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.”
Happy Birthday Dara Torres!!
Dara Torres (USA)
Honor Swimmer (2016)
FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100 m freestyle); 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (4×100 m medley), bronze (4×100 m freestyle); 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100 m freestyle); 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100 m freestyle, 4×100 m medley), bronze (50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (50 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle, 4×100 m medley); 1986WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (4×100 m freestyle); 1987 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle, 4×100 m medley); 1983 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold (4×100 m freestyle); SIX WORLD RECORDS: three individual (50m free), three relays (4x100m free, 4x100m medley)
Dara Grace Torres grew up in Beverly Hills, California, where she learned to swim in her family’s backyard pool. At the age of seven, she followed her brothers to swim practice at the local YMCA. During her junior year of high school, Torres moved to Mission Viejo, CA, to train with Hall of Fame Coach Mark Schubert, and in 1983 she broke the world record in the 50-meter freestyle. The next year, while not yet a senior in high school, she won her first Olympic gold medal as a member of the USA’s 4×100 freestyle relay team.
Swimming for Randy Reece at the University of Florida, Torres earned 28 NCAA All-American swimming awards and at the 1988 Olympic Games, she won two silver medals swimming on relays. She finished her collegiate athletic career playing volleyball and took two years off before returning to win her second Olympic relay gold medal in Barcelona, Spain during the summer of 1992.
After 1992, Torres lived what appeared to be a glamorous life. She moved to New York City, worked in television, and as a Wilhelmina model she became the first athlete model in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Then in the spring of 1999, despite not having trained in a pool for seven years, she decided to give the Olympics one more try.
Training with coach Richard Quick in Palo Alto and Santa Clara, Dara made the Olympic team for the fourth time, at the age of 33. She returned home with five medals, more than any other member of the team, including three in individual events, and retired.
In 2005, while pregnant with her first child, Dara began swimming three or four times a week at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, to keep fit. After giving birth to her daughter, Tessa Grace, in April 2006, she entered two Masters meets and posted times that emboldened her to try another comeback. She asked Coral Springs coach Michael Lohberg if he would coach her, and a little over a year later, she won the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Three days later, she broke the American record in the 50-meter freestyle for the tenth time – an amazing 24 years after setting it for the very first time. In 2008, Dara qualified for her fifth Olympic team and at the 2008 Beijing Games, she became the oldest swimmer to compete in the Olympics. Dara returned home with three silver medals, including the heartbreaking 50-meter freestyle race where she missed the gold by 1/100th of a second.
In 2009, Dara won the ESPY award for “Best Comeback,” was named one of the “Top Female Athletes of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated magazine and became a best selling author with the release of her inspirational memoir, Age is Just a Number.
Dara continued swimming after recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and with the encouragement of coach Lohberg, she set her sights on making a record sixth U.S. Olympic swim team. When she just missed making the London Olympics by nine-hundredths of a second in the 50-meter freestyle at the 2012 US Swimming Olympic Trials, she announced her retirement with a smile on her face and her six-year old daughter Tessa in her arms.
Olympian, television personality, fitness guru, Queen of the Comeback, best-selling author and mother. Dara Torres is many things to many people, but above all, she is an inspiration.
ISHOF Newsletter Contest!!
The International Swimming Hall of Fame is looking for a newname for its monthly newsletter and we’ve decided to have acontest and give all our favorite swimmers, aquatic athletes, andfans a shot at naming it.
If your choice is selected, you will win two tickets to the 2024ISHOF Induction Ceremonies or a $100 gift card to the ISHOF GiftShop.
The contest is now open and ends April 26th. You may enter yourresponses in the comment section of this post or send an email torob@ishof.org
We will select a winner to be announced on May 1 via ISHOFsocials.
Happy Birthday Helen Vanderberg!!
Helen Vanderberg (CAN)
Honor Synchronized / Artistic Swimmer (1985)
FOR THE RECORD: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1978 gold (solo, duet); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1979 gold (solo, duet), silver (team); FINA WORLD CUP: 1979 gold (solo, duet); PAN PACIFIC GAMES: 1977 gold (duet), silver (solo, team); 1979 gold (solo); CANADIAN JR. CHAMPION: 1973 (solo, duet); CANADIAN SENIOR CHAMPION: 1977, 1978, 1979 (solo, duet); 1978, 1979 (figures); 1979 Sports Federation of Canada’s Velma Springstead Trophy Award. Elected to Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
Canadian Helen Vanderberg was the first non-American to win the World Championship in Solo and Duet synchronized swimming (Berlin 1978). She can best be characterized as the most athletic synchronized swimmer of all time. This quality, contributing to her strength and acrobatic skill, was developed by extensive weight training and modern dance classes, combined with long hours and years in the water.
This dedicated training took five hours a day, seven days a week for at least six years. With various partners, she achieved success in pairs as well as solo queen of the world. Unfortunately, there was no synchronized swimming in the Olympics until Los Angeles, or the world would have seen Helen there, too. As it is, she conquered all and retired after winning the Pan Pacific Games in 1979 to finish her physical education degree. She opened a fitness club in her native Calgary–which is a good place for a woman who was not only the world’s greatest synchronized swimmer of her day (World Solo and Duet, Berlin 1978), but Canada’s outstanding female athlete (Elaine Tanner Trophy 1977-79). Her Duet partner was Michelle Caulkins. Helen was also Calgary’s Female Athlete of the Year and Canadian Aquatic Sports Athlete of the year.
In 1979, Helen Vanderberg accomplished what no other synchronized swimmer had ever done before: winning two golds in the Pan Am Games, two golds in the FINA World Cup, and one gold at the aforementioned pan Pacific Games. For all this she was awarded the Velma Springstead Trophy as her Country’s best female athlete by the Sports Federation of Canada. her coach was Debby Muir of the Calgary Aquabelles.
Happy Birthday Masako Kaneko!!
Masako Kaneko (JPN)
Honor Coach (2015)
FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: Synchro Team Leader; 1988, 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: Synchro Head Coach; 1996, 2000, 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: Synchro Team Leader; 1978, 1986, 1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Synchro Head Coach; 1994, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Synchro Team Leader; 1979, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 WORLD CUP: Synchro Head Coach; 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2006 WORLD CUP: Synchro Team Leader; 1980, 1982, 1985, 1991, 1993 PAN PACIFIC GAMES: Synchro Head Coach; COACH OF SWIMMERS WINNING: OLYMPIC GAMES – 2 silver, 6 bronze, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – 1 gold, 8 silver, 14 bronze, WORLD CUP – 9 silver, 16 bronze, PAN PACIFIC GAMES: 2 gold, 3 silver, 13 bronze.
Masako Kaneko was born in Tokyo, Japan on April 17, 1944 and has contributed as both a swimmer and coach since the beginning of synchronized swimming in Japan.
Masako began her synchronized swimming career with the Tokyo Synchro Club in 1959. After graduating from Tokyo Kasei Gakuin University in 1967, she stopped swimming for the club and became its coach. By 1982 Masako was the National Team Coach and Director. From that time to the present, she has coached or been the team leader of almost every competition in which Japan has competed, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
Masako’s first overseas trip was to Santa Clara, California in 1972, as the Japanese National Coach. In 1979 she was selected as the Japanese Synchronized Performance Director. She was the team leader for the 1984 Olympic Games,
in Los Angeles, and again in 1988, Seoul and Barcelona, in 1992. She was head coach in Atlanta in 1996, and at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games she served on the delegation of the Japanese Olympic Committee. She was team leader
again for the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.
As a coach, she has developed her swimmers from beginner to Olympic levels and is the only person to have coached swimmers to medals in every Olympic Games from 1984 (Synchronized Swimming’s first Olympics) to 2004 and has had medal winners in every World Championships from 1978 to 2007 (with the exception of 1982). Her swimmers include Hall of Famer Mikako Kotani, Junko Hasumi (solo bronze-1978 World Championship), Yuki Ishii (solo bronze-1979 World Cup), Miyako Tanaka and Megumi Itho (duet bronze-1988 Olympics, Tanaka/Kotani), Fumiko Okuno and Aki Takayama (duet bronze-1992 Olympics), Fujii, Fujiki, Jinbo, Kawabe, Kawase, Nakajima, Tachibana, Takeda, Tanaka (team bronze-1996 Olympics),Jinbo, Egami, Fujii, Isoda, Tachibana, Takeda, Yoneda, Yoneda, Tatsumi (team silver-2000 Olympics), Fujimaru, Suzuki, Kitao, Tachibana, Takeda, Tatsumi, Harada, Yoneda (silver team-2004 Olympics).
In 1996, Masako became the first female Director of the Japan Swimming Federation and is held in very high esteem. For her contributions to the sport, she has earned many awards including the Women’s Sports Order from the International Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Education’s Sports Achievement Award, Citizen’s Cultural Award and the Avon Award.
Although she retired as the Synchronized Swimming Chairperson in 2009, she continues to teach at the Tokyo Synchronized Swimming Club where she is a club director and serves as a supervisor for the Japanese Swimming
Federation. She is also a visiting professor at the Women’s College of Home Economics.