Happy Birthday Giorgio Lamberti!!
Giorgio Lamberti (ITA)
Honor Swimmer (2004)
FOR THE RECORD: 1 WORLD LONG COURSE RECORD: 200m freestyle; 2 WORLD SHORT COURSE RECORDS: 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle ; 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: 5th (4x200m freestyle relay); 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: 5th (4x200m freestyle relay);1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m freestyle), bronze (100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay); 1987 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (200m freestyle); 1989 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay); 1991 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (200m freestyle), bronze (100m freestyle, 400m freestyle); 18 ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Born January 28, 1969, Giorgio Lamberti became the fastest freestyle swimmer in the world. At age six, his body weak and frail, doctors suggested swimming to build himself up. He began swimming competitively. At age 17, in 1986, as an unknown, he won his first of 18 Italian National Championships. His swimming physique was like that of Roland Matthes twenty years earlier – light and thin, but his heart was unstoppable and his tactical intelligence was great.
Coming from Brescia, a town halfway between Milan and Verona, and swimming for Coach Pietro Santi at Club Leonessa Nuoto, Lamberti was named to the 1986 World Championship team from Italy. Lamberti finished in the “B” final in the 200m freestyle and was on the 4x100m freestyle relay. But he was soon on his way to becoming European and World Champion.
After a coaching change, Alberto Castagnetti took over as club coach and became Lamberti’s mentor for his career. In 1988, at the Arena Festival in Bonn, Lamberti set short course world records in both the 200m and 400m freestyle. Seven months later, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Giorgio finished a disappointing 12th place. The burden of preparing for his final academic examinations and the constant hounding by the Italian press towards this new and exciting rising star of Italian swimming paid its toll on Lamberti’s performance. He took a short break.
It was at the 1989 European Championships in Bonn, that Lamberti began to excel again. He won gold in both the 100m freestyle and the 200m freestyle. His 200m freestyle was in world record time, 1:46.69, a record which stood for ten years until broken by Grant Hackett of Australia in Brisbane, 1999. This ten-year period is the longest period of time in which any individual has held the 200m freestyle world record since Freddy Lane (AUS) established the first recorded record of 2:28.6 on August 18, 1902. By defeating Arthur Wojdat of Poland and Anders Holmertz of Sweden, Lamberti set Europe on fire with his three gold medals which also included the 4x200m freestyle relay.
At the 1991 World Championships in Perth, Australia, Lamberti showed he was the fastest swimmer in the world in his event, the 200m freestyle. He won a second gold medal as a member of Italy’s 4x200m freestyle relay team. He competed later in the year at his third European Championship, winning the silver medal in the 200m freestyle, only .05 seconds behind Arthur Wojdat, and the bronze medal in the 100m freestyle and 400m freestyle behind Alexander Popov (URS) and Evgeni Sadovyi (URS) respectively.
Giorgio competed at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, placing fifth with the 4x200m freestyle relay. All totaled, he had four world records, one in the 200m freestyle long course, two in the 200m short course and one in the 400m freestyle short course. He became the most celebrated swimmer in Italy.
After retirement in 1993, Giorgio has served in numerous swimming capacities including the 1994 Rome World Championship Organizing Committee, the Brescia Provencial Delegate to the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN), president of the G.A.M. Team Sport Society of FIN and the Italian Disability Sport Federation, as well as a consultant to other swimming and sport organizations.
Happy Birthday Greg Louganis!!
Greg Louganis (USA)
Honor Diver (1993)
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1976 silver (platform), 1980 (boycott), 1984 gold (springboard & platform), 1988 gold (springboard & platform); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1978 gold (platform), 1982 gold (springboard & platform), 1986 gold (springboard & platform); PAN AMERICAN GAMES: 1979 gold (springboard & platform), 1983 gold (springboard & platform), 1987 gold (springboard & platform); FINA CUP: 1979 gold (platform), 1981 silver (springboard), 1983 gold (springboard & platform), 1987 gold (springboard); U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 47.
Known as the king of diving, Louganis reigned over his sport for more than a decade with grace, power, and unequaled precision.
Winner of the coveted James E. Sullivan award for outstanding achievements in athletics in 1984, Greg established himself as the USA’s best athlete. Not only is Louganis the only male diver in history to win both springboard and platform gold medals for diving in consecutive Olympic Games, 1984 and 1988, a third set of double wins would have probably been his, too, if it were not for the USA’s boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games.
One man who came close to matching Louganis’ Olympic record was his first coach, Dr. Sammy Lee, who won consecutive platform titles at the 1948 Olympic Games in London and the 1952 Games in Helsinki. It was Sammy Lee who spotted the talents of Louganis in 1971 when Louganis scored a perfect ten at the age of eleven at the AAU Junior Olympics. Louganis was soon training with Sammy Lee and went on to win a silver medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. It was evident that Greg was on his way to becoming one of the best divers the world has ever seen.
In 1978 Ron O’Brien, also a world-class diver like Lee, joined the staff at Mission Viejo. That year Greg won both World championships titles and defeated the long-time platform champion Klaus Dibiasi of Italy. For the next decade, Greg Louganis was the man to beat on the boards, dominating every national and international competition he entered.
Like many athletes, Greg anticipated the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Unfortunately, the United States government boycotted the Games in protest of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Disappointed, but not discouraged, Louganis decided to continue to pursue his dream.
In 1984 Louganis became the first man in 56 years to win two Olympic gold medals in diving. Hall of Famer Pete Desjardins of Miami had done it at the 1928 Games in Paris. In 1988, competing against divers half his age, Louganis became the first man to win double gold medals for diving in two consecutive Olympic Games, a feat duplicated only once in Olympic history by women’s champion Pat McCormick in 1952-1956.
Happy Birthday Libby Trickett!!
Libby Trickett (AUS)
Honor Swimmer (2018)
FOR THE RECORD: 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100m freestyle), bronze (50m freestyle); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m butterfly, 4x100m medley), silver (100m freestyle), bronze (4x100m freestyle); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4x100m freestyle); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): bronze (50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle); 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle, 4x100m medley), silver (100m butterfly, 4×200m freestyle); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4×100 m freestyle, 4×100m medley); 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (4×100 m medley), bronze (100m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle); 2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (100m freestyle, 4×100m medley), silver (50m freestyle, 4×200m freestyle), bronze (50m butterfly, 4×100m freestyle); 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4×200m freestyle, 4×100m medley) silver (4×100m freestyle); 2006 Commonwealth Games: gold (50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4×100m freestyle, 4×200m freestyle, 4×100m medley), silver (200m freestyle, 100m butterfly)
Libby Lenton, joined her first swim team at age four. By age ten, she was one of Queensland’s top age groupers. In 1995, the family moved to Brisbane, where Libby started training under coach John Carew, mentor of Hall of Famer, Kieren Perkins. But in early 2002, Libby began training under coach Stephan Widmar.
Her progress under Widmar was rapid and explosive. Suddenly, the 18-year old girl who had never reached the podium at the state level, stood on the top step four times, for the 50 and 100m freestyle and 50 and 100m butterfly, at the Queensland Champs in January, 2003. This qualified her for the Australian Senior National Team.
She made her international debut in April at the inaugural Mutual of Omaha “Duel in the Pool” meet in Indianapolis. She beat Hall of Famer Jenny Thompson to win the 100m freestyle. She finished first in the 50m freestyle in 24.92, but she was disqualified for a false start. However, officials later ruled her start was fair and she was credited with setting a new Australian record and the first Australian to break 25 seconds.
Libby qualified for and swam in three events in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. She earned a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle and her 4x100m freestyle relay team made up of Libby, Petria Thomas, Jodie Henry and Alice Mills overtook Team USA on the final leg to win the gold in the event for the first time in 48 years!
Libby cemented her position among the world’s top swimmers in 2005. First at the Montreal FINA World Championships by reeling in gold in the 50m freestyle, silver in the 100m butterfly and two golds and a silver for the three relays. Back in Australia, she twice broke the world record in the 100m freestyle at the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships.
In 2006, it was on to Shanghai, for the Short Course World Championships, where she repeated her performance, won five of Australia’s twelve gold medals, as well as being named “Leading Female Swimmer of the Meet”.
Libby won five more gold medals at the 2007 FINA World Championships. This time, three individual, the 50 and 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly as well as two relays, with the 4x100m freestyle relay in a record-breaking time of 3:35.48. A week later, at the third USA-Australia “Duel in the Pool” in Sydney, she led off the 4x100m mixed relay against Michael Phelps. Although Phelps beat her to the wall, her time of :52.99, broke the world record of Britta Steffens by nearly a third of a second. A race she says she’ll always remember. Four days later, on April 7, 2007, Libby married fellow swimmer, Luke Trickett and started swimming under the name Libby Trickett.
Her performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games brought her two gold, one silver and one bronze. She was part of the world record winning relay team, the 4x100m medley relay, that brought home the gold, and her 4x100m freestyle relay team took bronze. Individually, Trickett won a gold medal in the 100m butterfly and took silver in the 100m freestyle.
Libby briefly retired from swimming in 2009, at the age of 24, but decided to return to competition in 2010 to be part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team at the 2012 London Olympic Games, winning yet another gold, her fourth and final Olympic gold medal of her career. Libby retired in 2013 for the final time.
Libby gave birth to daughter Poppy in 2015 and struggled with the transition to motherhood. Trickett had struggled with depression throughout other times in her life as well. She had worked with sports psychologists and by seeking that advice and guidance, Libby says, that “the biggest lesson she learned was that it’s OK to ask for help and that help is really valuable.” Libby is currently Queensland’s Mental Health Ambassador. On February 28, 2018, Libby and her husband Luke had their second daughter, Eddie.
Simple Superb Filmmaking – Vindication Swim to Launch on March 8
By: The Daily News Of Open Water Swimming
To educate, entertain, and enthuse those who venture beyond the shore
SHARED FROM: DNOWS / January 22, 2024
“Simply superb…a constant visual treat”, raves Peter James.“Beautifully shot and very moving”, says The Lady.
The next wave of films about open water swimmers is underway. First with Nyad, initially released in the USA starring Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, and Rhys Ifans, and currently showing worldwide on Netflix. Next up is the Vindication Swim about the life and achievements of Olympian and channel swimming icon Mercedes Gleitze that will be released on March 8th in the UK and Ireland, starring Kirsten Callaghan who portrays Gleitze and John Locke who portrays her coach Harold Best.
There are several other films currently under development, an exciting new era of filmmaking about open water swimmers.
But right now, the next film up for public consumption is the Vindication Swim produced by Relsah Films with Sally Humphreys, Douglas McJannet and Simon Hasler. The movie will be launched on International Women’s Day, and was written and directed by Elliott Hasler. Starring Kirsten Callaghan, John Locke, Victoria Summer, James Wilby, and Douglas Hodge. The film is scored by Emmy winner and Grammy nominee, Daniel Clive McCallum, with post-production completed at Warner Bros. De Lane Lea Studios.
For additional details of the film, visit here.
The film website is here.
Vindication Swim follows Gleitze, who became the first British woman to swim the English Channel in 1927. The film depicts her upstream struggle in overcoming both the cold waters of the English Channel and the oppressive society of England in the 1920’s. However, after a rival comes forward claiming to have accomplished the same feat, Gleitze is forced into battle to retain her record and her legacy.
And what a legacy it was.
In 1933 Gleitze explained, “It’s having the willpower to endure the cold and not be disconcerted at the nearness of porpoises, dolphins and even sharks, to bear the pain of aching shoulders, knees and shins and to remain floating in the water with your arm seized with cramp and remain unperturbed when a large steamer passes too near. When you cannot have the hot drinks you’ve longed for and when an attack of sleep threatens to send you to the land of oblivion, but to have the courage to say I want to carry on.”
Gleitze (1900-1981) was a British pioneer and marathon swimmer from London who is a dual inductee having been voted by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in it Class of 1969 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Open Water Pioneer Swimmer in its Class of 2014.
Open Water Swimming Highlights
In 1927, she became the first British woman to swim 33.5 km across the English Channel on her eighth attempt in 15 hours 15 minutes from France to England.
She attempted to cross the 35 km North Channel 6 times, but never finished on any attempt:
Three times in 1928, Gleitze attempted the North Channel crossing of the Mull of Kintyre from Donaghadee, Ireland to Portpatrick, Scotland, each time ending in hypothermia.
She attempted both the North Channel Swim course and the Dál Riata Channel Route, but those swims were also aborted.
In 1928, she became the first person to swim the Strait of Gibraltar in 12 hours 50 minutes, starting in Cruces, Tarifa, Spain and finishing in Punta Leona, Morocco at the age of 28.
She accomplished a variety of marathon swims in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa including setting a British female record of 10 hours 45 minutes for swimming in the Thames River in 1924.
In 1929, she swam Lough Neagh in Ireland in over 20 hours.
In 1940, she swam Hellespont in over 2 hours.
In 1941, she swam across Galway Bay in over 19 hours in Eire, Ireland.
In 1941, she swam across Sydney Harbour in Australia.
She swam in Cape Town, South Africa in 1942 to bring the total number of marathon swims to a 51 with 25 of her swims taking at least 26 hours to complete.
She completed a 40-hour endurance swim in the Eglington Street Swimming Baths in Cork, Ireland in February 1940.
In 1924, she swam in the Thames, setting the British Ladies’ Record for Thames Swimming over a 42 km stretch between Putney and Silvertown, in 10¾ hours.
Between July 18th and 29th 1926, she swam down the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Folkestone (193 km total in stages).
On October 6th 1926, she swam 33.5 km across the English Channel from France to England.
In 1929, she swam across The Wash, Lough Neagh (widthwise and lengthwise), Loch Ryan, Firth of Forth, from Portstewart to Moville that was called short after 5 hours due to rough conditions, 22.5 km in Lough Foyle from Moville to Portstewart in 6 hours 55 minutes, commissioned by the Town Clerk of Portstewart Urban Council to boost tourism,
Between June 14th and 18th 1940, she swam around the Isle of Man (193 km in stages).
In 1940, she swam across the Hellespont (Dardanelles) from Europe to Asia Minor (both ways), in the Sea of Marmara, and across Wellington Harbour in New Zealand.
In 1941, she swam from Rangitoto Island to Cheltenham in New Zealand, won the Manly Swimming/Floating Competition (48 hours) in Sydney, Australia, and swam across Galway Bay in Eire, Ireland.
In 1942 in South Africa, she swam between Cape Town and Robben Island (both ways), in the Swartkops River and Cape of Good Hope, in the Buffalo River in East London, in the Modder River, Glen, Bloemfontein, in Germiston Lake in Johannesburg, in the Hartebeestpoort Dam in Pretoria, and in the Vaal River in Vereeniging.
She was not afraid to challenge herself and did not complete many attempts including:
In 1928 and 1929 between June to November, she made 6 attempts at swimming across the North Channel.
In September 1928, she swam 14 hours in Blackpool, UK, but her target was 25 hours.
In 1940, she made attempts in the Moray Firth and across the Bristol Channel, and across the English Channel.
In 1944, she attempted one last attempt at the English Channel from England to France at the age of 44.
She also did a number of endurance swims in pools around the world
26 hours: Edinburgh in 1929 and 1940 in the Infirmary Street Baths
28 hours: Dublin, Eire in February 1940 in the Tara Street Baths
40 hours: Cork, Eire in February 1940 in the Eglinton Street Baths
41 hours: Liverpool in March 1940 in the Westminster Road Baths
42 hours: Derby in March 1940 in the Reginald Street Baths
44 hours: Huddersfield in April 1940 in the Ramsden Street Baths
44 hours: Belfast in April 1940 in the Ormeau Baths
45 hours: Leicester in May 1940 in the Belgrave Baths, Cossington Street
46 hours: Sheffield in May 1940 in the Glossop Street Baths
46 hours: Douglas in June 1940 in the Henry Bloom Noble Baths
48 hours: Stafford in July 1940 in the Royal Baths
49 hours: Wolverhampton in July 1940 in the Municipal Baths
40 hours: Leicester in September 1940 in the Belgrave Baths, Cossington Street
40½ hours: Dundee in September 1940 in the Central Baths
41 hours: Hull in October 1940 in the Madeley Street Baths
41½ hours: Newcastle in October 1940 in the Northumberland Baths
42 hours: Dublin, Eire in November 1940 in the Tara Street Baths
42½ hours: Wellington, New Zealand in 1940 in the Boys Institute Baths, Tasman Street
44 hours: Auckland, New Zealand in January 1941 in the Auckland Tepid Baths
44½ hours: Christchurch, New Zealand in March 1941 in the Manchester Street Tepid Baths
44 hours: Adelaide, Australia in April 1941 in the Crystal Swimming Pool, Unley
44½ hours: Melbourne, Australia in April 1941 in the Brunswick Baths
45 hours: Rotherham in December 1941 in Main Street Baths
45½ hours: Chesterfield in January 1942 in the Central School Baths
46 hours: Cape Town, South Africa in March 1942 in the Long Street Baths
46½ hours: Huddersfield in 1944 in the Cambridge Road Baths
46 hours: Worthing in May 1944 in the Corporation Baths
Gleitze was also the subject of a documentary film by Clare Delargy entitled Mercedes: The Spirit of a New Age.
Gleitze’s legacy also indirectly touches channel swimmers to this day. Her English Channel crossing helped launch the first waterproof watch made by Rolex, marketed as the Rolex Oyster.
For more information and updates, visit Vindication Swim Film here.
© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
Listen to ISHOF Honoree, and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Eddie Reese’s Audio book
By: The Daily News Of Open Water Swimming
To educate, entertain, and enthuse those who venture beyond the shore
HARED FROM DNOWS / January 20, 2024
One of coolest athletes to take to the open water is waterman and 7-time Olympic medalist Aaron Piersol (5 gold + 2 silver).
He was coached in college by Eddie Reese of the University of Texas who is one of the most successful swimming coaches in the United States.
Coach Reese has served as the USA Olympic Swim Team coach 7 times, coached 39 Olympic gold medalists, 16 silver medalists, and 8 bronze medals, and has won the NCAA Team Championship 15 times over his 46-year career.
His life and career are described in the new audiobook, EDDIE REESE: Coaching Swimming, Teaching Life by Chuck Warner and Dana Abbott, two of his assistant coaches from Texas.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame describes the book, “It details the training, leadership, and how to teach life lessons to bring the most out of each individual through the process of development in their sport. Coach Eddie Reese’s exceptional combined qualities of kindness, humor and effectiveness have elevated him to the status of national treasure. Eddie has a simple formula for success in swimming and life: ‘Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and the rest will take care of itself.‘”
Five-time Olympic coach Bill Sweetenham said, “Eddie Reese, no person a better coach and no coach a better person. This book says it all. A Master class from a true genius in our sporting world.”
Mack Brown, Head Football Coach at the University of North Carolina said, “The lessons in this book are invaluable for anyone interested in becoming a better leader.”
Rick Barnes, University of Tennessee basketball coach, “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it, He’s a master of his craft. He works his sport better than anybody I’ve ever seen. He understands it. He gets it. He understands how it all comes together — mind and body. And he understands competition, what second is, and what it takes to be first.“
Peirsol admits, “The book is an emotional and educational read. Although I swam for Eddie for eight years, I still learned more about him from reading this book.”
The audiobook is narrated by Eddie Reese and the two authors and was produced by Emmy-winning SueMedia Productions.
The book is available on Blackstone Audio, Audible (Amazon) and www.eddiereesebook.com.
© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
Paris To Host 2026 European Aquatics Championship
by LIZ BYRNES – EUROPE CORRESPONDENT
24 January 2024, 12:52pm
Paris To Host 2026 European Aquatics Championships
Paris will host the 2026 European Aquatics Championships, two years after the French capital stages the Olympic Games.
The Olympic Aquatics Centre (OAC) will stage the swimming, diving and artistic swimming with the open water set to take place in the River Seine where a competition venue will be constructed for high diving.
The OAC is the only permanent sports facility to be built for Paris 2024 when it will play host to diving, artistic swimming and water polo with the Paris La Défense Arena staging the swimming programme and water polo finals.
The event will mark the 100th anniversary of the first European Championships, held in Budapest, Hungary, in August 1926.
The 2026 meet will be the third time France hosts the event following Paris 1931 – when Yvonne Godard became the first French European champion with gold in the women’s 100 free – and Strasbourg in 1987.
Alain Bernard: Photo Courtesy: Presse Sports
Stephane Caron was the hosts’ sole medallist in the pool in 1987 as the GDR, Soviet Union and Hungary dominated the honours with all bar two of the women’s titles claimed by East German swimmers.
By contrast, the 2026 European Championships may well see the challenge of Leon Marchand – set to be one of the stars of Paris 2024 – Maxime Grousset, Yohann Ndoye Brouard, Mewen Tomac, Analia Pigree, Mary-Ambre Moluh and Anastasia Kirpichnikova.
Unlikely though, that Florent Manaudou will appear, having previously stated that Paris 2024 will be his last competition in the 50m pool.
The announcement was made at a press conference in the French capital, hosted by the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports and attended by European Aquatics First Vice President Josip Varvodic and Executive Director Patrice Coste, France’s Minister for Education, Youth, Sport, and the Olympic Games Amélie Oudea-Castera, and the President of the French Swimming Federation (FFN) Gilles Sezionale.
Also present was Alain Bernard, winner of the 100 free at Beijing 2008 and who swam the prelims of the 4×100 freestyle relay as the quartet went on to win gold at London 2012.
Varvodic said:
“We are excited to have the opportunity to organise our top event just two years after what we are expecting to be an excellent Olympic Games for aquatics and which marks the 100th anniversary of our first European Championship in Budapest 1926.
“France has a long and successful tradition in our sport.
“I’d like to give a special thanks to President of FFN Gilles Sezionale and his team, the French authorities, who are completely engaged with the project, and all those at European Aquatics who work hard to make this event a reality.
“With the European Championships for 2024 and 2026 now secured, the future looks very bright for aquatic sports in Europe.”
Mary-Ambre Moluh: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Oudea-Castera added:
“I am delighted that we can announce the hosting of the 2026 European Championships, confirming France’s rise as a major organiser of major international sporting events, culminating with the Games in less than six months’ time and these European Championships two years later.
“But there is also great satisfaction in seeing how these sport events help in the transformation of our regions and, above all, the education of our young people.”
Sezionale pointed to the legacy of Paris 2024, saying:
“I’m delighted that, thanks to European Aquatics, we can hold the 2026 European Championships with five of our disciplines, something we haven’t done since 1987.
“Our federation is delighted to be able to organise such a large-scale event, and what’s more in the Olympic pool.
“We are honoured to be able to bring the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to life, and we look forward to a bright future for French swimming, whether at the 2024 Olympic Games or at Euro 2026.”
The Countdown to the XXXIII Olympiad is on! Only six months from today until the Open Ceremonies! (January 26)
The XXXIII Olympiad is only six months away !!! July 26th marks Day One and the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The countdown to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has officially begun, as July 26 marks six months until the Opening Ceremony. The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad will be like no other; it will have been a much shorter three year period, rather than the typical four year duration since the last Games in Tokyo were delayed a year, due to the pandemic.
Also for the first time, the 33-event swimming competition will take place over a nine day period, an increase of one day in the program. The swimming program will begin on Day one of competition, July 27 and run through 4 August at La Defense Arena in the Nanterre area of Paris.
Selection for Swimming for Team USA will be held for the first time ever in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 15-23, 2024.
For the first time ever, the event will be staged on a football field, as Lucas Oil Stadium is planning to host the Olympic Trials in front of crowds of expected hundreds of thousands over a nine day period.
“From day one, I truly believed that there was no bigger, more exciting, everything-on-the-line Olympic event in this country than the Swimming Trials and envisioned the heights that we could take it to,” USA Swimming President & CEO Tim Hinchey III said. “Given their track record, we are incredibly confident and excited in Indianapolis’ ability to conduct a technically flawless competition and to stage a world-class event. We are also proud of Indiana Sports Corp’s commitment to partnering with us in giving back to the local community and leaving a legacy far beyond our nine-day meet.”
Selection for Team USA Diving will be held for the first time ever in Knoxville at the University of Tennesee in June. The dates will be coming soon.
The sport of Diving will take place at the Olympic Games, July 27-August 10;
Artistic Swimming at the Olympic Games will be held 5th August through the 10th and Water Polo will be 5-11 of August.
Throwback Thursday: Remembering Lance Larson – When Silver Was Faster Than Gold
by JOHN LOHN – EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
25 January 2024, 06:10am
Throwback Thursday: Remembering Lance Larson – When Silver Was Faster Than Gold
As we remember Lance Larson, who passed away last week, this week’s Throwback Thursday focuses on his iconic and controversial showdown with Australian John Devitt in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. This piece is a chapter from John Lohn’s book, Below the Surface: The History of Competitive Swimming.
His career included NCAA championships for the University of Southern California. He was a world-record holder in multiple events. He was the first man in history to break the minute barrier in the 100-meter butterfly. He was enshrined in the International Swimming Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 1980.
What Lance Larson did not claim during his career was an individual Olympic gold medal, the defining achievement of any athlete in the sport. But that missing tally on Larson’s ledger was no fault of his own. Rather, Larson’s name is forever linked to one of the biggest controversies in Olympic lore.
At the 1960 Olympics, automatic-timing technology was still in its infancy and, therefore, not trusted as the ultimate judge of the races contested in Rome. Instead, the chore of identifying the finishing order was handed to 24 judges – three officials for each of the eight lanes in the pool. Meanwhile, the timing system was viewed as a backup device to be used only under extenuating circumstances. Through Olympic history, the use of judges had never been a problem, and there was no reason to believe anything would change.
An assessment of the 100-meter freestyle suggested the battle for the gold medal was a two-man affair, matching Larson and Australian world-record holder John Devitt. While Larson was riding a wave of momentum after winning the event at the United States Olympic Trials in 55.0, Devitt held the fastest time in history at 54.6. Barring an upset, those men were going to take gold and silver. But in what order?
After the final concluded, there still wasn’t a clear answer.
Devitt entered the 1960 Games as an Olympic veteran, having won the silver medal in the 100 freestyle in 1956. With a pair of world-record performances in a 10-day span in 1957, Devitt stamped himself as the man to beat on the way to Rome. But Larson was no pushover, his credentials as the world-record holder in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley reflecting his versatility. However, neither of those events appeared on the 1960 Olympic schedule, which meant Larson had to place his focus elsewhere. The 100 freestyle was his choice.
Larson and Devitt had no trouble winning their respective heats in the preliminary and semifinal rounds, their showdown in the final a much-anticipated affair. Could Devitt improve from silver to gold and follow countryman Jon Henricks onto the top step of the podium? Or, would Larson restore the title in the sport’s blue-ribbon event to the country that produced former champions and legends Duke Kahanamoku and Johnny Weissmuller?
As expected, Larson and Devitt battled side by side for their two laps, the Australian slightly ahead at the 80-meter mark. But a flourish in the final strokes by Larson enabled the American to pull even with Devitt, the men seemingly touching at the same time, Brazil’s Manuel dos Santos back in the bronze-medal position.
As frenetic as the race was, it couldn’t match the confusion and controversy that erupted at the finish. Of the three judges who were charged with determining the first-place finisher, two cited Devitt as the winner. However, the three judges selecting the second-place finisher were also split in their decisions, two choosing Devitt for second place and one selecting Larson as the runnerup. When the results of the six judges were combined, there was a deadlock over the winner. Three picked Devitt. Three named Larson.
When the automatic-timing system was consulted, another story was told. All three stopwatches assigned to Devitt revealed a time of 55.2. For Larson, the stopwatches returned times of 55.0, 55.1 and 55.1. At that point, technology deemed Larson the winner of the race, and because the stopwatches were considered the backup timers, Larson was viewed as the presumptive gold medalist.
That thought was quickly reversed.
Despite no written language in the bylaws allowing for the chief judge to rule on the outcome of a race, Germany’s Hans Runstromer declared Devitt the champion and Larson the silver medalist, much to the chagrin of Larson and the United States contingent.
“I don’t understand,” Larson said. “I don’t understand.”
Larson wasn’t the only individual perplexed by the decision. Max Ritter, the United States’ delegate to FINA and a founder of the international governing body, knew the chief judge was not to have a say in the case of a tie. Rather, he knew the referee was expected to consult the backup timing system and abide by its readouts. In this case, Larson would have been declared the gold medalist, with Devitt taking the silver medal. But Runstromer remained firm in his decision and added insult when Larson’s final time was changed to 55.2, simply to match Devitt’s mark and to make the outcome look reasonable. After all, the Olympic champion couldn’t possibly have a slower time than the silver medalist.
Irate with the decision, Ritter called the situation “unbelievable.” Meanwhile, the United States appealed the decision, citing the rule that the electronic-timing system should have been consulted, and Runstromer should not have involved himself in the selection of the winner. As for Devitt, he was not pleased with the United States’ decision to challenge the result.
“All I did was swim,” Devitt said. “(Larson) took it badly. But he can’t be crooked on me. I don’t know who won, and Larson can’t know either. If the judges change their placings, I am perfectly willing to give the medal back. I have always been taught to accept the judge’s decision.”
With the gold medal in his pocket, it was easy for Devitt to announce he would respect a judge’s verdict against him. However, placed in Larson’s shoes, would he truly have accepted the outcome? He never got the chance to fulfill his words, as FINA rejected the United States’ appeal.
In Rome, Devitt added a bronze medal in the 800 freestyle relay while Larson won a gold medal for handling the butterfly leg on the United States’ victorious 400 medley relay.
Although Larson’s Olympic days ended without a solo crown, he remained a prominent figure in the sport. As a Masters swimmer, he registered times that were on par – and sometimes faster – than when he was setting records during the prime of his career.
“I think it’s the competition that motivates me more than anything else,” Larson said of his Masters involvement. “I enjoy winning, and the recognition that goes along with it. It’s sort of like being on stage again. Sort of an ego trip.”
If there was a positive development out of Larson’s loss, it was the decision by FINA to prominently utilize electronic-timing systems, and eliminate the guessing game that arose in Rome. Of course, the move in that direction came at a price.
Happy Birthday Irina Lashko!!
Irina Lashko (USSR/RUS/EUN/AUS)
Honor Diver (2018)
FOR THE RECORD: 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: competitor for the Soviet Union: 4th (3m springboard), 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: competitor for the Olympic Unified Team: silver (3m springboard), 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES: competitor for Russia: silver (3m springboard); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: competitor for Australia: bronze (3m springboard synchro), 7th (3m springboard); 1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: competitor for Soviet Union: Silver (3m springboard); 1998 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Competitor for Russia: gold (1m springboard, 3m springboard synchro); 2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: competitor for Australia: silver (3m springboard); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: competitor for Australia: gold (1m springboard); 2002 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: competitor for Australia: gold (1m springboard, 3m springboard); 1991 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: competitor for the Soviet Union: gold (3m springboard); 1993 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: competitor for Russia: silver (1m springboard), 1997 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: competitor for Russia: silver (1m springboard, 3m springboard synchro)
Irina Evgenievna Lashko was born on January 25, 1973 in Samara, Russia. Known as Kuybyshev during the Soviet era, Samara is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Irina discovered the sport of diving at the age of five and entered the Sverdlovsk Sports School at the age of ten. Four years later, she represented the Soviet Union at the 1987 FINA Diving World Cup and surprised everyone by winning the silver medal in the 3m springboard event behind Hall of Famer Gao Min of China.
The next year, 15-year old Lashko narrowly missed the podium in the same event at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. In 1989, Irina won her first international gold medal when she upset Gao Min at the USA International Meet in Orlando, Florida.
Leading up to 1992 Olympic Games, Gao and Lashko were the two best women’s 1m and 3m divers in the world, but Gao was unbeatable in Barcelona while Lashko took the silver medal in the 3m event. In 1993, Lashko won two silver medals at the FINA Cup in Beijing, but was out of competition in 1994, to have her daughter, Alina. She returned in 1995 to win the World Cup 1m title and at the 1996 Olympic Games of Atlanta, the following year, it was silver again. This time behind Fu Minxia, another future Hall of Famer.
In 1998, shortly after winning gold medals in the 1m and 3m springboard events at the FINA World Cup, she married Australian businessman Carol Fulner in Melbourne. They had met years earlier at a diving event in Australia, but their relationship created problems for her with the Russian Federation. Not receiving the financial support she felt she deserved, she petitioned the Federation to allow her to compete for her newly adopted country at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Unfortunately, her request was denied and the Games went on without one of the best divers in the world. But in Athens, in 2004, she teamed up with Chantelle Newbury to win a bronze medal in the 3m springboard synchronized event for Australia. This accomplishment made her the first woman in diving history to win medals in three Olympic Games and the only one to represent four different flags in four Olympic Games: Soviet Union (1988), Unified Team (1992), Russia (1996) and Australia (2004).
Irina Lashko had the misfortune of diving during an era dominated by the People’s Republic of China, yet during her career, she managed to record victories over three Hall of Famers, Gao Min, Fu Minxia and Guo Jingjing and no doubt helped push them to greatness. She now joins them as one of the greatest divers of all time.
Today We Remember Bob Duenkel, Long-Time ISHOF Employee and Honoree, on His Birthday!!
Bob Duenkel (USA)
Honor Contributor (2021)
FOR THE RECORD: 40+ YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO ISHOF AND THE HISTORY OF THE AQUATIC WORLD AS ISHOF’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CURATOR; AWARDS: 1997 GLENN HUMMER AWARD BY USA SWIMMING, 1997 NAMED IN AQUATIC’S INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE AS “WHO’S WHO IN AQUATICS”, 1999 WEST ORANGE (NJ) HALL OF FAME, 2004 ISHOF PRESIDENTIAL AWARD, 2018 HONOR CONTRIBUTOR INTERNATIONAL MARATHON SWIMMING HALL OF FAME
As a young boy he had a love of swimming from almost the day he was born. He began competitive swimming for the YMCA of New Jersey and was a state record holder before being a star swimmer and water polo player at Kansas State University. After graduating from KSU with both an undergraduate and master’s degree in physical education, Bob Duenkel moved to Fort Lauderdale. He taught physical education and coached swimming at Northeast High School, worked as a water safety instructor and worked for the Fort Lauderdale Beach Patrol – all before “Buck” Dawson convinced him to work as his assistant at the Hall of Fame in 1976.
The ISHOF position afforded Bob the opportunity to work exclusively in the field of his passion – swimming. He had time to train as a Masters swimmer at the Hall of Fame Pool and coach swimming at Broward Community College. In 1978 he was named National Junior College Swimming Coach of the Year. In the summer of 1976, he also took over the running of Dawson’s Camp Chikopi, a boys sports and wilderness camp in Ontario, Canada. Chikopi was also the world’s first summer swimming camp, founded in 1920 by US Olympic swimming coach, Matt Mann, Dawson’s father-in-law. When Dawson passed away, he left the camp to Bob and his wife Colette.
Bob’s greatest contribution to swimming, however, was his 40+ years of dedication and service to the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Bob not only absorbed the rich history of swimming like a sponge from Dawson, but through the lips of Johnny Weissmuller, Eleanor Holm, Buster Crabbe, Esther Williams, and many, many more. His knowledge of swimming history was encyclopedic. He studied and knew all the minutiae of swimming and swimmers, from the ancient Greek swimmer Leander to the most recent inductee, every Olympiad, every event, every time and every stroke. He was museum curator and presided over 40 years of ISHOF Induction Ceremonies.
From 2004-2005 he served as interim CEO and Executive Director, and then resumed his previous duties until his retirement in 2016. For any visitor to ISHOF, Bob was an invaluable resource, always there to tell a story, clarify any facts or just to toss off a quip or two. He made a wonderful ambassador for the sport and was willing to spend as many hours as necessary to aid a visitor’s knowledge of aquatics.
There will never be another person more knowledgeable about every aspect of aquatics than Bob Duenkel. Bob sadly passed away in February of 2019. During his lifetime of service to swimming he was as much part of the International Swimming Hall of Fame as any Honoree – and now he joins those whom he both served and loved, including his little sister Ginny, a 1964 Olympic Champion and world record holder as an honored member of ISHOF.