phelps also defined himself as a world-record setter in the 100 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley.
At the 2004 Games in Athens, the birthplace of the Olympics, Phelps embraced an eight-event schedule that resulted in eight medals – six gold and two bronze. A world record in the 400 individual medley launched his efforts in Greece, which also included solo titles in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly and 200 fly. A bronze was earned in the 200 freestyle, where Phelps challenged himself on the turf of legends Ian Thorpe and Pieter van den Hoogenband.
Over the next few years, Phelps continued to reign, enhancing his portfolio via the World Championships and Pan Pacific Championships, and by encouraging growth in the sport among young boys who envisioned themselves as the next Michael Phelps. When he walked away from the 2007 World Champs in Melbourne with seven gold medals, including four solo world records, the stage was set for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Not since the great Mark Spitz in 1972 had an athlete captured seven gold medals in a single Olympiad, and inside the Water Cube in China, Phelps was prepared to chase eight. To accomplish the feat, Phelps needed to be at his peak, and required a little good fortune. Both proved true. From August 9 through August 17, Phelps was perfect. Eight events. Eight gold medals. There were also seven world records.
In the 400 freestyle relay, Phelps’ pursuit of history was kept alive by the greatest relay leg in history, Jason Lezak’s epic anchor and rundown of France’s Alain Bernard. Meanwhile, Phelps’ instinctual decision to take an extra half-stroke at the finish of the 100 butterfly handed him an improbable comeback triumph over Serbia’s Milorad Cavic, the margin of victory as small as possible – .01. Simply, it was a special week, one forever etched in the annals of the Olympic Games and the sport of swimming.
Following Beijing, Phelps remained an ever-present force, evident in further world championships, world records and epic performances, including another comeback victory over Cavic in the 100 fly at the 2009 World Champs. Come the 2012 Olympics in London, Phelps may not have been in peak form, but he still secured six medals – four of them gold. When the torch was extinguished in the British capital, Phelps headed for retirement.
Eventually, Phelps returned to the pool, eager to end his competitive career with a flourish at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Again, Phelps collected six medals, headlined by a fourth consecutive title in the 200 individual medley and the recapturing of gold in the 200 butterfly, the event that initially sparked the Phelps phenomenon.
All told, Phelps captured 28 Olympic medals during his illustrious career, 10 more than the second-most ever. Of that total, Phelps won 23 gold medals, 14 more than the second-most in history. His career featured 33 medals from the World Championships and 21 medals from the Pan Pacific Championships, along with an incredible 39 world records.
As impressive, Phelps has served as an inspiration to the next generation of athletes to walk the deck, and his public emphasis on the importance of mental health has highlighted the need to take care of oneself and seek support when necessary.
The information on this page was written the year of their induction
July Featured Honoree: Buster Crabbe (USA) and his Memorabilia
Each month ISHOF will feature an Honoree and some of their aquatic memorabilia, that they have so graciously either given or loaned to us. Since we are closed, and everything is in storage, we wanted to still be able to highlight some of the amazing artifacts that ISHOF has and to be able to share these items with you.
We continue in July 2025, with 1965 ISHOF Honoree, Buster Crabbe Honor Swimmer. Buster donated many fabulous things to ISHOF and we want to share some of them with you now. Also below is his ISHOF Honoree bio that was written the year he was inducted.
Buster also stared in some movies like Tarzan the Fearless (1933), Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers) from 1936 to 1940, and in 1940, he began a string of Billy the Kid westerns.
1 1925 Honolulu Star Bulletin Medal1 1930 National A.A.U. Gold 500 yd. Freestyle Medal1 1931 National Collegiate Athletic Association Medal1 1932 South Pacific Association A.A.U. 300 yd. Medley Medal
Left photo InterPacific Swimming Meet 400m Freestyle Victory Cup #34
Right photo 1928 Olympic 1500 Freestyle Bronze medal and 1932 Olympic Participant medal
Tarzan loincloth from Tarzan the Fearless (1933)
2023 ISHOF Honoree Kirsty Coventry Set to Take Presidency of International Olympic Committee
by Swimming World Editorial Staff
21 June 2025
Kirsty Coventry Set to Take Presidency of International Olympic Committee
In her first major media appearance since being elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kirsty Coventry offered a strikingly human portrait of the leader she intends to be: humble, collaborative, and unwaveringly grounded in the values of sport, equity, and Olympism, as she addressed international media during an online open roundtable on Zoom this afternoon.
FIRST WOMAN & AFRICAN Speaking candidly for over an hour, the Zimbabwean reflected on the life journey that brought her from the pools of Harare to the corridors of Olympic power in Lausanne. Her presidency, set to begin officially on Olympic Day, 23 June 2025, will mark a historic moment as she becomes the first woman and first African to lead the IOC.
GROUNDED LEADERSHIP Coventry made it clear that her leadership will not be rooted in authority, but in consensus and a collaborative, human-centred vision: ”In both my personal and professional career, I’ve always had incredible people around me to keep me grounded and humble; those are people whom I will continue to keep around me.”
She added: “Values are at the core of our daily business, they’re incredibly important in today’s communities, and I hold this very close to my heart.”
WHY IOC FORUMS MATTER Replying to a question from Japan’s Wakako Yuki on the role of IOC Forums in attribute Conventry’s vision as president, “I have a vision that I would like to see, but I want to do it in a collaborative way. The Athletes Forum, eSport, Olympism365, the two ASOIF and WOF General Assemblies have been great platforms to listen to people, to hear topics that are important to them.”
SECOND MEDIA ROUNDTABLE IN SIGHT Coventry announced that immediately following the IOC Session on June 23-24, she has invited members to stay for a two-day “pause and reflect” workshop, an opportunity for honest dialogue about the IOC’s challenges and future direction:
“I’ve invited the IOC members to stay two extra days so that I can hear what is on their mind and what they see as our opportunities and what they may see as our challenges, as we move into the future and come up with different ideas. This is the first point in a longer consultation process with all stakeholders, including yourselves as media, where we’ll create another round table where I’ll get to ask you all a bunch of questions. That will strengthen the Olympic movement in a collaborative way.”
VALUES CARRIED TO IOC PRESIDENCY Nadine Hassan from Jordan asked Kirsty, looking back on her journey, from Olympic champion to minister and now IOC President, which moments off the podium had the greatest impact in shaping the person she is today? “I’ll need a moment to properly reflect on this. I think I’d have to go back to my roots. Growing up in Zimbabwe played a huge role. It’s a small community in many ways. We’re a big country geographically, but we’re just 15 million people, and we lean on each other.
“I think that kind of upbringing, maybe a bit more sheltered, surrounded by strong values and close-knit support, helped me understand the importance of having grounded, humble, genuine people around me. And it’s those people who’ve consistently reminded me of where I come from. That’s been one of the most powerful influences throughout my journey.
CHALLENGES, AND DIFFICULT MEN.. New York Times reporter Tariq Panja referenced Coventry’s previous remarks about dealing with “difficult men.” She smiled knowingly and recounted the pressures she faced as a young Olympic medallist representing Zimbabwe during politically turbulent times:
“As athletes, we had a lot of pressure coming from different government officials in Zimbabwe, and you know, it was hard. To look at others and trying to say, I’m an athlete, I don’t believe in the politics in sport. I want to just focus on performing well,” She said, without names mentioned, “Looking back now, it taught me a lot about how to work with people, how to be respectful of differing opinions and still move forward on a shared agenda.”
WOMEN SUPPORT WOMEN USA’s Rachel Axon asked, How has your career been shaped by other women at various career points, adding the gender equality initiatives to your role as female IOC President. Conventry highlighted the women who shaped her path, from her mother and grandmother to her university head swim coach, even Olympic trailblazers like Donna de Varona:
She said, “My grandfather passed away when Mom was in her late teens. And so my grandmother was a single mom for most of her life, with three kids, and both were just incredibly strong women who raised families, and I think my mom’s pretty great, and my uncle and aunt. She did a great job, but she also had a successful career in fashion. My mum got to see her doing that, so she was always an incredible role model for my sister and I.”
She adds: “My swim coach, Kim, who became a Division I coach while her husband was deployed overseas, with two very young kids, watching how she balanced that was inspiring. When we were preparing for the 2004 Olympics, her eldest came to Athens as a baby.. Again, I’ve been fortunate in my life to have very strong women around me who have shown me that it’s possible. It’s not always easy, but it’s possible,” noting her hope to pay that inspiration forward, especially for her two daughters.
AFRICAN HERITAGE A question from China’s Mandan Zhu touched on Coventry’s rich international background and the impact of her African heritage, coming from Harare to Lausanne as a little girl with big dreams,“I can remember exactly where I was standing in my parents’ living room. I was still in my swimsuit, feeling cold after swimming in the pool, only to stand in front of the TV and watch divers compete. I would say that there’s never a dream too big.
“You know, where there is a will to achieve, there’s a way. And don’t let someone talk you out of having that dream of what could be the best thing that happens to you. It’s quite powerful.”
WEIGHT OF BEING ‘FIRST’ British journalist Jamie Gardner asked Coventry about the significance of becoming the IOC’s first female president at this particular moment in history. While she admitted it wasn’t something she initially focused on, the outpouring of messages from women around the world has since left a powerful mark: “I had a coworker tell me that his mum said, ‘Never in my lifetime did I think I’d see a woman lead the movement you work for.’” That moment, she admitted, hit her deeply. “It’s not just an exciting day, it’s a day with a lot of responsibility.”
FROM SYDNEY TO BRISBANE Australia, particularly the Sydney 2000 Games, remains a defining touchstone for Coventry’s Olympic journey. Asked about her journey coming full circle, from a wide-eyed young swimmer at Sydney 2000 to President for Brisbane 2032, Coventry shared a funny tale about struggling to put on her first Speedo sharkskin suit, helped up by none other than Australian legend Susie O’Neill:
“When we arrived in Sydney, I went into the changing room to try my Speedo suit on, and it turned into a total disaster. I had one leg in, was struggling to get the other in, lost my balance completely, and toppled over. Mortifying. Then this amazing person next to me leans down to help, and as I look up, I realise… It’s Susie. I never forget that moment because she was a role model to me, those Games, changed everything for me,” she recalled. “Now I hope Brisbane will show the world the warmth and passion of Australia, and inspire the next generations like Sydney did for me.”
LIFTING VOICES As the media roundtable with IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry progressed, her clarity of purpose sharpened further. In a movement often shaped by the world’s most powerful nations, Coventry made a point of bringing attention to her roots, and how they shape her priorities: “I come from a much smaller NOC, a developing country,” she said of Zimbabwe. “And I understand the challenges our athletes face. How do we close that gap? How do we ensure that athletes from all walks of life, if not with the same opportunities, at least have equal opportunities?”
Coventry affirms that she intends to elevate voices often left on the margins. Her presidency, she hinted, will focus as much on inclusion as it will on innovation.
LEARNING FROM YOUNG GENERATIONS Perhaps the most poignant reminder of who Coventry is, and who she intends to be as IOC President, came when she spoke about her own children. “They’re a daily reminder of our responsibility to keep sport relevant, and to listen, really listen, to what young people think is important. Kids are honest,” she said with a smile. “And sometimes that’s a very good thing.”
Her two young daughters, she explained, are constant reminders that sport must remain relevant and engaging for younger generations. Despite the gravity of her new role, Coventry remains adamant about keeping her family grounded: “We won’t be staying in the Lausanne Palace. I want my kids to grow up doing the same things I did, making their beds, doing house chores, and just being kids.”
ROAD AHEAD As Kirsty Coventry prepares to officially assume the role on June 23, her message is one of optimism, inclusivity, and integrity. With the weight of history on her shoulders and the wind of lived experience at her back, she is poised not just to lead the Olympic Movement but to reshape it for the modern age, starting by one athlete, one story, one honest conversation at a time.
This press release was distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Sports Press Association (AIPS).
On Juneteenth 2025, we remember “Black Splash: The history of African-American Swimmers”
Happy Birthday Michael Read!!
Michael Read (GBR)
Honor Open Water Swimmer (2011)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: KNOWN FOR MOST OF 26 YEARS (1979-2005) AS KING OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL (33 CROSSINGS); FIRST TO SWIM 4 WAY LAKE WINDERMERE (42 miles, 26h 3m), HUNSTANTON – SKEGNESS-HUNSTANTON (40 MILES), MORA TO AMPOSTA (SPN) (65 KM) AND ENGLISH CHANNEL SWIM SIX TIMES IN ONE YEAR (1984); COMPLETED CROSSINGS AROUND ISLE OF WRIGHT (60 MILES), LOCH LOMOND (22 MILES), LOCH EURN (16 MILES), LOCK TAY (16 MILES), JEBLE TO LATAKIA SYRIA (25 MILES), EVIAN TO LAUSANNE (25 KM) AND NOEL RIVER INTERNATIONAL; CHANNEL SWIMMING ASSOCIATION (CSA) COMMITTEE (1973) AND CHAIRMAN SINCE 1993; 1960 OLYMPIC TEAM: 4x200m freestyle relay alternate.
Mike Read was an English school-boy butterfly champion who earned a position on Great Britain’s 1960 Olympic Team in the 4×200 meter freestyle relay. But he loved swimming in the open water and between 1960 and 2000, he swam in more than 150 British Long Distance Swimming Association Championships setting more than 25 records. He was the 25 Kilometer Lake Windermere International Champion in 1970 and the first person to swim four lengths of Lake Windermere in succession, a total of 42 miles in 26 hours. In total, Michael Read has completed England’s longest lake Windermere 39 times.
He was only the second person to swim around the treacherous waters of the Isle of Wright, 60 miles in 24 hours 36 minutes. In 1975, he became the first to swim Humstonton to Skegness and return, 40 miles in 16 hours 4 minutes. In 1979, he swam the English Channel six times in one season to capture the title King of the Channel. According to Channel Swimming Association Records, he retains the title today with 33 Channel crossings.
During the 1970’s, the Scottish Lochs became a target including 24 mile Loch Ness at 42°F in 14 hours 24 minutes, as well as Lochs Lomond, Earn, Rannoch and Tay. He was the first to swim from Mora to Amposta, Spain, 65 kilometers. Other swims include lake and sea crossings in Greece, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Tunisia and the USA.
In 1978, he was elected Honorary Vice President of the Channel Swimming Association and serves as President today. Mike believes in defending his titles and for over 55 years has done just that.
Happy Birthday Dr. Ferenc Salamon!!
L to R Tom Gompf and Dr. Ferenc Salamon
Dr. Ferenc Salamon (HUN)
Honor Contributor (2019)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: more than 70 YEARS IN WATER POLO : Player, Referee, Administrator; FINA TWPC MEMBER: 1972-2000; LEN WATER POLO COMMITTEE MEMBER: 1970-2004; WATER POLO REFEREE AT EVERY OLYMPIC GAMES FROM 1972, EVERY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FROM 1973, EVERY EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 1970, EVERY FINA WORLD CUP FROM 1979; EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER OF HUNGARIAN WATER POLO AND SWIMMING ASSOCIATIONS: 1968-HONORARY MEMBER FOR LIFE
Hungary is a land of thermal springs and although landlocked, swimming and water sports are ingrained in its culture. This love of water led to an early domination of international swimming and diving competitions in the late 19th and early 20th century. In the 1920’s, it was water polo that came to symbolize Hungary’s unique strengths and individuality. So, it was natural for a boy born in 1930 to want to play water polo.
Dr. Ferenc Salamon was a swimmer who started playing water polo late, at the age of 19, in 1949. He was a talented athlete and his development was rapid. In 1952, he joined the Hungarian National Team and was a member of the silver-medal winning team at the World University Games in Paris in 1957. Although Dr. Salamon retired as a player in 1966, he has remained active in water polo for almost 70 years.
Two years after his retirement as a player, he became an internationally certified referee and immediately began officiating all types of competitions, including the 1970 European Championships, 1972 Olympic Games and the very first FINA World Championships in 1973 in Belgrade. He continued officiating major events, such as the European Championships for 34 years, the Olympic Games for 28 years, the World Championships for 26 years and the FINA World Cup for 21 years.
Salamon has served as a member of the European Swimming League Technical Water Polo Committee for 34 years, uninterrupted, from 1970-2004, and has also been a member of the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee for 28 years, from 1972-2000.
During these many years of service, Dr. Salamon’s contributions to the organization have been exemplary and he has been helpful in the various areas of aquatic sports, including organizing, directing, and participating in many world and other international events, tournaments, conferences, clinics and congresses between 1970 and 2004. They include ten Olympic Games, all World and European Championships, FINA World Cups, Youth World Championships, and numerous Olympic and World Championship qualification tournaments during these years.
Salamon is also a Masters Committee Member of FINA and is on the Awards Commission of the European Swimming League. In his role as Masters Committee Member, he participated in the FINA Masters World Championships in the 2014, 2015 and 2017 Games and is also a member of the recent action committee for the upcoming 2019 event.
He has offered numerous proposals, amendments and advice for the technical committee with the intention to improve and further develop the game. Some of his suggestions influenced the entire sport of water polo including the regulation regarding the 55-year age limit for acting referees; introduction of experimental tournaments, and the 1970’s system to supervise officials.
In addition to the many hours he devotes to the sport of water polo, Dr. Salamon is a Chief Hospital Physician. His medical and professional publications appear regularly in the FINA Magazine.
Dr. Salamon was presented the FINA and LEN gold and silver pins for his extraordinary work and dedication to the sport of water polo. He was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in LEN and to the Hungarian Swimming Federation. He has been bestowed with the honors of the Hungarian Sports Award, the Sport of the Hungarian Republic, and the Olympic Award, presented by the Hungarian Olympic Committee.