Happy Birthday Alex Baumann!!
Alex Baumann (CAN)
Honor Swimmer (1992)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1984 gold (200m & 400m individual medley); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1979 bronze (400m individual medley); FINA CUP: 1979 gold (400m individual medley); WORLD RECORDS: 5 (200m individual medley), 5 (400m individual medley); COMMONWEALTH GAMES: gold, 2 (200m individual medley), 2 (400m individual medley); CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 34 titles, 32 national records; WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1986 silver ( 200m individual medley), bronze (400m individual medley).
It was in 1912 that Canadian Olympian George Hodgson won gold medals in swimming for Canada. It was not until 72 years later that Alex Baumann of Sudbury, Ontario won the next gold medal for Canada in swimming. Baumann won the 200m and 400m individual medley, establishing world records in both. Bauman joins only two other Canadians to win in a summer Olympics before him–Hodgson and runner Percy Williams in 1928. Teammates Victor Davis and Ann Ottenbrite joined Alex as Olympic champions in 1984, winning the men’s and women’s breaststroke.
From 1978-1987, Baumann won 34 Canadian National Championships, establishing 32 national records in the sprint freestyle as well as both individual medley events. He swam all events: backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. He started as an age group swimmer who reached every young swimmer’s goal–the Olympic gold. Baumann won five golds in Commonwealth Games competition and established a total of three world records in the 200 I.M. and two world records in the 400 I.M.. Undefeated from 1981 through 1986, Alex’s records stood for six years.
Alex, known as Sasa to his family and close friends, was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia and came to Canada with his parents as a young boy. He learned how to swim at age five and soon after joining the Laurentian University Swim Club, which he would coach 20 years later, showed talent for the sport. His large hands and feet worked like paddles and his intense training turned swimming into his life.
Through long-term collaboration with his coach of fourteen years, Dr. Jeno Tihanyi, Alex overcame obstacles which would have defeated a lesser champion. He had repeated bouts of tendonitis and shoulder problems which prevented him from competing for most of 1982, including having to miss the World Championships. The deaths of his father and older brother left profound gaps in his life, but Tihanyi played a major role in keeping him focused on his goals. Perhaps his single most admired quality was his disciplined approach to swimming. He always gave 100 percent. Every swim was a race. Nothing was wasted. Alex was a bit of a prankster, but never lost his humbleness and feel for his teammates and others. His self-determination to excel, coupled with a swimming program geared to his style, were the keys to his success.
Following his retirement, Alex became a sports broadcaster for CBC television at the 1988 Olympic Games. Among his many honors, he was the Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year in 1984 and was chosen as the flag bearer at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, 1983 World University Games and the 1984 Olympic Games.
Announcing the 2024 ISHOF Aquatic Awards by AquaCal
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s annual ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented byAquaCal (formerly the Paragon Awards 1996-2022). The ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal are presented annually to individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to aquatics. This year’s recipients include Jay Thomas (USA) for Competitive Swimming; Pedro and Cristiana Pinciroli (BRA) for Water Polo; Sheilagh Boudia (USA) for Diving; Sandra Roberts (CAN) for Artistic/Synchronized Swimming; Chrisand Jenny McCuiston (USA) for Water Safety and Beth Root (USA) for Recreational Swimming. This year’s awards will be held Friday evening on October 4, 2024, as the kickoff to the ISHOF Honoree Induction weekend, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
Make your plans now to attend the weekend, October 4-5, 2024!
The annual awards are a spectacular event that celebrates the unsung heroes who make competitive and recreational aquatics possible. These are the people who save lives, promote water safety and further aquatic education around the world. We are proud to recognize these important individuals at the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
About this year’s award recipients:
Jay Thomas (USA) – Competitive Swimming
A long time official currently living in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jay Thomas began his career as a swim parent in Fort Lauderdale, and has continued his career officiating for USA Swimming, the NCAA, and FINA, now World Aquatics. Thomas grew through the ranks of USA Swimming, serving FINA, and World Aquatics in a variety of positions and is currently serving as Secretary of the Technical Swimming Committee (July 2022-present). In addition, he just finished his term as Chairman of the Swimming Committee, for Pan-Am Aquatics (January 2020- Dec 31, 2023). He is a former LSC Officials Chair, National Times Chair and Records Chair. Thomas has been a Head Referee for NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving National Championships. He was a two-term USA Swimming Board of Director and has been the Chairman of the “Our Kids” Initiative, for the last 13 years, a program founded by Pat Lunsford.
Thomas served as a deck official at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and will do so again this summer at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He has served at eight FINA World Championships and three Pan American Games.
He is a retired Commander in the United States Naval Reserve and a retired pilot for American Airlines. He has two daughters, Barbara, and Morgan, who both swam for the Florida Gold Coast, where Jay began his officiating days, right at our very own Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center.
Sheilagh Boudia (USA) – Competitive Diving
In every sport, there is usually one parent or volunteer that is the glue that holds everything together. And for many years, for USA Diving, beginning in the early 2000’s that glue was named Sheilagh Boudia, Mother of four-time Olympic medalist (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze), David Boudia.
Sheilagh started out as a parent volunteer, but it turned out she could do anything. “She could fix any problem during any event”, said former 2017 Paragon Award Winner, Linda Paul. Everyone came to rely on her. During the National Championships, the NCAA was using the computer program, “Diving Meets” as the scoring system. She learned it, ran it, could troubleshoot it and when the creator and founder, suddenly passed away, she took over the running of it. She became so good as a volunteer, the company, Diving Meets, eventually hired Boudia to work for them as an employee, where she remains today.
2016 Paragon Award Winner and Head Diving Coach at the University of Michigan, Cokey Smith Huffman, who has worked with Mrs. Boudia for years says, “Sheilagh worked tirelessly and dedicated herself to making diving and Diving Meets successful. It was always about diving and what was best for the divers”. “Wherever someone was needed, we always called Sheilagh, because we knew we could rely on her to troubleshoot any problem and once it was in her hands, we no longer needed to worry about it,” says Steve McFarland, former President of USA Diving. Her husband, Jim Boudia was always in the background to lend a helping hand to her as well.
“Not only could you be confident in Sheilagh, she was always selfless; she never put herself, or her son first. She has an incredible integrity about her. She would even get up from the table when her son David was diving so as not to appear to show any conflict of interest,” said another former USA Diving staffer.
Sandra Roberts (CAN) – Artistic Swimming
Sandra Roberts’ contributions to artistic swimming is immeasurable. She began as an athlete, continued in her role as a coach, judge, and finally, administrator.
Roberts has judged at the Canadian National Synchronized Swimming Championships for 37 years from 1968 to 2005. She became an international judge in 1978 and received her initial FINA accreditation in 1985. In 1988, she received the FINA ‘A’ rating, and later became a ‘judge’s judge’ when she began evaluating judges in addition to offering judging clinics all over the world. Sandra’s international resume is quite extensive: four Swiss Opens, five Pan American Games, one Commonwealth Games, nine World Cups, nine World Championships, four Olympic Qualifiers, four Olympic Games, as well as more than 30 other international competitions.
After approximately 50 years of involvement with artistic swimming, Sandra retired at the end of the 2004/05 season.
Pedro and Cris Pinciroli (BRA) – Water Polo
Pedro Pinciroli is a businessman, former Olympic water polo athlete and worked as an executive in media. Currently he is president of the group iFob – Innovative Family Office- and develops business opportunities in the financial and real estate sectors. In the media, he was CEO and Board Member of the Superior Council of Grupo Folha, a conglomerate which publishes the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo.
Pedro participated in two editions of the Olympic Games as a water polo player (1964, Tokyo and 1968, Mexico City) that left profound marks on his mind and body, creating a frame of reference that dominates the way in which he thinks and acts.
In the Olympic Games of Mexico (1968) he was ranked among the top scorers, and he was chosen by the coaches as a highlight of water polo in the Olympics. He was Captain of the Brazilian national team from 1968 to 1976.
He was considered in 1965 by FINA as Featured Player of the Americas and was mentioned by the International Association of Coach, as a player who could join any team in the world.
Pedro conceived and led the process of adoption of the Piva Law- sanctioned by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso on July 16, 2001, which states that 2% of the gross revenues of all federal lotteries in the country are transferred to the Brazilian Olympic Committee and to the Brazilian Paralympics Committee – along with the Minister Saul Ramos, Senator Pedro Piva and President of the COB, Carlos Arthur Nuzman.
Cristiana was captain of the Brazilian National Water Polo team. She played professionally in Italy and at the end of her sports career, was considered among the top players in the world. Her first moment of transition was from sport to the business world.
She enjoyed 25 years as an executive at a leading Brazilian bank. There, she leveraged her experiences and strengths in sport and successfully led teams in realizing their full potential. Her second moment of transition was in 2019, when she left the bank and became an author. She wrote the award-winning book – “Sport: A Stage for Life” – launched both in English and Portuguese.
Cris is an expert in high performance and happiness. She works with organizations and athletes to nurture human potential in a journey of success and well-being.
Beth Root (USA)– Recreational Swimming
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL) is a global drowning prevention event launched by the World Waterpark Association in 2010. The program is supported by leading aquatics and safety organizations around the world and takes place at all types of aquatic facilities from huge waterparks to public pools and swim schools. WLSL serves as a platform to help communities build awareness about the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim. As we at ISHOF know, swimming is a life-saving skill for children, and a vital tool to prevent drowning, and is the number one cause of death for U.S. children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for ages 5-14.
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL) was the brainchild of Mrs. Beth Root. The World Waterpark Association wanted an idea to drive media attention to support National Water Safety Month. Root came up with the World’s Largest Swim Lesson (WLSL), and the World Waterpark Association (WWA) championed it. Root managed all program elements, from logos and marketing materials to a social media program, and “how-to guides” for all participating facilities and more. And it was all done on a pro-bono basis. 14 years later, the WLSL is still going strong and larger than ever!
Beth Root is a former competitive swimmer and lifeguard, who began her career in waterparks. She is now the principal at Buzzonic, a Kansas City, Mo. based marketing strategy and integration agency that she founded. Since 1986, she’s attended every WWA convention with husband, WWA President and 2005 Paragon Award winner, in Recreational Swimming, Rick Root.
Chris and Jenny McCuiston (USA) –Aquatic Safety
Chris and Jenny McCuiston founded Goldfish Swim School in their hometown of Birmingham, Michigan in 2006. Recognizing the demand for swim lessons in the area, Jenny, an Olympic Trials qualifier, with a degree in early childhood development, and Chris, a finance major from Michigan State University, set out to create a child-focused facility to help children become safer and more confident in and around the water.
Prior to opening Goldfish, the high school sweethearts traveled the country for swim school research, inspiration, and direction. Utilizing the knowledge gained through their travels, along with Jenny’s extensive knowledge of swimming and teaching, and Chris’ strong financial and business background, every aspect and detail of the swim school was carefully thought out. Upon opening, Goldfish Swim School quickly grew popular for its innovative approach to teaching, along with the child-friendly décor, 90-degree pool, and dedication to providing a golden experience. The couple, along with Chris’ brother Andrew, built on this success by expanding their business as a franchise.
Today there are more than 165 Goldfish Swim Schools open or in development throughout North America, teaching water safety to more than 200,000 children each week. In addition to being hands-on with the Goldfish Franchise, the couple are also dedicated parents to four young boys.
AquaCal® has been the leading swimming pool heat pump manufacturer since 1981, offering a full range of units to meet any heating need. AquaCal® can maintain anything from small above ground pools up to very large commercial facilities. (Currently heating and chilling the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Aquatic Center pools) The chillers, as well as the heat and cool units, can be used to create cold plunge pools for therapy too. Whatever your pool heating/cooling needs, AquaCal® can help!
The ISHOF Aquatic Awards, presented by AquaCal, will be held Friday, October 4, 2024 at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and Spa, 321 Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL (954) 467-1111. The ISHOF Aquatic Awards are typically held on the evening before the ISHOF Honoree Induction, and are the kickoff to the weekend celebration. In addition to the ISHOF Aquatic Awards, presented by AquaCal, we will also be honoring the recipients of the ISHOF Specialty Awards which include the Buck Dawson Author’s Award, the Every Child A Swimmer Award and many others. They will be announced next week.
Ticket information for all events, including the 2024 ISHOF and MISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies will be forthcoming very soon.
For more information call Meg Keller-Marvin at 570.594.4367
#ISHOF #Aquaticawards #AquaCal #USASwimming #Fortlauderdale #Diving #Waterpolo #Artisticswimming #EverychildAswimmer #swimlessons #Honoreeinduction #WorldAquatics #USA #Canada #Brazil #Westinfortlauderdalebeachresort
Swim Across America Events Span Nantucket to Golden Gate Bridge
Photo Courtesy: Swim Across America
by DAN D’ADDONA — SWIMMING WORLD MANAGING EDITOR
19 April 2024, 04:04am
In 2024, thousands of swimmers and volunteers committed to fighting cancer will be making waves against cancer by participating in charity swims with Swim Across America. The swims take place April 20 through October 6, 2024.
This year’s schedule includes 24 communities with open water swims and hundreds of pool swims across the U.S. All of the charity swims have one singular goal: raise money and awareness for funding cancer research and patient programs. Each charity swim benefits a research hospital or cancer partner in their community. Participants of all ages and skill levels participate for the cause.
Registration is open at swimacrossamerica.org.
Athletics takes centre stage on day six of the Commonwealth Games
“This year marks our 37th year of making waves to fight cancer,” said Rob Butcher, CEO of Swim Across America. “What started on the shores of Long Island Sound in 1987 has turned into a movement offering community and hope to those fighting cancer.”
Throughout the years, Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million to fight cancer. Thousands of participants and volunteers spanning all generations participate each year.
Funds raised by Swim Across America and its grants have helped support the research and clinical trials for FDA approved immunotherapy treatments, including Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy and Tecentriq. Swim Across America is also a grant funder of the successful clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering that was published in The New England Journal of Medicine and showed a 100 percent success rate in treating patients in a phase 2 clinical trial for advanced rectal cancer with dostarlimab. Swim Across America grants support more than 60 projects each year and there are ten named Swim Across America Labs at major institutions including: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, John Hopkins Medicine Baltimore, Rush University Medical Center Chicago, Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, Infusion Center at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and San Francisco, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, The Swim Across America Pediatric Research Lab at Columbia University Medical Center New York, and at Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Swim Across America charity calendar of swims includes:
July 27: Long Island Sound/Westchester/Larchmont
August 3: Nassau/Suffolk/Long Island/Sound to Cove
Photo Courtesy: Swim Across America
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Swim Across America. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
Happy Birthday Brenda Villa!!
Brenda Villa (USA)
Honor Water Polo (2018)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (team competition); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: bronze; 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver; 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold; 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 2005: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS silver; 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold; 2003 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold; 2007 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold; 2011 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold; 2002 FINAWORLD CUP: silver; 2010 FINA WORLD CUP: gold; 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 FINA WORLD LEAGUE: gold; 2008 FINA WORLD LEAGUE: silver
Brenda was five years old when her parents, immigrants from northern Mexico, took her to the pool so she wouldn’t be afraid of the water like her mother. After two years on the swim team, they reluctantly allowed her to follow her older brother, Edgar into the rough and tumble sport of water polo. This was before the explosion of girls water polo programs and Brenda practiced with and competed mostly against boys. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she was as good, if not better than most of the boys.
Brenda had to play on the boys team in high school, because there was no girls team, but the competition improved her game and helped her develop the smarts, instincts and toughness that contributed to her becoming one of the best players in the world, male or female.
While Brenda enjoyed water polo and excelled in the classroom, her goal from at least the age of 12, was to attend Stanford University on a swimming scholarship. But that goal changed in the fall of 1993 when Stanford announced it was starting a women’s water polo team.
Following her freshman year in High School, Brenda was selected for the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team. After playing in the 1995 Junior World Championships, where she was selected for the All-World Jr. Team, Women’s National Team Coach Sandy Nitta moved her up to the Senior National Team. Two years later she was the U.S. team’s leading scorer at the 1997 FINA World Cup.
While Brenda enjoyed wearing the red, white and blue and traveling around the world, her top goal was to play water polo for Stanford. In the fall of 1997, during her senior year in high school, the International Olympic Committee announced that Women’s water polo would join the 2000 Olympic program. She reset her goal higher, it was also to win an Olympic gold medal for the USA. She just had no idea then that it would take 14 long years to do it.
When Brenda entered Stanford in the fall of 1998, it was as the nation’s most heralded recruit. To pursue her new goal she had to red-shirt her first two years to prepare for the Olympics, an opportunity that was anything but assured.
There were two chances for teams to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games. When the USA failed to qualify at the FINA World Cup in May of 1999, it came down to a last chance qualification tournament in Palermo, Sicily in April of 2000. In what was a do or die game against Hungary, it was a goal by Brenda that broke a 5-5 tie late in the fourth quarter to earn the USA a ticket to Sydney.
In Sydney, Team USA reached the gold medal match and it came down to last minute heroics again, but it was not to be, as Australia scored a game winner at the buzzer.
Finally, in the spring of 2001, Brenda played her first game for Stanford. During her three years playing for Cardinal, she would twice be named player of the year and led Stanford to its first women’s NCAA title in 2002.
After graduating from Stanford, Brenda played professionally in Europe and coached in the off season as Team USA dominated the world of women’s water polo. In the first decade of the new millennium, the USA won three world championships, seven World League Super Finals and numerous other tournaments. The Olympic Games remained a disappointment, with a bronze medal in Athens and silver again in Beijing.
Then came London. After 17 years on the national team, Brenda, once the youngest player on the team was now the captain. Only Heather Petri, two years older, remained from Sydney. Once again, behind a new coach, Adam Krikorian, and an infusion of new talent, Team USA entered the 2012 Olympic Games as the favorite, and this time they didn’t disappoint. Brenda and Team USA finally got the gold with an 8 to 5 victory over Spain.
Brenda has received numerous awards and recognition over the course of her incredible career, but none mean more to her than the City of Commerce naming the pool she grew up swimming in, the Brenda Villa Aquatic Center.
Today, Brenda and her husband Gino are the proud parents of a baby girl, Gianna. They live in northern California where Brenda continues to share her passion for excellence and love of water polo through coaching, personal appearances and her work with several non-profit foundations.
Happy Birthday Carin Cone!!
Carin Cone (USA)
Honor Swimmer (1984)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1956 silver (100m backstroke); WORLD RECORDS: 7 (100m, 100yd, 220yd backstroke; 1 relay); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1959 gold (100m backstroke; medley relay); AAU NATIONALS: 16 (100yd, 110yd, 200yd, 220yd backstroke); AMERICAN RECORDS (Short Course): 10 (100yd, 150yd, 200yd backstroke); AMERICAN RECORDS (Long Course): 14 (100m, 200m 220m backstroke; 1 relay).
Carin Cone literally came on like a hurricane to win her first Senior National Championship in the 200yd backstroke. It was at Philadelphia in the middle of a hurricane in August, 1955. Two days later she won the 100 back, an event in which she continued undefeated in the Nationals, Indoor & Outdoor, for the next five years. Her moment of greatest triumph and yet disappointment was at the 1956 Olympics where she and Judy Grinham (Great Britain) had identical times, and yet the judges picked Judy first. Carin won 16 Nationals and set four World and 24 American records all in backstroke. This “queen of backstrokers” in her time, like Eleanor Holm and Gloria Callen before her, and Lynne Burke afterwards, was also a cover girl supreme. The four of them, all from the New York area, were on more magazine covers than four full-time models, which all were invited to be. Carin had just two coaches in Marie Giardine at the Women’s Swimming Association in New York and Phill Hansel at the University of Houston. Perhaps Carin Cone’s finest year was 1959 when she began by winning both women’s backstroke titles at the Indoor AAU meet. In July, Carin lowered her own World’s Record in the 220yd backstroke, slicing more than three seconds from her 1956 time. Two months later at the Pan American games in Chicago, Carin won the 100m backstroke title, and also established a world’s record of 1:11.4 on the lead off backstroke leg in the medley relay. She retired from competitive swimming in 1960. In 1962 she married Al Vanderbush–Army’s football co-captain and all-American guard.
Happy Birthday Joe Bottom!!
Joe Bottom (USA)
Honor Swimmer (2006)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1976 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (100m butterfly); TWO WORLD RECORDS: 100m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle relay; 1973 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (4x100m medley relay, 4x100m freestyle relay), silver (100m butterfly); 1978 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m butterfly, 4x100m medley relay); NINE U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: short course (100y freestyle, 100y butterfly, 4x100y medley relay, 4x100y freestyle relay), long course (50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4x100m medley relay); NINE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 50y freestyle, 100y freestyle, 100y butterfly, 4x100y freestyle relay, 4x100y medley relay.
Since his win at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, Mark Spitz’s 100m Butterfly World Record had stood for 10 years when Joe Bottom broke the record of 54.27 setting a new time of 54.18. In the process, he had to beat East Germany’s Roger Pyttel at the DDR-USA Duel meet, also in Germany, this time in Berlin. Bottom had been the silver medalist in the event a year earlier at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
Coached by George Haines at Santa Clara and Peter Daland at USC, Joe stood at 6′ 41/2″ with an easy-going demeanor on land, but as a fierce competitor in the water. He won the 1978 Berlin World Championships 100m Butterfly after taking the silver in the same event at the inaugural 1973 World Championship. Because of the U.S. Olympic Boycott of 1980, he was unable to compete in his prime-time Olympic year.
At USC, he currently holds the sprint 50 yard freestyle school record at 19.70, almost 30 years after he set it in 1977. He has five NCAA individual titles to his name and has the third fastest 100y freestyle and sixth fastest 100y butterfly times in school history. He won nine U.S. National Championships between 1974 and 1980.
Dr. Bill Kent becomes an MLC Honorary Life Member
The Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation (MLC) proudly announces that the Chairman of the Board of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the spiritual mission of “Every Child A Swimmer”, Dr. Bill Kent (USA), became an Honorary Life Member.
Dr Bill Kent was born on September 1, 1942, nine months after America entered World War II and learned swimming at the age of 10. He has accomplished everything (family, business, volunteerism). He holds a BSc in Physics and a PhD in Global Business. He worked in General Electric Company, Chester Products, Team Horner Group in numerous roles from the bottom to the top. “Team Horner” is a group of companies focused on different functions within the swimming pool and spa business worldwide. His export company, HornerXpress Worldwide, has customers in 105 countries. As a Chairman of the Board of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), he inspires and blesses the fields of swimming and water safety by sailing the “Mecca of Aquatics” to new and safer horizons. To cope with the burden of drowning, he leads the spiritual mission of “Every Child A Swimmer”, changed the state legislation and implemented a water safety program for public awareness in hospitals. He is a frequent speaker and article contributor to national and international conferences and papers in topics like business leadership, company culture and philanthropy. He has founded the Bill Kent Family Foundation, and served the National Swimming Pool Foundation and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance in numerous leading roles. For his contributions he was honored countless times. Lifetime Achievements Award (Florida Swimming Pool Association, 2023); Service and Commitment Award (ISHOF, 2021); Outstanding Public Leadership Award (Florida Tax Watch, 2021); Philanthropist of the Year” (Florida Swimming Pool Association, 2020); recognition as one of “the 10 most impactful people” (Swimming World Magazine, 2017); Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award (American Psychological Association National, 2014, 2015); Honorary Dean (University of Pools and Spas continuing education program: 2000); Presidential Honor Award (ISHOF & Kalos Kagathos Foundation, 1995); Florida Pool & Spa Association Hall of Fame Award 1987; Treasure Coast Chapter Special Support Award 1987; U.S. Department of Energy Award 1985; San Juan Pools Special Achievement Award 1984; TEC Innovation Award 1993 Florida Man of the Year Award 1976. He believes in working, growing and winning together and that the best is yet to come!
Dr. Kent, commented about his recognition: “It is an honor to receive this recognition; the International Swimming Hall of Fame is also honored, since my role there is what has caused this personal honor. We support your mission to advance drowning prevention through lifesaving sport within the Mediterranean basin totally!”
The MLC President, Giorgio Quintavalle and the MLC Secretary General, Dr Stathis Avramidis, said on this occasion: “Dr Kent is an extraordinary individual. He has a unique talend to take the best out of everyone who is blessed to be associated or work with him. He is wise, generous, visionary, passionate, tireless, humble and innovative. He loves everything that has to do with swimming and water safety. His morality, values, work and voluntry ethics make the world a better and safer place!”
The award presentation will take place at a special ceremony during the first Mediterranean Lifesaving Championships in Rome, Italy on 24-27, July, 2024.
ISHOF Newsletter Contest
The International Swimming Hall of Fame is looking for a new
name for its monthly newsletter and we’ve decided to have a
contest and give all our favorite swimmers, aquatic athletes, and
fans a shot at naming it.
If your choice is selected, you will win two tickets to the 2024
ISHOF Induction Ceremonies or a $100 gift card to the ISHOF Gift
Shop.
The contest is now open and ends April 26th. You may enter your
responses in the comment section of this post or send an email to rob@ishof.org
We will select a winner to be announced on May 1 via ISHOF
socials.
Happy Birthday Nancy Hogshead!!
Nancy Hogshead (USA)
Honor Swimmer (1994)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPICS: gold (100m freestyle (tie), 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay), silver (200m individual medley); 8 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: (butterfly, freestyle, relays).
Nancy Hogshead was 14 years old when she was first ranked number one in the world. At 18 she qualified for the 1980 Olympic team, but was unable to participate due to the US boycott. She retired one year later.
Unable to stay out of the water, Nancy made a comeback in 1983 and took a leave of absence from her political science and women’s studies at Duke. Within three months back from retirement, she was named “Comeback Swimmer of the Year.” Her success did not go unnoticed; she received the Kiphuth Award, which is given to the best all around swimmer nationally.
Culminating eight years of world class swimming, Nancy showed her versatility qualifying at the 1984 Los Angles Olympics in three individual events, the 100 free, 200 fly and 200 IM. Nancy, Pablo Morales and Tracy Caulkins were the only three to do so.
Nancy was ready when her big chance came. Little did she know she would walk away the winningest swimming medal winner of the 1984 Games with three golds and one silver. On opening night, Nancy Hogshead won her fist Olympic gold medal in the 100 freestyle. She and Carrie Steinseifer, nicknamed “The Gold Dust Twins,” actually tied and an unprecedented two gold medals were awarded, one to each girl.
Hogshead anchored the 400 freestyle and medley relays, taking gold in both. Not finished yet, she silvered in the 200 IM behind Caulkins. In less than eighteen months, Nancy Hogshead had gone from no time in the pool–not even for exercise–to a four time Olympic medal winner.
Nancy is one of those swimmers who continues to give back to the sport. As a dynamic corporate motivational speaker to more than 100 groups annually, Nancy says “I’m still discovering why my swimming experience was so successful. I continue to learn about principles that create success, and I’m committed to applying those principles to helping others.”
Nancy is the current president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, the non-profit educational organization that serves as the national collective voice of all those who are dedicated to promoting and enhancing the sports experience for all girls and women. Speaking from her personal victory over asthma, Nancy wrote the book Asthma and Exercise, of which 35,00 copies have been sold. She is the national spokesperson for the American Lung Association and contributing editor to Fitness Magazine. As the first female spokesperson for Jocky International, Nancy Hogshead is also women’s swimming’s number one jock. She showed Hall of Famer Jim Palmer that the world will take a woman athlete seriously in Jockey briefs and certainly in a swimsuit.
Happy Birthday Enith Brigitha!!
Enith Brigitha (NED)
Honor Swimmer (2015)
FOR THE RECORD: 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES: 8th (100m freestyle), 6th (100m backstroke), 6th (200m backstroke), 5th (4x100m freestyle); 1976 OLYMPIC GAMES: bronze (100m freestyle), bronze (200m freestyle), 4th (4x100m freestyle relay), 5th (4×100 medley relay), 10th (100m backstroke); FIVE SHORT COURSE WORLD RECORDS: 2 (100m freestyle), 2 (200m freestyle), 1 (400m freestyle); 1973 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze (100m freestyle); silver (200m backstroke); 1975 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze (100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle); 1974 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze (100m freestyle, 100m backstroke), silver (200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle); 1977 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle).
Enith Brigitha was born on the West Indian Island of Curacao, where she first learned to swim in the Caribbean Sea. By the time she moved to Holland with her mother and brother in 1970, she had become the island’s most promising swimmer.
Two years later, swimming for Coach Willie Storm at the Club Het Y in Amsterdam, Enith qualified for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and reached the final in four events, and this was just the start of her success. At the 1973 inaugural FINA World Championships in Belgrade, she claimed a silver medal in the 200 meter backstroke and a bronze medal in the 100 meter freestyle. At the 1974 European Championships she won five medals, including four individual medals for the 100 and 200 meter freestyle and backstroke events. In 1975, at the II FINA World Championships in Cali, Columbia, she added three bronze medals to her collection, including individual pieces of hardware in the 100 and 200 meter freestyle.
At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, she earned individual bronze medals in both the 100 and 200 meter freestyle, and at the 1977 European Championships, she won a silver medal in the 100 meter freestyle.
Enith was a genuine superstar in an era dominated by women swimmers from the German Democratic Republic. All told, she set five short course world records and collected 21 Dutch titles in the freestyle, backstroke, medley and butterfly events. She won the Dutch 100 meter freestyle title seven years in a row, was twice named Dutch Sportswoman of the Year – and has the distinction of being the first person of African descent to win Olympic medals in swimming.
Still, her accomplishments have for too long been diminished by the dazzling success of the East Germans. Of the 11 individual medals Enith won at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships – only East German swimmers finished ahead of her in 10 of those events, the one exception being America’s Shirley Babashoff, in the 200 meter freestyle at Munich.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Dr. Werner Franke and his wife Brigitte Berendonk, discovered files from the Stasi – the East German secret police – documenting the fact that all of the East German swimmers who finished ahead of Enith Brigitha had been systematically doped, without the knowledge or consent of them or their parents, as a matter of national policy. To the GDR’s rulers, these young athletes were nothing more than pawns in
a global chess game, sacrificial lambs on the altar of East German ideology. Had the world known this at the time, the steroid and testosterone enhanced performances of the GDR’s athletes would have resulted in their disqualification, and Enith’s record would be even more stellar than it is. She also would be recognized today as the first black Olympic champion in swimming history, beating Anthony Nesty of Suriname to the top of the podium by 12 years.
There’s more to life than just swimming, of course. After hanging up her swimsuit and retiring from the sport, Enith married and had three daughters. She moved back to Curacao, where she opened her own swimming school and taught children to swim. Once her daughters were ready to go to University, the family moved back to Holland, where they remain today. Enith says, “With the girls in Holland and with our three grandchildren, it’s not so easy to leave Holland again.”