Happy Birthday Missy Franklin !
Missy Franklin (USA)
Honor Swimmer (2023)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4 x 200m freestyle relay); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m, 200m backstroke, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay), bronze (4 x 100m freestyle relay); FOUR WORLD RECORDS (two 200m backstroke, two 400x100m medley relay) 2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m mixed freestyle relay), silver (200m backstroke), bronze (200m freestyle, 4 x 100m freestyle relay); 2013 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 200m freestyle, 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay); 2011 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (200m backstroke, 4 x 200m freestyle relay, 4 x 100m medley relay), silver (4 x 100m freestyle relay), bronze (50m backstroke); 2010 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): silver (200m backstroke, 4 x 100m medley relay); 2014 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (4 x 200m freestyle relay), silver (4 x 100m medley relay, 4 x 100m freestyle relay), bronze (100m backstroke); 7-time NCAA INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPION (two years at Cal Berkeley (2013-14 / 2014-15); Honda Cup (2015); Honda Sports Award (2015).
Her charismatic personality and ear-to-ear smile captivated the swimming world from the moment she emerged as an international superstar to the day she announced her retirement. Her countless fans were enthralled by a bubbly persona that – in part – made her a face of the sport, and one of the best-known Olympic athletes on the planet.
Of course, that likeability and charm would have gone unnoticed on the global stage if not for the vast talent, desire and hard work that carried Missy Franklin to the greatest of heights as an Olympic gold medalist, world champion and world-record setter.
Even before her teen years, Missy Franklin was pegged as a future star. Training with the Colorado Stars under the direction of coach Todd Schmitz, Franklin produced dazzling times across several events, including a collection of National Age Group records. It seemed obvious that – one day – she would establish herself as a headliner for Team USA.
A year after representing the United States at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, Franklin lost any remaining anonymity when she competed at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai. The competition proved to be a launching point toward the 2012 Olympic Games in London, as Franklin claimed gold in the 200-meter backstroke and jumpstarted the U.S. 800 freestyle relay to victory with a stunning leadoff split. So impressive was Franklin on the front of the American relay that Katie Hoff, preparing to handle the third leg, turned to her teammates, and asked, “Did she just do that?”
Given her surge to international phenom, the expectations thrust upon Franklin were massive heading into the 2012 Olympic campaign. Yet, with her trademark smile, the 17-year-old Franklin handled the pressure with aplomb. At the London Games, Franklin was spectacular, tallying four gold medals and a bronze medal, and just missing another podium finish with a fourth-place effort in the 200 freestyle.
The highlights of Franklin’s Olympic debut were titles in the 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke, races which unfolded in distinctly different fashion. While Franklin obliterated the field in the 200 backstroke, thanks to a world-record swim, she relied on an epic comeback to mine gold in the 100 backstroke.
Coming off the semifinals of the 200 freestyle, Franklin had only 15 minutes prior to the start of the final of the 100 back. With every minute precious, the U.S. coaching staff arranged for Franklin to use the diving well at the London Aquatic Center for her warm down. Ultimately, the approach paid dividends. Despite trailing Australian Emily Seebohm by a sizable margin at the turn and midway down the last length, Franklin continually narrowed her deficit down the stretch and touched the wall ahead of Seebohm. It was a triumph that can be described as nothing less than a spectacular combination of grit and determination.
At the next year’s World Championships in Barcelona, Franklin was even better, securing six gold medals, including individual titles in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 200 freestyle. It was an iconic performance, rating as one of the finest in the 50-year history of the World Championships.
Although injuries plagued Franklin over the next few years, she qualified for her second Olympics in 2016, and earned a medal in the 800-meter freestyle relay. She was also an NCAA team and individual champion at Cal-Berkeley and became the first woman to crack the 1:40 barrier in the 200-yard freestyle.
Franklin officially announced her retirement in late 2018, but for years to come, her contributions to the sport will be remembered – both for her skill in the water, and the way she carried herself among her teammates, competitors, and fans.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame announces the 2024 ISHOF Specialty Awards
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the ISHOF Specialty Awards. The ISHOF Specialty Awards are presented annually to individuals for outstanding contributions to aquatics. This year’s awards will be presented on Friday evening, October 4th in conjunction with the ISHOF Aquatic Awards, presented by AquaCal and the 59th annual ISHOF Honoree Induction weekend, October 4-5, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Ticket information will be forthcoming shortly or call 570 594-4367.
This year’s 2024 ISHOF Specialty Award Recipients:
Ian Hugh McAllister – Buck Dawson Author Award: Lost Olympics: The Hilda James Story
Dominic Calabro – Every Child A Swimmer Award
Sandra Rossi Madormo – Virginia Hunt Newman Award
Rodna Metz Bordner – John K. Williams, Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award
Peter Diamond – Al Schoenfield Media Award
Ian Hugh McAllister (GBR) – 2024 Buck Dawson Authors Award
The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Buck Dawson Author’s Award is Ian Hugh McAllister for his book, Lost Olympics, The Hilda James Story. This award is presented by ISHOF in the name of William F. “Buck” Dawson, ISHOF’s founding Executive Director, to an author of work that promotes, educates or entertains individuals about aquatics.
Ian McAllister
After a 30 year on and off research project about the life and times of his remarkable Grandmother Hilda James, Ian finally began writing in earnest during late 2011. The resulting book, Lost Olympics, was the long-awaited family history. Along the way he learned that Hilda was even more of a character than the determined old lady he had known as a child. He unearthed some dark and sometimes controversial family secrets that needed to be aired as part of the narrative.
In early 2015 Ian was appointed as the English Administrator at 10 Minute Novelists, an increasingly respected and busy Facebook community for writers at all levels of experience and aspirations. He was MC at their first live conference in Cincinnati, during August 2018.
About Buck Dawson: Dawson was a veteran of WWII who served as assistant and publicist for Generals Gavin and Ridgeway in the 82nd Airborne. From the time he was chosen to lead ISHOF in 1962, until his death in 2008, Buck traveled the world armed with Hall of Fame brochures, books, and bumper stickers. He was always spreading the word, and always willing to talk and teach swimming and swimming history to anyone who would listen. He wrote hundreds of articles and was the author of eight books, ranging in subjects from bathing beauties to war, but especially swimming.
Dominic Calabro — 2024 Every Child A Swimmer Award
The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Every Child A Swimmer Award is Dominic Calabro. The Every Child A Swimmer Award is presented to someone for their long and exceptional leadership, insight, and dedication to the water safety of children and the cause of making “Every Child A Swimmer”.
As the President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida TaxWatch, Dominic leads a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to enhancing government efficiency, limited government, advocating for taxpayers, and fostering informed citizen engagement. Founded in 1979, Florida TaxWatch’s rigorous and nationally respected research has shed much light on the impact of tax and spending decisions, ensuring that Floridians’ livelihoods and quality of life are stronger and better than ever. Calabro has made it his life’s mission to improve government productivity, enhance taxpayer value, and deepen citizen understanding.
Calabro has been a proactive supporter of Every Child A Swimmer (ECAS) since the first meeting in 2020 regarding the passage of the Every Child a Swimmer legislation. He has opened doors to the key players in the Florida Legislature and the Department of Education for ECAS to accomplish the enactment of the legislation. Calabro also had a research study done regarding the cost of drowning in the state of Florida and a second voter survey, during the Trump-Biden Presidential election of 2020, that confirmed that 90% of the registered voters in Florida supported the concept that every child should be taught to swim. This was extremely important during the passage of the legislation in 2020. Recently, Calabro provided behind the scenes help in having $500,000 budgeted for swim lessons for children statewide.
About G. Harold Martin: Back in 1908, G. Harold Martin almost drowned in the Ohio River. Over the next two decades drowned two more times. From these experiences evolved a mission to make “Every Child A Swimmer.” His civic involvement led to the building of Fort Lauderdale’s first municipal pool in 1927. Kiwanian sponsored free swim lessons at the pool, and eventually influenced the decision by ISHOF to be in Fort Lauderdale. An active Kiwanian his entire adult life, he was instrumental in making the Key Club an integral club within Kiwanis International and the adoption of Every Child A Swimmer as a Kiwanian project.
Sandra Rossi Madormo (BRA) — 2024 Virginia Hunt Newman International Award
The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that Sandra Rossi Madormo will be the 2024 recipient of the Virginia Hunt Newman International Award.
Sandra Rossi Madormo is the co-founder and Technical Director of INATI – Child Swimming Institute, with a mission to develop swimming lessons for children in her home country of Brazil as well as promoting water safety to reduce drownings, especially among children. In 2012, through INATI, she co-created the National Water Safety Campaign, which gathers swimming schools, clubs, and aquatic activity professionals nationwide. The campaign has grown into the largest water safety movement in the sector, transforming how Brazilian swimming schools and teachers include water safety in their curriculum.
She received the Inclusive Good Practices Award from the World Association of Special Education in Cuba and the 2019 Physical Education Medal from the Regional Council of Physical Education of São Paulo.
This year she completes 43 years of uninterrupted work as a teacher of baby and children’s swimming, dedicating a significant part of her classes in recent years to children with disabilities.
About Virginia Hunt Newman: Newman was a swimming instructor of infants, and is best known for developing the non-forceful, non-traumatic method of teaching infants to swim. Her methods and distraction from normal fears associated with learning to swim and rewards for trying and performing skills, have been accepted by thousands of swim instructors world-wide.
Rodna Metz Bordner (USA) — 2024 John K. Williams, Jr. Adapted Aquatics Award
The Adapted Aquatics Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that Rodna Metz Bordner will receive the 2024 John K. Williams, Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award. The annual award, honoring individuals or organizations who have made significant and substantial contributions to the field of adaptive aquatics.
Rodna Metz Bordner began her career as a Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard in 1968. She taught wherever she could, as either a professional or volunteer, and was always drawn to working with young children in the pool, especially those that were either physically or cognitively challenged. In 1982, she became an Occupational Therapist, and in 1994 she began to blend her aquatic skills with her occupational therapy career. She then began providing aquatic occupational therapy to children with multiple disabilities.
In 1995, Bordner attended her first ATRI event and began presenting in 1999. In 2001, she received the ATRI Tsunami Award (Aquatics Award for Innovation in the Aquatic Industry) for her work with individuals with Autism and Sensory Processing challenges. She eventually retired from school-based practice in 2005 and began working in the rehab setting as a pediatric Occupational Therapist.
Peter Diamond — 2024 Al Schoenfield Media Award
The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Al Schoenfield Media Award will be Peter Diamond for outstanding contributions to the promotion of aquatic sports through journalism. This award is presented by ISHOF in memory of Al Schoenfield.
A 16-time Emmy Award-winner, Peter C. Diamond served as Executive Vice President, Programming, NBC Olympics, and was responsible for programming NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic Games. The 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan, marked his 19th and final Olympic assignment – more than any broadcast network executive in television history.
During his tenure, Diamond worked on a regular basis with the international Olympic sports federations and the national governing bodies of Olympic sports in the U.S. Diamond also coordinated NBC Sports Group’s presentation of the U.S. Olympic Trials. He also coordinated year-round Olympic-sport programming, which significantly increased in 2015 when NBCUniversal acquired Universal Sports Network assets, and again in July 2017 when NBCUniversal partnered with the IOC and USOC to launch Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, a 24/7 U.S. cable channel dedicated to Olympic sports and programming.
Diamond won Sports Emmy Awards for his work on NBC’s coverage of the Seoul Olympics in 1988 (2), Barcelona in 1992 (2), Atlanta in 1996 (2), Sydney in 2000, Salt Lake City in 2002, Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 (2), London in 2012, Sochi in 2014, and Rio in 2016.
About Al Schoenfield: He was the Editor and Publisher of Swimming World Magazine (1960-1977) and served on various international committees of swimming, including the FINA Technical Swimming Committee (1980-1984). Schoenfield’s life was a commitment to swimming, and he participated in its administrative structure and spread its stories through his magazines and promotions. Al died in 2005, but his legacy will forever endure to all who have benefited from his lifetime of service to swimming.
Additional Awards During 59th Annual Hall of Fame Honoree Weekend
2024 ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal
2024 ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal Recipients:
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)
About ISHOF
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) museum opened its doors to the public in December of 1968 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That same year, the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) – the governing body for Olympic aquatic sports – designated the ISHOF museum as the “Official Repository for Aquatic History”. In 2018, Sports Publications Inc, publisher of Swimming World Magazine and its multi-media platforms, merged with ISHOF to expand the museum’s reach and impact. Today, ISHOF’s vision is to be the global focal point for recording and sharing the history of aquatics, promoting swimming as an essential life-skill, and developing educational programs and events related to water sports.
Happy Birthday Grant Hacket!!
Grant Hacket (AUS)
Honor Swimmer (2014)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (1500m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (1500m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (1500m freestyle), bronze (4x200m freestyle relay); FIVE LONG COURSE WORLD RECORDS: 1 – 200m freestyle, 1 – 800m freestyle, 1 – 1500m freestyle, 2 – 4x200m freestyle relay; TEN SHORT COURSE WORLD RECORDS: 2 – 400m freestyle, 2 – 800m freestyle, 2 – 1500m freestyle, 4 – 4x200m freestyle relay;1998 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle); 2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle), bronze (200m freestyle); 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle), silver (200m freestyle), bronze (4x200m freestyle); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (400m freestyle); 2001 GOODWILL GAMES: gold (200m freestyle, 1500m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle); 1998 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: gold (1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle); 2002 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: gold (1500m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle), silver (200m freestyle, 400m freestyle); 1997 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle), silver (4x200m freestyle); 1999 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (1500m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle); 2002 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle), silver (200m freestyle, 400m freestyle)
This swimmer joins a list of Australians who have won more Olympic gold medals in the fifteen-hundred meter freestyle than any other nation – starting with Andrew “Boy” Charlton in 1924. Following Charlton were Murray Rose-1956, Jon Konrads-1960, Robert Windle-1964 and Kieran Perkins in 1992 and 1996.
Grant Hackett was born in Southport, on Australia’s Gold Coast. He joined coach Denis Cotrell’s team in 1992, at the age of 12. In 1999, he broke his first world record, surprising everyone by beating Hall of Famer, Giorgio Lamberti’s 200 meter freestyle record, while swimming the lead-off spot for his club at the Australian Championships.
In his specialty, the 1500 meter freestyle, he was unbeaten from 1997 to 2007, winning every major world competition. His four World Championship gold medals in this event make him the only swimmer to have won a world title in one event four times, and in total, he has won ten World Championship gold medals. In 2001, at the FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, he set a world record that lasted over ten years, finally broken by China’s Sun Yang, in Shanghai, at the 2011 Championships.
Hackett is best remembered for winning back to back gold medals in the 1500 meter freestyle at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and the 2004 Games in Athens.
It was during the 1500 freestyle at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, where Hackett may have given his most impressive performance. He was suffering from respiratory problems, a partially collapsed lung, but he still overcame the tough competition to win the gold medal in back to back Olympic Games. His Olympic career spanned from 2000 to 2008, all totaled, he won three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal in the freestyle events.
During his career, he set a total of 15 world records, 5 long course and 10 short course and still holds the world record in the 1500 meter short course event that he set in 2001.
Happy Birthday Andrea Pollack!!
Andrea Pollack (GDR)
Honor Swimmer (1987)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1976 gold (200m butterfly; relay), silver (100m butterfly; relay); 1980 gold (relay), silver (100m butterfly); WORLD RECORDS: 7 (100m, 200m butterfly; 4 relays); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1978 silver (100m butterfly; relay), bronze (200m butterfly); USA INTERNATIONALS: 1979 gold (100m, 200m butterfly); 1980 gold (200m butterfly); DDR-USSR: 1977 gold (100m butterfly); 1978 gold (100m, 200m butterfly); 1979 gold (100m, 200m butterfly); 1980 gold (100m, 200m butterfly); EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1977 gold (100m butterfly; relay), silver (200m butterfly); EAST GERMANY RECORDS: 9 (100m, 200m butterfly).
Andrea Pollack was the first girl in the world to break a minute for the 100 meter butterfly. She did it as the youngest member of the GDR 400 meter medley relay in Montreal. She had helped the relay qualify for the finals by swimming the freestyle leg to give a rest to 1976 Olympic superstar Kornelia Ender. Ironically, the woman who swam the butterfly in the preliminaries was her dynamo sports club mate Rosemarie Kother-Gabriel, herself queen of the fly and world record holder since 1973.
Not since Alice Jones had been the best swimmer in the world of fly and had given way to Deena Dierdorf, her Cincinnati Marlin teammate in 1967, had a world record holder in her prime done so much to train a younger teammate to take her place. Like Dierdorf, Pollack was a 15 year old “little squirt” when Gabriel blew her horn. Born in Mecklinburg-Schwerin, Pollack had gone to Berlin as a nine year old and literally grew up chasing Gabriel and Ender in the butterfly and crawl until she emerged at Montreal with two gold medals and two silvers. “Without Gabriel, there would be no Pollack,” Andrea said. “Rosemarie taught me everything.” And in 1987 Andrea followed Rosemarie in the International Swimming Hall of Fame by one year.
Doping Disclaimer: In a German court of law, after this swimmer was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, team officials confessed to administering performance enhancing drugs to this swimmer, who therefore obtained an illegal and unfair advantage over other athletes. For more information, click here.
Alex Blavatnik to receive ISHOF’s 2024 Gold Medallion Award
FORT LAUDERDALE – The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), recognized by FINA, now World Aquatics, in 1968 as the International governing body for the Olympic aquatic sports as its official Hall of Fame, is proud to announce that Mr. Alex Blavatnik will receive the organization’s highest honor, the Gold Medallion Award, at this year’s 59th annual Induction Ceremonies, which will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Saturday, October 5, 2024.
“The purpose of the Gold Medallion Award is to provide positive, successful role models for today’s youth,” said Bruce Wigo, ISHOF Curator and Historian. Blavatnik certainly meets the criteria for ISHOF’s Gold Medallion Award, which was created by ISHOF’s founding Father, William F. “Buck” Dawson in 1983 to honor those individuals who began in their youth as competitive swimmers and have gone on to become extraordinarily successful individuals in their particular field, whether it be politics, science, entertainment, business, science, etc.
Alex Blavatnik is an Executive Vice President Deputy Chairman of Access Industries, a privately held, New York-based industrial group with long-term holdings worldwide in natural resources and chemicals, media, technologies, and real estate. He is a 1993 graduate of Columbia Business School, and he joined Access in 1996 to manage the company’s growing activities in Russia. Blavatnik currently oversees Access’ operations out of its New York-based headquarters and serves as a director of various companies in the Access global portfolio. In addition, Mr. Blavatnik is engaged in a number of philanthropic endeavors, as well as sitting on the boards of charitable and educational organizations.
He was a Division I collegiate swimmer at Miami University (Oxford, OH) and he currently swims with the Masters program competitively at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center with Swim Fort Lauderdale.
He is a frequent participant at National Masters competitions. Blavatnik is also active in Maccabi sports and has competed at several international Maccabi events, including two World Maccabiahs in Israel. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the USA Swimming Foundation, and is a former member of the Board of Directors of ISHOF.
ISHOF’s Gold Medallion has been conferred almost annually since 1983 upon an individual who has been a competitive swimmer, diver, water polo player or synchronized swimmer – who has achieved national or international recognition for accomplishments in the fields of science, government, entertainment, business or education, and whose life serves as a positive role model for youth. Past recipients of the award include, US President Ronald Reagan, US Senator Barry Goldwater, US Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, H.S.H. Prince Albert of Monaco, Businessman and Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon and Olympic and Baseball boss, Peter Ueberroth. Mr. Blavatnik will become the 39th recipient of ISHOF’s Gold Medallion this year and it will be presented to him during the 2024 Honoree Induction Ceremonies.
The Class of 2024 Honorees to be inducted will include, Swimmers Lars Frölander (SWE), Daniel Gyurta (HUN), Dana Vollmer (USA), and the 1976 Women’s Gold Medal 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay, Divers: Alexandre Despartie (CAN), Yulia Pakhalina (RUS) and (from 2023) Wu Minxia (CHN), Water Polo Players, Carmen “Lilli” Allucci (ITA), and Vladimir Akimov (USR)*, Syncnhronized/Artistic Swimmer, Virginie Dedeiu (FRA), Coach Dennis Pursley (USA) and Contributor Dale Neuburger (USA).
For tickets or additional information, please call Meg Keller-Marvin at (570) 594-4367 or visit https://ishof.org
About the ISHOF
The International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum was established in 1965 as a not-for-profit educational organization in the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was recognized by FINA, the international governing body for the Olympic aquatic sports, in 1968. The Mission of ISHOF is to PRESERVE and CELEBRATE aquatic history, to EDUCATE the public about the importance of swimming as the key to water safety, drowning prevention, better health and a better quality of life, and to INSPIRE everyone to swim, ensuring “Every Child a Swimmer”. ISHOF’s collection of swimming memorabilia, art, photos, and films, along with archival documents and rare books in the Henning Library make ISHOF the premier repository and academic research resource for swimming and aquatic history in the world. www.ishof.org
Happy Birthday Brooke Bennett!!
Brooke Bennett (USA)
Honor Swimmer (2010)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (800m freestyle); 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (400m, 800m freestyle); 1994 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze (800m freestyle); 1998 WORLD CHAMPI-ONSHIPS: gold (800m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay); 2000 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (25m): silver (800m freestyle); 1995 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold (400m freestyle), silver (800m free-style); 1995 Pan PacificChampionships: gold (400m, 1500m freestyle); 1997 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (800m, 1500m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle); 1999 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (400m, 800m freestyle); 13 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2-400m freestyle, 2-500y freestyle, 3-800m freestyle, 2-1000y freestyle, 2-1500m freestyle, 2-1650y freestyle.
Growing up in Plant City, Florida on a farm surrounded by a menagerie of animals, Brooke loved the water and swam a length of the family pool at the age of two. By age six she was a local swim club champ.
Swimming for the Brandon Blue Wave, she took to the distance freestyle events and at age fourteen, she won the bronze medal in the 800 meter freestyle at the 1994 Rome World Championships. A bit cocky and eager to win, she used the 1995 PanAmerican Games gold-medal win in the 400m freestyle as a stepping stone to win the 1996 Olym-pic 800 meter freestyle gold medal which she repeated in 2000 win the 1996 Olym-pic 800 meter freestyle gold medal which she repeated in 2000 at the Sydney Games. Following in the footsteps of her rival but friend, Janet Evans, it was only the second back-to-back 800m freestyle win in Olympic history just as Janet had done in 1988 and 1992. With a time of 8:19.67, she broke Janet’s 12 year old Olympic record in the process.
Brooke Bennett had become one of the world’s greatest female distance swimmers. She also won the 400m freestyle gold medal in Sydney and the 800m freestyle gold at the 1998 World Championships. Three of her 13 U.S. National Championships were in the 800m freestyle. All totaled she had three Olympic gold medals from two Olympic Games; a gold, silver and bronze medals from two World Champion-ships; gold and silver medals from one Pan American Games and a silver medal from one World Championships short course.
She was the 1995 USOC Sports Woman of the Year for Swimming. Serious operations on both her shoulders in 2001 limited her participation in ensuing years.
Happy Birthday Mayumi Aoki
Mayumi Aoki (JPN)
Honor Swimmer (1989)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1972 gold (100m butterfly); WORLD RECORDS: 2 (100m butterfly); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1973 bronze (100m butterfly); CANADIAN NATIONALS: 1970 gold (100m butterfly).
On Friday, September 1, 1972, 19 year old Mayumi Aoki became Japan’s first female Olympic gold medal winning swimmer in 40 years and only the second in history after Hall of Famer Hideko Maehata won at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.
In winning her race at the Munich Games, Aoki established several other Olympic firsts. She was the first non-American to win the women’s 100 meter butterfly since it was introduced into the games with Shelly Mann’s gold medal in 1956. She was the first woman to lower the Olympic record under 1:04. Her world record of 1:03.9 had been set at the Japanese Nationals earlier in the summer. She swam a new world record of 1:03.34 in the Olympic Finals, in a cliff hanger over the German Democratic Republic’s Roswitha Beier, Hungary’s Andrea Gyarmati and America’s Deena Deardruff and Dana Shrader. All five women were under Mayumi’s old world record in one of the closest across the board finishes in Olympic history. Aoki swam a super fly split of 1:02.47 in the medley relay but it wasn’t enough to make her Japanese team a medal winner.
Aoki was A-OK in winning her first big North American race at the Canadian Nationals in 1970. She also won a bronze medal for a third place finish at the first World Championships in 1973. She was Japanese National Champion in the 200 meter butterfly as well as the 100 meter butterfly. She is currently (1989) a high school physical education teacher and a swimming coach in Japan.
Happy Birthday Alain Bernard
Alain Bernard (FRA)
Honor Swimmer (2017)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m freestyle), silver (4x100m freestyle), bronze (50m freestyle); 2012 London: gold (4×100m freestyle); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): bronze (4×100m freestyle); 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (100m freestyle), bronze (4×100m freestyle); 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (4×100m freestyle), bronze (50m freestyle); 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold 4×100m freestyle; 2006 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): bronze (4×100m freestyle); 2008 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (100m freestyle, 50m freestyle); 2010 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (100m freestyle), silver (4×100m freestyle); 2012 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (4×100m freestyle), silver (100m freestyle); 2004 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (4×50m freestyle); 2005 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): silver (4×50m freestyle); 2006 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): silver (4×50m freestyle), bronze (100m freestyle); 2007 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (100m freestyle), silver (4x50m freestyle), bronze (50m freestyle); 2008 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (4×50m freestyle); FOUR WORLD RECORDS: 50m freestyle (LC), 100m freestyle (LC & SC), 200m freestyle relay.
Born in Aubagne, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, Alain Bernard trained at a local club until the age of 16, when he switched to Club Marseille to train under coach Denis Auguin. He made slow but steady progress until 2007, a break-out year in which he set the French record in the 100m freestyle and later claimed his first European Championship title in the same event. Then, at the European Championships in March 2008, he set his first world records, winning the 50m and 100m freestyle. A month later he qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games in both events.
Alain’s experience in Beijing began with bitter disappointment, when the USA took the gold medal from the favored French team in the 4x100m freestyle relay. In addition, he also lost his world record to Eamon Sullivan who led off Australia’s relay with a phenomenal swim.
Alain reclaimed his record two days later in his 100m freestyle semi-final swim, before losing it again to Sullivan in his semi. In the final, however, it was Alain Bernard who won the gold medal, and with his victory, he became France’s first male Olympic gold medalist since Jean Boiteaux, who won the 400m freestyle at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games.
The next day he won a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle event and left Beijing with three medals, each of a different metal.
The next year, Alain ushered in the shiny suit era by becoming the first swimmer to break the 47 second barrier in the 100m freestyle, breaking Sullivan’s record with a time of 46.94 seconds. Unfortunately, the suit he wore was not approved by FINA and his record was unrecognized.
Leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Alain continued to be among the world’s top sprinters and although he missed qualifying in individual events, he was a member of the French 4x100m freestyle relay that finally won the gold, after knocking on the door of greatness for most of his career. Upon returning to France at the age of 29, he announced his retirement as his country’s most decorated Olympic swimmer, owning a total of four medals (two gold, one silver and one bronze) from two Olympic Games, Beijing and London.
Today he continues to share his love of swimming in his role as ambassador and technical advisor for the French AquaSphere brand of swim equipment.
Happy Birthday Charlotte Davis
Charlotte Davis (USA) Honor Coach (2014)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: Head Coach; 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: Assistant Coach and Team Leader; 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: Assistant Coach and Team Leader; 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES: National Team Director and Coach of two swimmers winning two Olympic gold and one Olympic Silver medal; National Team Director and Assistant Coach of 1991, 1994 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1991, 1993, 1995 WORLD CUP: National Team Director and Assistant Coach; 1983, 1987, PAN AMERICAN GAMES: Head Coach 1995 PAN AM GAMES: National Team Director and Assistant Coach.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ept3di0E5Do%3Flist%3DPLjYWbX54Yv0Hajz_HtHecswNBl39Ybdz4
She began her love of swimming at age three. At 11, her older sisters taught her “water ballet” and she was immediately hooked. She loved the music, the creativity, the artistry and best of all, swimming upside down! She then discovered the Washington Athletic Club Synchronized Swimming Team, where she competed through high school. After high school, she moved and competed with the reigning National Champion, Santa Clara Aquamaids. It was with the Aquamaids, she became a National Team champion in 1970.
In 1971, Charlotte moved back to Seattle and formed her own synchronized swimming team. After a few years of coaching, a nine year-old swimmer who could barely swim the length of the pool, caught Charlotte’s eye. That little girl’s name was Tracie Ruiz. Soon after, another little girl, Candie Costie, stood out and decided she wanted to swim duet with Tracie.
Under Charlotte’s guidance, Tracie and Candy rose to the top very quickly, winning the Junior National Duet title at the age of 16. Five years later, in 1982, when the IOC announced the inclusion of the duet on the program for the 1984 Olympic Games, Charlotte and the girls made a pact to work hard and earn the right to represent the United States in Los Angeles. Their hard work and dedication paid off as Charlotte was named head Olympic coach and the girls went on to win the gold medal for the USA; because of the Soviet boycott, the IOC added the solo competition at the last minute. Tracie Ruiz won the gold medal in that event as well.
Charlotte Davis was instrumental in the formation of the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Inc. program that began when the corporation was formed in 1979. She was hired as the organization’s first full-time National Team coach in 1984 and in 1992 was named National Team Director, a position she held until her retirement in 2000. During her tenure, the USA was the dominant force in international synchronized swimming. In addition to the gold medals in 1984 she coached the Josephson twins, Karen and Sarah, to the Olympic duet silver medal in 1988 and Tracie Ruiz to the gold in solo. In 1992 the Josephsons won the duet, while Kristen Babb won the solo gold in Barcelona. As the National Team Director and assistant Olympic coach in 1996, Charlotte also played a major role in the USA’s “perfect ten” performance in Atlanta. It was the first Olympic gold medal awarded for the team event in Olympic history.
Charlotte Davis shared her expertise by giving clinics around the world helping to make synchronized swimming one of the marquee FINA events.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=d_KhTshrlyQ%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Happy Birthday Don Schollander
Don Schollander (USA)
Honor Swimmer (1965)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1964 gold (100m, 400m freestyle; 4x100m, 4x200m freestyle relay); 1968 gold (4x200m freestyle relay), silver (200m freestyle); First swimmer in history to win 4 gold medals at one Olympics; WORLD RECORDS: 200yd, 200m freestyle; U.S. NATIONAL RECORDS: freestyle; World Athlete of the Year, 1964.
Nineteen year old Don Schollander is the world’s most honored active swimmer. No swimmer in any year has received the honor that came to Schollander in 1964. His selection as top athlete at the 1964 Olympics, plus his award as U. S. and World Athlete of the Year are proof that swimming has come of age and is long overdue on having its own Hall of Fame.
Don received 138 first-place votes and 459 points compared to 14 firsts and 134 points for runner-up Johnny Unitas. No swimmer had previously won the pool in its 34 year history and no athlete in any sport has won it by such an overwhelming margin.
Justification for Schollander’s overwhelming A.P. vote and for his selection to the first group honored in the new Swimming Hall of Fame is his record of 4 gold medals, 4 Olympic and 3 world records in his four Olympic freestyle swimming events. No other swimmer has ever done so well in the Olympic Games.
Don was the first man in the world to break 2 minutes for the 200 meter freestyle, on July 7, 1963; but his most amazing performance was his 1:41.7 for 200 yards last April. Try to imagine a man with such great talent that he can race and beat a four man relay team, not just any four man relay, but a world record relay team. This is what Don Schollander did at Yale, give or take 50 years. His 1:41.7, 200 yd. freestyle time at the 1965 Indoor U. S. Nationals in April was 7/10 seconds faster than the world record set by Yale’s 200 yd. freestyle relay team in 1917. It is a dramatic illustration of the improvement in swimming times, training and techniques in less than 50 years.
In preparing for the 1964 Olympic Trials and Games, Don’s coach, George Haines, (he has had several great coaches in his young career), felt he could win any freestyle event for which he trained. The middle distances are his forte but Haines felt it would be difficult and dangerous, if not foolhardy , to prime Don for both the 100 meter sprint and 1500 meter distance races at the same time. The coach, showing complete confidence in his swimmer plus a flare for the dramatic, and a rise to the challenge, picked the 100. Although Don is not a sprinter, he has an almost perfect stroke and the 100 meter distance was long enough for this good stroking to pay off in a come-from-behind victory. Certainly it proved a point for good swimming. Don owned the 400 meter race, perhaps his best distance, and swam on two of the U.S.A.’s three gold medal world record breaking relays, something he might not have been able to do had he primed for the 1500. All signs were “go” and all gambles paid off. No swimmer before Schollander has ever won four gold medals in one Olympics, yet Don might have won five had he been on still another relay. On the other hand, 1964 was the first Olympics that offered three relays and only the second Olympics offering more than one men’s relay. Immortality is still a combination of timing and talent.
There are now more races for more and faster swimmers in the booming sport of swimming than ever before. This, just as Schollander’s early selection for the Swimming Hall of Fame, is a sign of the times in this fastest-growing Olympic sport.