Happy Birthday Tim McKee!!
Tim McKee (USA)
Honor Swimmer (1998)
FOR THE RECORD: 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (200m I.M., 400m I.M.), 5th (200m backstroke); 1976 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (400m I.M.); 1971 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: silver (200m backstroke); FIVE AMERICAN RECORDS: short course (200y, 400y individual medley, medley relay), long course (200y individual medley, 110y and 220y backstroke).
For a moment back in 1972, the world felt he was an Olympic gold medalist. We looked at the scoreboard at the Munich Olympic Pool and saw the Number One by his name. Then we saw Sweden’s Gunnar Larson’s, Number One. For 8 minutes both times read 4:31.98 and both were listed first place. After consultation, the officials took the time from the timing machine computer tape declaring Gunnar Larson the gold medalist and finishing two one thousands of a second, (10 times faster than the blink of an eye), ahead of Tim McKee of the United States. The Guinness Book of Records called it the closest race in sports history. Using the rules of today, his race results would be considered a tie.
Tim McKee is quoted as saying “You waste the present and the future when you dwell in the past.” His whole swimming career was geared to competing your hardest each and every day. Tim was the fourth child in a family of 9 children – all swimmers at the Suburban Swim Club of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. His father, Big Al McKee, a former All-American swimmer on the Ohio State University’s National Championship Teams of 1938 and 1939, made sure that the family had a swimming pool for the kids on the property where they resided, even though they lived in the “stables.” All the McKee boys became All-American swimmers. Al coached the Suburban Team from 1962 to 1968.
At 5’8″, Tim had to work hard to compensate for a small body size. But he was strong and flexible with great natural ability. He trained with Frank Keefe in Pennsylvania, graduated form Malvern Prep School in 1971, and enrolled at the University of Florida, swimming for coach Bill Harlan. As a freshman he placed 4th in the 400 I.M. at the NCAA Championships.
Although his time continued to drop, his training for the 1972 Olympics was interrupted by a debilitating bout with mononucleosis. But he fought back and qualified for the U.S. team in the 200m individual medley, 400m individual medley and the 200m backstroke. In Munich he won silver medals in both the 200m Individual Medley and 400m Individual Medley. Following the 400m IM, he laid out cold on the pool deck as his body, still with remnants of the mononucleosis, tried to recover from 4 minutes 31.98 seconds of 100% physical exertion. In the 200m backstroke, Tim qualified for a third final and finished fifth in the race.
As Tim looked back over his career, it was obvious that the color silver was with him the most. At the 1971 Pan Am Games of Cali, Columbia, he silvered in the 200m backstroke, at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, he silvered in the 400m individual medley behind teammate Rod Strachen, even though he bettered the world record in the event by 1.4 seconds. In 1976, the 200m individual medley had been dropped from Olympic competition.
McKee held 6 American Records in the backstroke and individual medley. Just like Canada’s ironman of the 1960s, Ralph Hutton, who pushed others to win the gold, McKee was the ironman of the 1970s, the perennial tough guy.
Today as a Miami Beach Safety Officer, he continues to use his swimming to set records – by rescuing drowning bodies from the ocean and keeping lives afloat.
Happy Birthday Rick Carey!!
Rick Carey (USA)
Honor Swimmer (1993)
FOR THE RECORD: 9 WORLD RECORDS: 100m backstroke (3), 200m backstroke (2), 400m medley relay (4); OLYMPIC GAMES: 1984 gold (100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 400m medley relay); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1982 gold (200m backstroke, 400m medley relay), silver (100m backstroke); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1983 gold (100m backstroke, 200m backstroke, 400m medley relay).
During a sixteen year period from 1967-1983, only three men held the world 100-meter backstroke record: Hall of Famers Roland Matthes, John Naber and Rick Carey. A five-time world record holder in the 100 and 200 meter backstroke and the 400 meter medley relay.
A native of Mt. Kisco, New York, Rick Carey was the exception to the rule among the majority of American swimmers–he never left home for the bluer waters of the West Coast or the balmy weather in Florida after reaching the national level. Rather, Carey chose to remain with the Badger Swim Club in Larchmont, New York, where he first began swimming at age 12 under the tutelage of Coach John Collins.
A natural swimmer, Carey set the first of his many national backstroke records beginning in 1977, just two years after joining his local swim club. Although Carey made the 1980 Olympic team, it wasn’t until 1981 that his career sky-rocketed. That year, he not only captured his first national titles in the 100 and 200 meter backstroke, but he also established his first American record in the 200 backstroke.
That same year, Carey began his college career at the University of Texas under coach Eddie Reese. At Texas, Carey won three consecutive NCAA 200 yard backstroke championships (1982-1984) and two 100 yard backstroke championships (1983-1984).
Of all Carey’s record performances, perhaps his biggest claim to fame is that he is the man who broke John Naber’s 1986 world backstroke records in 1983. That same year, at the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, Carey swam on the world record breaking 400 meter medley relay team which consisted of four current world record holders–Rick Carey (backstroke), Steve Lundquist (breaststroke), Matt Gribble (butterfly) and Rowdy Gaines (freestyle).
Women’s History Month: Celebrating Four Legends In the Sport
30 March 2022, 03:07am
Women’s History Month: Celebrating Four Legends In the Sport
As part of Women’s History Month, this article honors four female swimmers who made history at past Olympic Games. These swimmers competed from the mid-1980s and into the 2010s. Specifically, from Los Angeles 1984 to London 2012. Due to the extensive and rich history of women within the swimming sport, choosing which athlete to highlight for this piece was the hardest challenge. That said, the ultimate distinction was swimmers who won more than six Olympic medals throughout their careers.
Dara Torres, United States
Torres had one of the longest careers in Olympic history. Her Olympic career started in Los Angeles 1984, where she won a gold medal with the 400 freestyle relay. Then, Torres competed in Seoul 1988, where she won a silver medal with the medley relay and a bronze with the 400 freestyle relay. Four years later, in Barcelona 1992, Torres won another gold medal with the 400 freestyle relay. However, this Games seemed to produce her last Olympic medal as she embarked on a career as a TV host and model.
Torres eventually returned and with less than two years of training, she qualified for Sydney 2000. Remarkably, Torres won three bronze medals in three individual events (50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly). Complementary to this, she won two gold medals in relays. Once again, after the Olympics, she stopped swimming, this time for six years. Then again, Torres came back and qualified for Beijing 2008. At that time, she was 41 years old and won a total of three silver medals and finished her Olympic career lacking only an individual gold medal. The result of her outstanding career is a total Olympic medal count of four medals of each color.
Franziska Van Almsick, Germany
Her first participation at the Olympic Games occurred in Barcelona 1992. She was only 14 years old and finished second in the 200 free and third in the 100 free. In addition, she won two more medals with the German medley and 400 freestyle relays. Then, two years later, she broke an eight-year-old world record in the 200 free, thanks to a time of 1:56.78. However, during the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Almsick finished second in the event. Van Almsick added a silver medal with the 800 freestyle relay and a bronze medal with the 400 freestyle relay.
Four years later, in Sydney 2000, she won another bronze medal after swimming the leadoff leg in the 800 freestyle relay. Van Almsick’s last participation at the Olympic Games was in Athens 2004, where she picked up two more bronze medals with German relays. Her final Olympic medal count is four silver and six bronze medals in four different Olympic Games. Van Almsick was awarded World Swimmer of the Year honors in 1993.
Susie O’ Neill, Australia
At 19 years old, O’Neill started her Olympic career in Barcelona 1992 with a bronze medal in the 200 butterfly. However, she also swam three more individual events and was part of the medley relay. Then, in Atlanta 1996, O’Neill increased her medal count after becoming Olympic Champion in the 200 butterfly. Moreover, she won silver and bronze medals on the medley and 800 freestyle relays.
Three years later, O’Neill broke a 19-year-old world record in the 200 butterfly, taking down the iconic mark of American Mary T. Meagher. Her last Olympic Games were Sydney 2000, where she finished first in the 200 freestyle and second in the 200 butterfly. She won two more silver medals with Australian relays. O’Neill’s final Olympic medals count is two golds, four silvers, and two bronze.
Rebecca Soni, United States
Even though Soni only participated in two Olympic Games, she is considered one of the best breaststrokers in history. At Beijing 2008, Soni swam the 100 breaststroke and finished second. More, she made history in the 200 breaststroke after finishing in first place. On the way to gold, Soni became the first woman to ever swim this event under 2:20 (2:19.59). Soni concluded her participation in Beijing with a silver medal in the 400 medley relay. Four years later, in London 2012, she swam the same events. Surprisingly enough, the results on the individual events were the same (a gold medal in the 200 and a silver medal in the 100). However, this time, she won a gold medal on the medley relay.
Besides her Olympic achievements, Soni also made history due to her unconventional breaststroke technique, which became a case study for many coaches and swimmers. Her technique was distinguishable for its abbreviated leg kick that aligned with rapid arm sweeps. As a result, she used to slow down less than everybody else. Soni retired with six Olympic medals and five world records.
ISHOF and Synchronized swimming loses a true Legend of the sport: Judith McGowan dies suddenly on Sunday, March 10, 2024 ~
~My personal memories of a great woman and friend~
My birth certificate says that I hit the big 6-0 last November, but like a lot of us, in my heart, I am still running down the halls of my high school trying to find out what’s going on for the weekend. So, when I got the news today, that my dear friend, ISHOF Honoree, Judy McGowan had died suddenly, my first thought was that it was a mistake. Now, I know Judy is older than me by 20+ years but it still was just not possible.
I first met Judy at one of the first United States Aquatic Sports conventions that we (ISHOF) attended back in the early 1990’s. I cannot tell you when or how exactly I met her, but she was always so nice and welcoming to me and the other ISHOF staffers. You would have never known what a big shot she really was in the world of aquatic sports…… The truth is, the synchro “girls”, as they were called at convention, always had a reputation of being the most fun out of all the sports at convention. Now, I cannot absolutely lump Judy into that category because I don’t remember specifically that far back, but something tells me she was right in there having fun with the rest of them. Even if she was probably in charge of them.
Judy was inducted in ISHOF in 2009 as an Honor Contributor. More than well deserved. She did more for the sport of synchronized swimming than anyone would believe. It was from that time, that I really got to know Judy. I worked with her on her induction and from then on we just kind of kept in touch. Not every week, or even every month, mind you, but when we would chat, it would be long calls, and we’d talk about everything.
Judy and I worked together on the synchronized swimming Honorees and once I took over the Selection Committee and balloting duties, we would talk almost everyday during the selection process period. And she was always one step ahead of me, with nominations, ballot entries, awards, you name it, if I needed it, Judy already had it. Judy had the most amazing stories. She knew everyone, met everyone, and was witness to so many major events……I would tell her she needed to write a book. Her life in synchronized swimming alone was enough for a book, but she had stories that led into so many other stories! Olympics, Presidents, travels, trips, athletes; she lived a rock stars life! (Maybe I’m exaggerating a little). Judy being Judy she repeatedly told me that she was most worried about getting the part of her house with the 60 years of synchro history organized, so when she finally did pass, no one would have to worry about it, it could all just be sent down to us (ISHOF). She wanted to make it easy on her kids and then us when we got it. :}
The last couple of years Judy and I have spoken regularly every other week or so, and since January of this year, we have basically talked every other day or so; it was selection committee/ballot season. I am going to miss her stories, how wise she was, her guidance and advice, her opinions, and her love. The sport of synchronized swimming will have a giant hole to fill with the loss of Mrs. Judith McGowan. We’ll never be able to replace her. I know I won’t……
Please take a moment to read her biography from her induction. She had many firsts, especially as a woman in leadership in the sports arena.
Judy McGowan (USA)
Honor Synchronized / Artistic Swimmer /Contributor (2009)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 55 YEARS A COMPETITOR, COACH ,JUDGE, ADMINISTRATOR IN SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING; MEMBER FINA TECHNICAL SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING COMMITTEE: 1984-1996 (Chairman 1984-1992); MEMBER ASUA TECHNICAL SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING COMMITTEE: 1979 – 1984; EDITOR AND PRIMARY AUTHOR OF FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRAINING MANUEL FOR SYNCHRO JUDGES: 1979; EDITED FIRST FINA JUDGING MANUEL (1988); CHAIRED FINA – TSSC AD HOC COMMITTEE ON DEGREES OF DIFFICULTY; DEVELOPED FIRST VIDEO TAPE SERIES FOR TRAINING INTERNATIONAL ROUTINE JUDGES; DRAFTED FIRST RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR TECHNICAL ROUTINES; INTERNATIONAL CLINICIAN CONDUCTING 37 INTERNATIONAL CLINICS; SYNCHRO COMPETITION MANAGER FOR 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES; U.S. CHEF DEMISSION FOR 1982 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP; SYNCHRO JUDGE/OFFICIAL AT FIVE OLYMPIC GAMES, FIVE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, FIVE PAN AMERICAN GAMES AND SEVEN WORLD CUPS.
Since 1953, Judith McGowan has been active as a synchronized swimming competitor, coach, judge and most importantly, administrator nationally and internationally.
In her younger days of competition in the city of Baltimore, she was coached by 1912 British Olympic gold medalist and Hall of Famer, Belle Moore Cameron and then Dot Muhly. It helped to prepare her for the many years of commitment and service she gave to the sport.
In 1974, she was the U.S. delegate to the First International Conference on Synchronized Swimming in Ottawa and then elected to chair the International Judges Study Group from 1974 to 1984. In 1979, she was editor and primary author of the First International Training Manual for Synchronized Swimming Judges. She organized the Second International Conference on Synchronized Swimming in 1979 in Washington, DC. Six years later in 1984, she became the first woman ever appointed to chair a FINA committee, the Technical Synchronized Swimming Committee (TSSC) on which she served for twelve years, eight as chairman. During her tenure, she innovated and improved judging and scoring procedures, initiated development clinics around the world and developed training materials. In 1988, she edited the first FINA Judging Manual, revising it in 1992. She chaired the FINA – TSSC Ad Hoc Committee on degrees of difficulty and authored its report, which established a systematic approach to assigning degrees of difficulty to FINA figures.
She developed the first video tape series for training international routine judges by writing the script, selecting video clips, designing the format, and doing the video voiceover. She also wrote a teaching manual to accompany the tapes. She drafted the first rules and guidelines for technical routines and organized the first FINA Coaching Symposium for elite synchro coaches in 1992 at Olympia,Greece. As an international clinician, she conducted or served 37 international clinics around the world including Argentina, Australia (3), Brazil, Canada (2), China, Columbia (3), Cuba, Dominican Republic (2), Finland, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea (2) Mexico (2), Puerto Rico (2), Russia, Soviet Union, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, USA (7), and Venezuela.
On the home front, she was the Founding President of U.S. A. Synchronized Swimming where she incorporated the organization, hired the first executive director and established the national office (1977 – 1984). During this time, the USSS National Team Program, National Age Group Championships and Masters programs began, and the concept for the first USSS Coaches Certification Program was developed.
She became the Chairman of the U.S.Olympic Committee Task Force to investigate the status of Coaches Education in the United States for Pan American and Olympic Sports. All recommendations were subsequently adopted including the establishment of a USOC Coaching Education Program. From 1984 to 1988, she chaired the Coaches Education Committee, organizing the first coaching education seminars for the USOC. She became a member of the USOC Executive Board from 1980-1984 and was appointed by USOC president, Bill Simon as the liaison for the Athletes Advisory Council.
She served as an international judge at the 1984 and 2000 Olympic Games, serving as Chief Olympic Referee in 1988 and 1992 and as Competition Manager in 1996. She was a judge at the 1978, 1998, 2005 World Championships; 1979, 1997, 1999 World Cups; 1993, 1997, 2002, and 2004 Junior World Championships and the 1979, 1983, 1987, 1999 and 2003 Pan American Games. She served as Chief Referee at the 1986, 1991 World Championships; 1985, 1987, 1989,1991 World Cups and 1989, 1991 Jr Worlds. She was the competition manager at the 1995 World Cup and she served as the U.S. Chef de Mission at the 1982 World Championships.
Michelle Ford Joined By Australian 800m freestyle Greats Shane Gould and Jenny Turrall For A Trip Down Swimming’s Memory Lanes
JUST FOR THE RECORD: Three of Australia’s world record holders over 800m freestyle (L-R) Jenny Turrall, Michelle Ford and Shane Gould, rubbing shoulders at the launch of Turning The Tide. Photo Courtesy Anthony Edgar.
by IAN HANSON – OCEANIA CORRESPONDENT
11 March 2024, 08:33pm
Michelle Ford Joined By Australian 800m freestyle Greats Shane Gould and Jenny Turrall For A Trip Down Swimming’s Memory Lanes
Australia has a proud history when it comes to the women’s 800m freestyle with no less than seven swimmers between 1956 and 1978 re-writing the world record books in the event which was first swum at the Olympics in Mexico in 1968.
WHAT A MEMOIR: Michelle Ford with book at Elouera Beach. Photo Courtesy John Veage.
And it is not every day that swimmers from bygone eras get the chance to mix and mingle and remember the days when they too ruled the pool – and it’s not every day that Olympic gold medal great Michelle Ford launches her memoir.
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But it was like bees to a honey pot for a special day in Michelle’s career in at Glebe bookstore in inner Sydney.
In fact extra special to have Australia’s only 800m freestyle Olympic champion Michelle home in Sydney over the last week from her home in Switzerland to launch her book – MICHELLE FORD Turning The Tide (With Craig Lord) and joined by fellow former world record holders in Shane Gould and their fellow Sydneysider Jenny Turrall as well as host of members from the 1980 Australian Olympic team.
The Book was launched by US swimming legend and triple 1984 Olympic gold medallist Tracy Caulkins (Stockwell) who trained with Ford under Don Talbot in Nashville but missed the Games through the US boycott.
And the tales of 40 years ago rolled off the tongues as if it was yesterday and the feats of Turrall, Gould and Ford very much to the fore.
Australia’s list of world record holders over 800m began with another Sydneysider and recent Swimming Australia Hall of Fame inductee Lorraine Crapp who kick-started the world record rush in 1956 – the year she won Olympic gold in the 400m freestyle at the Melbourne Games – the 400m being the longest women’s event of the day.
Before Ilsa Konrads launched her world record assault also under Talbot – Ilsa lowering the world mark for 880 yards freestyle no less than four times between 1958 and 1959.
Sydney golden girl Karen Moras in 1970 and Gould in 1971 adding their names to the growing WR list – Gould at one stage holding every world record for every freestyle event -100,200,400,800 and 1500m.
TELLING IT HOW IT IS: Michelle Ford Launches Turning The Tide. Photo Courtesy Anthony Edgar.
Before another Sydney school girl in Jenny Turrall came along in 1974 and 1975, twice lowering the mark and becoming Australia’s first world champion in Cali, Columbia in 1975.
And it set the stage for a ding-dong world record onslaught from Ford and the mighty Tracey Wickham who between them re-wrote the world record books four times (two each) in 1978 – Wickham’s time of 8:24.62 lasting nine years.
But just one Australian, Michelle Ford, has won that coveted 800m freestyle gold medal at an Olympic Games, in 1980 in Moscow.
Shane Gould (Silver in Munich in 1972) had been the only medallist before Michelle’s gold with Julie McDonald (Bronze in Seoul in 1988), Hayley Lewis (Silver in Barcelona in 1992) and Ariarne Titmus (Silver in Tokyo in 2020) the only three Australian medallists in the event over the past nine Olympiads.
Ford recalls the battle for supremacy in front of sell-out crowds in Sydney and Brisbane as her and Wickham swam their way to the top of international swimming – both making the 1976 Olympic team at just 13 years of age.
Their exploits and those of their coaches Dick Caine (Ford) and Wickham (Bill Sweetenham and Laurie Lawrence) as they prepared for the 1978 Worlds in West Berlin, the Moscow Olympics and 1982 Commonwealth Games makes for interesting reading – but only one would take on the might of the East Germans in Moscow.
With Wickham choosing to withdraw from the boycotted Games team and a swim team which now had Sweetenham as Head Coach – ironically adding the Midas Touch to Ford’s Moscow gold.
MICHELLE FORD – Turning The Tide (with Craig Lord) Fair Play Publishing and Amazon.
TURNING THE TIDE: Michelle Ford’s telling tale of the right to swim and the fight to win. Photo Courtesy Anthony Edgar.
TRAINING PARTNERS AND FRIENDS FOR LIFE: Olympic gold medallists Michelle Ford and Tracy Caulkins (Stockwell). Photo Anthony Edgar.
MOSCOW FLAG BEARER: Moscow 1500m freestyle bronze medallist Max Metzker who carried the Australian Flag in the 1980 Opening Ceremony. Photo Courtesy Anthony Edgar.
SIGN OF THE TIMES: Michelle Ford autographs a book for Tracy Caulkins and husband, 1984 triple Olympic medallist Mark Stockwell. Photo Courtesy Anthony Edgar.
THREE’S ALLOWED: LA triple medallist Mark Stockwell, 1980 Olympic gold medalist (4x100m medley relay) Mark Kerry with wife Lynda. Photo Courtesy Anthony Edgar.
MOSCOW MEMORIES: Michelle Ford with fellow 1980 Moscow Olympian, decathlete Peter Hadfield. Photo Courtesy Anthony Edgar.
HERE’S LOOKING A YOU KID: Toasting the Turning Off The Tide. Photo Courtesy Anthony Edgar.
Happy Birthday Candy Costie!!
Candy Costie (USA)
Honor Synchronized / Artistic Swimmer (1995)
FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (duet); 1982 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (duet); 1983 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold (duet), silver (team); 4 US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: (duet); 1 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Candy Costie is an attractive, highly-spirited, athlete with an infectious smile who is artistic by nature. Fortunately, at the age of nine, she was able to find the perfect sport to devote all of her God-given attributes–synchronized swimming.
Candy is best remembered for being part of the dynamic pair that she and her partner, Tracy Ruiz, were throughout their year of swimming together. Candy and Tracy first teamed up when they were ten years old. In the crystal blueness of the water, their artistic movements captivated the judges and their audiences again and again. During their ten year partnership, only twice did she and Ruiz ever finish lower than first place in the duet event, taking silver medals in the 1980 US Nationals and 1982 World Championships.
Candy and Tracy are one of the most decorated synchronized duets to date. They have won four US National Championships, one NCAA National Championship, and a 1983 Pan American Games gold. The culmination of their career happened in the summer of 1984 –when, for the first time in history, the duet event was presented at the Olympic Games. Candy and Tracy approached the crowd and swam with such beauty, spirit and grace that no one could deny the team their right to the first Olympic Games gold medal in synchronized swimming.
Shortly after her historic Olympic experience, Candy retired. Though her athletic career has past, her name lives on through the many products she has endorsed, her appearances as a sports commentator, and her video, “The Water Workout.” Candy is remembered for helping to raise synchronized swimming — a sport which requires strength, co-ordination, and artistic composition, to new levels of popularity.
Eleven years since her retirement, Candy Continues to find new goals to reach. Her strokes no longer land in the water but rather on canvas, exploring her artistic talent at her art studio, the Desert Fish, in Arizona. Candy is the mother of two children and recently expanded her family to include two more youngsters when she married Fred Merrill, Jr.
Decision Day Fast Approaching On New World Leading Aquatics Centre In Time For Brisbane 2032 Olympics
by IAN HANSON – OCEANIA CORRESPONDENT
10 March 2024, 07:15pm
Decision Approaching For New World Leading Aquatics Centre In Time For Brisbane 2032 Olympics
The debate around whether or not the Brisbane 2032 Olympics should be swum in a new world class Aquatic Centre or in a temporary facility at the planned Brisbane Arena is finally starting to hot up – and it’s one gold medal swimming bosses are desperate to win.
Enter into the race, dual Olympic champion and one of Queensland’s favourite swimming sons Grant Hackett and a renewed push from National governing body Swimming Australia who first entered the fray some 12 months ago – continuing to making a splash behind closed doors in what would be a far-reaching decision for the sport down under.
This week officially throwing their support behind triple Olympic medallist and Brisbane developer Mark Stockwell’s on-going public push to secure a new Aquatic Centre and a swimming legacy for the country’s number one Olympic sport.
Stockwell, Hackett and Swimming Australia all declaring: “Brisbane deserves a new world-leading Aquatic Centre.”
With Swimming Australia also keen to make Brisbane the new national home of swimming.
“When the opportunity arose to win the Olympics and Paralympics for Brisbane there was a general feeling of ‘let’s win the rights to host the Games and then we will come back and review the plan in all its detail,’ said Stockwell.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION: Australian Swimming bosses hoping for a gold medal decision on a new Aquatic Centre in Brisbane. Courtesy Courier Mail.
“This has not happened, and in talking to most presidents of Olympic and Paralympic sports the direct consultation never took place.
“There has been no indication that the construction of a permanent Aquatic facility has ever genuinely been considered by the government as an alternative venue to Brisbane Live Arena (and a temporary pool).
“This new Aquatic Centre facility and an upgraded Brisbane Aquatic Centre facility at Chandler can be used by swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming and Snow Australia.”
Stockwell also making the point that the new Aquatic Centre would be an ideal main venue for Brisbane to host the 2031 World Aquatics Championships – 12 months before the Games – an event previously hosted in 1991 and 1998 in Perth and 2007 in Melbourne.
And while Stockwell has been the one to continue to fight the good fight for a new Aquatic Centre, with a page one story and another column today in Queensland’s popular daily masthead The Courier Mail, Hackett has also weighed in, agreeing that the value of what a new facility would mean to the sport is a no brainer.
“Throughout our consultation phase, we heard confusion and disappointment from the swimming community and other stakeholders that Brisbane 2032 would not deliver a venue legacy outcome for swimming,” revealed Hackett.
“There is no doubt that a permanent venue will inspire future generations of swimmers and bring the community closer to the Games and their legacy.”
A 60-day review into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Venue Master Plan is in its final laps, with former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, at the helm of a review team due to hand down its findings next Monday, March 18 – after consulting with a broad range of stakeholders.
With Swimming Australia actually presenting to the Brisbane 2032 Independent Review Panel into Venue Plans last month with Hackett’s support from a committee that also includes Australian Paralympic legend Ellie Cole, Sydney 2000 silver medallist and Swimming NSW CEO Kirsten Thompson and World Aquatics Vice President and Australian Olympian Matt Dunn.
Swimming Australia certainly welcoming the Queensland Government’s Independent Review of Brisbane 2032 Venue Plans and renewed calls for the Games to deliver a new permanent world class Aquatic facility – and to make Brisbane the its long overdue National home.
In a statement on its website, Swimming Australia said it has made it clear it considers plans for temporary pools at the proposed Brisbane Arena are a missed opportunity for the Games to deliver a much-needed, world-class Aquatic facility for Brisbane, Queensland and the nation.
“A new world-class and permanent Aquatic facility constructed in time for Brisbane 2032 Games would deliver a more cost-effective venue solution, an enhanced community legacy outcome and address existing gaps in the aquatic infrastructure network.
“A new permanent Aquatic Centre could deliver lasting legacy benefits for swimming, aquatic sports, the broader community, and the Queensland economy.
“Re-configuring with reduced seating capacity post-Games, following the successful lead of Sydney, Beijing, London, and Tokyo as previous Host Cities.
“It would also be utilised before and after the Games to host local, State, National and International events, and contribute to Queensland’s visitor economy for decades to come, inspiring greater swimming participation and be a leading hub for high performance programs and sport science innovation.
“With accessibility for the community year-round for a range of sport and recreation activities, including carnivals, lap swimming and learn to swim programs.
“Swimming Australia is committed to working collaboratively with the Government and other partners to realise this vision and to determine a location and design that serves the Games and meets the future needs of our sport and other user groups.”
For swimming in Brisbane, Queensland and Australia’s sake, let’s hope some common-sense prevails…..!
Women’s History Month: Aussie Fanny Durack a Pioneer in Olympic Women’s Swimming As The First Champion
by JOHN LOHN – ASSOCIATE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
01 March 2021
Women’s History Month: Aussie Fanny Durack a Pioneer in Olympic Women’s Swimming As The First Champion
Today, March 1, marks the beginning of Women’s History Month. To mark the beginning of the month, we look at the arrival of women in the Olympic pool, where Australian Fanny Durack became the first Olympic swimming champion among women, over 100m freestyle, on July 12, 1912.
Takeoff to Tokyo (Fanny Durack) – From the April Issue of Swimming World Magazine
When the Olympic Games return to Tokyo this summer, one of the highlights will be a swimming schedule that is identical for men and women, the 1500 freestyle added for the ladies and the 800 freestyle added to the program for the gentlemen. But the first four editions of swimming at the Modern Olympics did not feature equality, women not involved until 1912, at which point Fanny Durack made a major splash.
Not long after Hungarian Alfred Hajos became the first Olympic swimming champion, winning the gold medal in the 100 freestyle at the 1896 Games in Athens, Australia’s Sarah “Fanny” Durack developed the urge to learn to swim. It wasn’t that Durack, a youngster at the time, was inspired by Hajos’ efforts, or the performances by any other male swimmer.
Rather, Durack’s desire to swim was triggered out of necessity and in the pursuit of peace of mind. While on vacation as a 9-year-old, Durack struggled with the surf in her native land, and it was that experience which convinced her to become water safe. It was a decision which made Durack swimming’s first female superstar.
From 1896, when the first Modern Games were held in the birthplace of the Ancient Olympics, through 1908, only men were allowed to compete in swimming at the Olympics. During that time, the likes of Hajos, American Charles Daniels, Great Britain’s Henry Taylor and Hungary’s Zoltan Halmay emerged as the sport’s standouts.
It wasn’t like women were banned from the Olympics altogether during that stretch of time, as female athletes competed in events such as sailing, tennis and equestrian as early as the 1900 Games in Paris. Swimming, though, didn’t create a coed program until the 1912 Games, which were held in Stockholm, Sweden.
When it was announced women would be invited to compete in Stockholm, some countries jumped at the opportunity while others were disinterested. Only 27 women took part in the two swimming events, the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay, with host Sweden and Great Britain sending six athletes each. Australia sent two swimmers, Durack and Mina Wylie, while the United States opted to send no women, despite fielding a team of seven men.
BelleMoore, Jennie Fletcher, a team chaperone, Annie Speirs and Irene Steer at Stockholm 1912 – Photo Courtesy: ISHOF
While Durack had put together an impressive career, Wylie actually held the upper hand over her countrywoman in the leadup to the 1912 Games. Wylie beat Durack on several occasions at the Australian Championships and was considered a gold-medal favorite as much as Durack, who had the higher profile.
Getting to the Olympics, however, proved to be an issue for Durack and Wylie, with politics playing a role. Considering the role politics have played throughout the history of the Olympic Games, maybe it was fitting Durack and Wylie had to play a waiting game.
“The Aussie men in charge of selecting the team for the 1912 Games declared that it was a waste of time and money to send women to Sweden,” wrote Craig Lord in an article for the former SwimVortex website.
“The rule book didn’t help, either. The New South Wales Ladies’ Amateur Swimming Association regulations held that no women could compete at events where men were present. A public outcry resulted in a vote and rule change at the association and Durack and Wylie were allowed to make the journey to Europe – provided they paid for themselves. The wife of Hugh McIntosh, a sporting and theatrical entrepreneur and newspaper proprietor, launched a successful appeal for funds and with money donated by the public, family and friends, Durack sailed for Sweden via London, where she was reported to have trained half a mile a day.”
The competition pool was hardly high-tech in nature, constructed in Stockholm Harbor and consisting of salt water. But Durack wasn’t derailed by the conditions. Representing Australasia, a combined team from Australia and New Zealand, Durack opened her Olympic career in grand fashion, setting a world record of 1:19.8 during qualifying heats of the 100 freestyle. She followed by winning her semifinal easily, and then captured the gold medal with a time of 1:22.2, more than three seconds quicker than Wylie.
Great Britain’s Daisy Curwen was expected to be a medal contender in the final, but the former world-record holder was forced to withdraw from the competition after the semifinal round due to a bout of appendicitis. It was Curwen’s world record which Durack broke during the qualifying heats.
With Durack and Wylie the only Aussies competing in swimming, Australasia could not field a squad for the 400 freestyle relay, although it tried. Durack and Wylie offered to swim two legs each if Australasia was given the chance to race, but officials denied the request and Great Britain’s quartet of Belle Moore, Jennie Fletcher, Annie Speirs and Irene Steer went on to win the gold medal by nearly 12 seconds over Germany. Fletcher was the bronze medalist behind Durack and Wylie in the 100 freestyle and spoke of the limited practice time she and her teammates had in preparation for the 1912 Games. Said Fletcher years later:
“We swam only after working hours, and they were 12 hours and six days a week. We were told bathing suits were shocking and indecent, and even when entering competition, we were covered with a floor-length cloak until we entered the water.”
With only two women’s events, as opposed to the seven on the men’s program, there is no telling what Durack could have done if given the chance to contest additional events. But a lack of equality in the Olympic schedule has been more commonplace than not during the 100-plus years of the Games. From the first time women competed in swimming at the Olympics through the 1972 Games in Munich, men’s events always outnumbered women’s events.
And while men and women each competed in 13 events at the 1976 and 1980 Games, there were fewer women’s events over the next three Olympiads. Since 1996, however, the number of events between the genders has matched, albeit with a caveat. Through the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, there was inequality in the length of the longest events on each program. While men’s distance swimmers contested the 1500 freestyle as their gender’s longest event, women covered just more than half that distance via the 800 freestyle.
A change is coming next summer, thanks to the International Olympic Committee’s decision to expand the men’s and women’s programs. The addition of the 1500 freestyle for women is belated recognition of the gender’s ability to handle demanding tests of skill and endurance.
A parallel can be found in the history of track and field. It wasn’t until the 1984 Games in Los Angeles in which women contested the marathon, and in some years prior, women’s distances were capped at 1,500 meters while male athletes were given the opportunity to double in the 5,000 and 10,000.
Katie Ledecky – Photo courtesy: TYR
“I was happy to see it,” said world-record holder Katie Ledecky of the addition of the 1500 freestyle. “I think adding the 1,500 was a long time coming. It’s good that there’s parity in the men’s and women’s distance events now.”
From 1912-1918, Durack set 11 world records over various distances, including three in the 100-meter freestyle. Her fastest time of 1:16.2 from 1915 lasted as the world record for five years, until American Ethelda Bleibtrey won Olympic gold in 1:14.4. A Durack-Bleibtrey duel would have been a highlight event of the 1920 Games, but illness prevented Durack from racing.
After being denied the chance to defend her Olympic title in 1916 due to the cancellation of the Games by World War I, Durack was hoping to repeat in 1920, but appendicitis put an end to that dream. More, Durack came down with typhoid fever and pneumonia a week before Australia’s athletes were scheduled to sail to Europe for the Antwerp Games.
In between competitions, Durack took part in numerous world tours, along with Wylie, in which they would race one another and demonstrate the Australian crawl, the stroke which Durack made famous and used to become a world-record holder. Durack’s vast achievements earned her induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1967, the third year of the Hall’s existence.
“Fanny Durack not only took on all comers the world over, but beat all comers the world over for eight years in the formative years of women’s swimming,” reads Durack’s profile in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Happy Birthday Jozsef Szabo!!
Jozsef Szabo (HUN)
Honor Swimmer (2012)
FOR THE RECORD: 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (200m breaststroke); 1986 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m breaststroke); 1987 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m breaststroke), silver (4x100m medley); 1989 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: bronze (200m breaststroke).
In Jozsef Szabo’s competitive swimming days, he became part of a family of swimmers and teammates. Like a family, each member had a role. He was known as the clown, to provide and keep everyone in good spirits and laughs.
Under Coach Tamas Szechy, most of the swimmers had one thing in common, they were great breaststroke swimmers. Szabo was no exception. Along with Norbert Rozsa, Tamas Darnyi and Karoly Guttler, he became one of the greatest breaststroke swimmers in the world.
Szabo swam at the Budeapesti Honved Sportegyesulet. He burst onto the international scene at the 1986 Madrid World Championships, winning the 200 meter breaststroke, and repeating it in the next year at the 1987 European Championships in Strasburg, Austria.
Tall for an elite breaststroke swimmer at 6’1”, and weighing 180 pounds, Szabo surprised the world when he won the Olympic gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games, defeating Nick Gillingham of Great Britain and Sergio Lopez of Spain in the 200 meter breaststroke, only .18 seconds off Canadian Victor Davis’ world record.
All totaled, Szabo won one Olympic gold medal, one World Championship gold medal and three European Championship medals, one gold, one silver and one bronze.
Happy Birthday Michelle Calkins!!
Michelle Calkins (CAN)
Honor Synchronized / Artistic Swimmer (2001)
FOR THE RECORD: 1973 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (team); 1978 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (duet); 1976 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: silver (team); 1976 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (team); 1977 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (duet); NATIONAL TEAM COACH AND OLYMPIC COACH: 1988 – present.
Coach Debbie Muir of the Calgary Aquabelles had a knack for pairing the two most synchronized swimmers on her team when she paired Michelle Calkins with Helen Vanderberg to win the 1978 World Championships duet in Berlin, Germany. It marked the first time that Canadian synchronized swimmers had won a World Duet Championship, an important milestone in the evolution of synchronized swimming in Canada. In 1977, Michelle and her Hall of Fame partner Helen were named to the Elaine Tanner Award as Canada’s best young female athletes of the year by Sports Federation of Canada. And all this before synchronized swimming became an Olympic sport!
In 1969, Michelle won the ’12 and under’ Alberta Provincial Figures Trophy and was on her way to synchronized swimming stardom. By 1971, she was a member of The Aquabelles Junior National Team Champions and in 1973 a Canadian Junior National Solo Champion. From 1973 to 1978, she won seven Canadian Senior National Championships in duet, team and figures events. Her first international competition was winning the silver medal in the 1973 First World Championships team event in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. She won the silver in the Mexico City 1975 Pan American Games team event. The Pan Pacific Championships of 1976 and 1977 were the warm up to the gold medal performance of the 1978 World Championships. All this was before synchronized swimming was an Olympic event. Also during 1978, she performed in a demonstration of synchronized swimming at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games before synchronized swimming became an official Commonwealth Games event eight years later in 1986.
Michelle’s success was by virtue of her exacting technical skill. Her and teammate Helen’s 1978 combined figures scores were 87.30, a full 2.70 points above the duet silver medalists. She performed creatively and with intensely dramatic routines. Michelle, with partner Helen, instigated the great success of their home club in Calgary culminating ten years later in another goal medal duet win, this time by Carolyn Waldo and Michelle Cameron at the 1988 Olympic Games.
Michelle’s passion for synchronized swimming never diminished and she is now the head coach of her Aquabelles as well as serving as a Canadian National Team coach since 1988. She was the 1996 Canadian Olympic coach when Canada won the silver medal in the team event.