If you don’t already know her, meet ASHLEIGH JOHNSON, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and first African-American on the USA Women’s Water Polo’s Team ~
Ashleigh Johnson was the first African American woman to make the United States Olympic water polo team in 2016, when she qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Not only was Johnson the only African American on the team, but she was also the only girl NOT from California. Ashleigh grew up in Miami, playing water polo with her three brothers and one sister. The Johnson kids attended Ransom Everglades School, a well known swimming/aquatics powerhouse in the South Florida area. After making a statement in South Florida as a four-year letter winner and starter on her school’s team, she led her team to three consecutive Florida State Championships. In addition, she earned All-Dade County honors throughout her career, while also earning all-county honors in swimming, twice.
She went on to attend college at Princeton University, where she received All-American Honors for most of her collegiate career. Johnson and the USA Women’s Water Polo Team won Olympic gold, with Ashleigh as goalie in 2016, in her very first Olympic experience.
Ashleigh currently competes for Ethnikos in Greece… From 2018-19, she played for NC Vouliagmeni in Greece…Finished third in Final Four of European League Championships and finished second in Greek league; Prior to that, she competed for Ekipe Orizzonte in Sicily 2017-18, finished third in Final Four of European League, and finished second in Italian League.
And let’s not forget, she competed in her second Olympic Games in Tokyo, in 2021. Ashleigh and her USA Teammates came away with gold, beating Spain in the gold medal round. Ashleigh was credited with the most saves.
Let’s al get ready to cheer on the future Hall of Famer in Paris this Summer!
Watch this great video of Ashleigh from CBS MORNINGS from 2020 Olympics Coverage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRFGaI_8-ik
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, SANTIAGO, CHILE, 1ST PLACE
2023 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, FUKUOKA, JAPAN, 5TH PLACE
2023 WORLD AQUATICS WORLD CUP, LONG BEACH, UNITED STATES, 1ST PLACE
2022 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, SPAIN, 3RD PLACE
2022 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1ST PLACE
2020 OLYMPIC GAMES, TOKYO, JAPAN, 1ST PLACE (Took place in 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic)
2021 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, ATHENS, GREECE, 1ST PLACE
2019 HOLIDAY CUP, PRINCETON, NJ, 1ST PLACE
2019 CANADA CUP, MONTREAL, CANADA, 1ST PLACE
2019 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, LIMA, PERU, 1ST PLACE
2019 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA, 1ST PLACE
2019 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1STPLACE
2019 FINA INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, PERTH, AUSTRALIA, 1STPLACE
2018 FINA WORLD CUP, SURGUT, RUSSIA, 1STPLACE
2018 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, KUNSHAN, CHINA, 1STPLACE
2016 OLYMPIC GAMES, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, 1STPLACE
2016 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1STPLACE
2016 OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT, GOUDA, NETHERLANDS, 1STPLACE
2016 FINA WOMEN’S INTERCONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT, LEWISVILLE, TX, 1STPLACE
2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, KAZAN, RUSSIA, 1STPLACE
2015 PAN AMERICAN GAMES, TORONTO, CANADA, 1STPLACE
2015 FINA WORLD LEAGUE SUPER FINAL, SHANGHAI, CHINA, 1STPLACE
2014 FINA WORLD CUP, KHANTY-MANSIYSK, RUSSIA 1STPLACE
2013 FINA JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, VOLOS, GREECE, 1STPLACE
Happy Birthday 2014 Honor Diver Peng Bo
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (3m springboard); 2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (3m springboard synchro); 2002 ASIAN GAMES: gold (3m springboard synchro); 2001 UNIVERSIADE GAMES: gold (3m springboard synchro); 2003 UNIVERSIADE GAMES: gold (3m springboard synchro); 2005 UNIVERSIADE GAMES: gold (3m springboard synchro); 2007 UNIVERSIADE GAMES: gold (3m springboard, 3m springboard synchro).
He was born in Nanchang, capital of the Jiangxi province of China in 1981 and began training in diving at the age of six at the Nanchang Sports School. He was selected to be a member of the Jiangxi Provincial Diving Team in 1991, joined the diving team of the PLA Navy in 1995 and became a member of the National Team in 1998.
Peng and his synchronized diving partner, Wang Kenan, won gold medals at the 2000 World University Games, at the 2001 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka and at the 2002 Asian Games.
In 2003, Peng won the Chinese national Championships in the 3 meter individual event and finished second at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona.
For the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Peng was selected to compete in both the 3 meter individual and synchronized event with partner Wang. First up was the synchro event and heading into the final round of dives, Peng and Wang held a comfortable lead. Then came disaster. A dreadful error by Wang resulted in a failed dive – a zero – and no medal.
Comeback, for diver Peng Bo, is a particularly appropriate word. You see, Bo means, “never give up” in Chinese. And eight days later, in the final of the individual event of the 3 meter springboard, Peng came back with a vengeance.
Overcoming his earlier disappointment, Peng Bo led from start to finish.
His victory was fourth of the six gold medals China would win in Athens, and with a margin of victory of over 30 points his was the most dominating performance in diving at the Games in Athens.
February 17th ~ Happy Birthday Rebecca Adlington (GBR) Honor Swimmer, Class of 2018
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: bronze (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle); 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): bronze (400m freestyle, 4×200m freestyle); 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (800m freestyle), silver (400m freestyle); 2008 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (800m freestyle) , silver (4×200m freestyle); 2006 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): silver (800m freestyle); 2010 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (400m freestyle), bronze (4×200m freestyle); 2010 COMMONWEALTH GAMES (Representing England): gold (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle), bronze (200m freestyle, 4×200m freestyle)
The youngest of three girls, Rebecca Adlington naturally wanted to do what her older sisters did, and the sisters were all swimmers. Before long, her desire to keep up with them made her into a serious competitor.
By the age of 14, when she was showing real promise as a distance swimmer, she came under the guidance of coach Bill Furniss, who would remain her coach throughout her career. Her commitment to training combined with mental toughness and her ability to tolerate pain made her one of Britain’s brightest Olympic hopefuls. After a year with Furniss she won the 800m gold medal at the 2004 European Junior Championships.
Both Becky and her coach looked forward to 2005 with high expectations, but early in the year she came down with a case of glandular fever. Then, just as she was getting back in the pool, her sister Laura came down with a case of encephalitis that put her on life-support and fighting for her life for over a month. Laura eventually recovered, but the experience was traumatic for Becky and the next few years were full of ups and downs.
As the British Olympic Trials in 2008 approached, Becky knew she would have to swim her heart out and to the surprise of many, she won the 200 and 400m freestyle, in addition to the 800, which was her signature event. She eventually dropped the 200 to focus on the longer events.
First up in Beijing was the 400m freestyle, an event for which she had not even been certain to qualify for the British team. In the prelims she swam brilliantly and qualified for the finals in lane five. Then, in the final, she went from fifth place with 50 meters to go to snatch the gold medal from American Katie Hoff and teammate Joanne Jackson in a thrilling finger-tip finish. It was the first Olympic gold medal for a British woman since Anita Lonsbrough won the 200m breaststroke in 1960.
When she won the 800m freestyle five days later, destroying the field and smashing Janet Evans‘ 19-year old world record, there was no precedent. Adlington was the most successful woman swimmer Britain ever produced, and the first British swimmer since Henry Taylor had won multiple gold medals one hundred years earlier, in 1908.
Her triumphs in Beijing brought her instant fame: front-page headlines, an open-top bus parade in her home town and a coveted pair of gold Jimmy Choo shoes. In 2009 she became a celebrity spokesperson for the Encephalitis Society and received an Office of the British Order (OBE) by HRH (Her Royal Highness) Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. In 2010, the refurbished Sherwood Swimming Baths was renamed the Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre.
And she hadn’t even retired. In fact, between the Beijing and London Olympics, she stood on the podium in every major international event in which she competed, even though she refused to wear the polyurethane suits that helped the world records tumble in 2009. When she won gold in the 800 and silver in the 400m freestyle at the 2011 FINA Championships in Shanghai, expectations were high that she could repeat her double gold medal performance from Beijing in London.
But it was always going to be tougher for her competing at home. In Beijing she was an unknown, which is a tremendous psychological advantage in terms of pressure and surprise. In London, that advantage belonged to a 15-year old American named Katie Ledecky. It just wasn’t to be.
When Adlington took bronze in the 400m, she was delighted, for the 400 was her weaker race. But after winning a second bronze in the 800, the disappointment showed.
The British public adored her and when she retired a few months later, at the age of 23, it was as Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian of all time. Since then she has joined the BBC as a popular commentator for the aquatic sports. In 2015, she gave birth to a daughter, Summer, and in 2016 she launched Becky Adlington’s Swim Stars, a partnership program designed by Becky for pool operators to make learning to swim fun and enjoyable. Her vision is to ensure that every child leaves primary school able to swim at least 25 meters.
Happy Birthday to the one and only Ambrose “Rowdy” Gaines!! February 17th
Rowdy and daughter, Isabella
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m freestyle, 4x100m medley relay, 4x100m freestyle relay); 8 WORLD RECORDS: (1-100m freestyle, 2-200m freestyle, 2-4x100m freestyle relay, 3-4x100m medley relay); 1978 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay), silver (200m freestyle); 1982 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (4x100m medley relay, 4x100m freestyle relay), silver (100m, 200m freestyle); 1979 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold (200m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay); 1983 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold (100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay, 4x200m freestyle relay), bronze (200m freestyle); 17 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 9 Outdoor, 8 Indoor; 8 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 50 yd, 100yd, 200yd freestyle; 400m, 800m freestyle relays.
Rowdy Gaines was named after the rambunctious western her in the television series “Rawhide.” He is described by his merits for being “rapidly successful, competitive, and very, very fast” and feels more at home in the water than on land. He has broken eight world records and continues to swim today.
Rowdy loved the water as a child, but did not begin his notorious swimming career until the late age of 17 with a 16th place finish in the Florida High School Championship. The following year, Rowdy came back to win the State championships and quickly developed into a world class contender when he placed second in the 200m freestyle at the World Championships in 1989. Rowdy was recruited to Auburn University where he stroked to American records in the 100 and 200 yard freestyles and to the world record in the 200m freestyle in 1:49.16. By 1980, he was named “World Swimmer of the Year.”
It was at the pinnacle of his swimming career that he suffered a tremendous disappointment when the 1980 US Olympic Team boycotted the Olympic Games. Shortly thereafter, he retired, only to return with a vengeance a year and a half later, determined to regain his place in the swimming world and claim the medals he was unable to obtain in 1980.
Rowdy had no problem grasping three Olympic gold medals amidst roaring fans who believed in the “old man” of the 1984 Olympics. Rowdy’s crowning moments of capturing gold by winning the 100m freestyle and the 4×100 medley and freestyle relays will remain sacred to him and his fans.
Throughout his memorable career, Rowdy won three Olympic gold medals, set eight world records, won seven World Championship medals, not to mention numerous medals in the Pan American Games, US National Championships, and NCAA Championships.
Since his retirement, Rowdy has been asked to endorse many products, has been a swimming commentator for CNN, ABC, and NBC, and has written articles for the FINA Swimming and Diving Magazine. Today, Rowdy lives in Hawaii with his wife Judy and their three children. He manages a health and fitness center, coaches swimming and continues to feel at home in the water swimming in a Masters program.
ISHOF seeks Nominations for the 2024 ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal (formerly Paragon Awards)
ISHOF seeks nominations for the 2024 ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal
The International Swimming Hall of Fame announces the call for nominations for the 2024 ISHOF Aquatic Awards to be presented at the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Honoree Induction weekend, October 4-5, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale. Sponsored by AquaCal, the awards are presented each year for outstanding contributions and leadership in several swimming and aquatic-related categories.
Candidates may be nominated for the Paragon Awards in the following categories:
Competitive Swimming
Competitive Diving
Competitive Synchronized Swimming
Competitive Water Polo
Aquatic Safety
Recreational Swimming
Kindly submit your nominees by March 1, 2024. Please include any relevant data to support your nomination, the aquatic category for nomination, as well as a brief biography of each individual and a high-resolution image.
Get more information about the event and see the 2023 winners: https://ishof.org/ishof-hosts-the-aquatic-awards-presented-by-aquacal-on-friday-evening-september-29th-and-they-are-a-huge-success/
Nominations may be sent to:
Meg Keller-Marrvin
International Swimming Hall of Fame
e-mail: meg@ishof.org
(570) 594.4367
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Flashback Friday: Celebrating the Anniversaries of Several Iconic Olympic Swimming Moments
by JOHN LOHN – EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
15 February 2024, 06:08am
Throwback Thursday: Celebrating the Anniversaries of Several Iconic Olympic Swimming Moments
Regardless of sport, trawls through history allow for the appreciation of great moments and legends who excelled in their field. So, with the next edition of the Olympic Games rapidly approaching in Paris, we’re going to look back and feature the highlights from some of the anniversaries that will be celebrated in 2024. Enjoy this trip through Games of the past.
Click here for a complimentary digital edition of Swimming World Magazine’s January issue.
1904 (120th Anniversary)
Site: St. Louis…Number of Events: 9
The first Olympiad held in the United States featured only men’s events, with American Charlie Daniels—the United States’ first star in the sport—leading the way with a five-medal haul. Daniels earned titles in the 220 yard freestyle, 440 freestyle and as a member of Team USA’s 200 freestyle relay. He added a silver medal in the 100 freestyle and a bronze medal in the 50 freestyle.
Hungary boasts a rich tradition in the pool, and it dates back to the days of Zoltan Halmay, who swept the 50 and 100 freestyles in St. Louis. Halmay made his Olympic debut four years earlier at the 1900 Olympics in Paris, where he won three medals. He also raced to a pair of medals at the 1908 Games in London.
1924 (100th Anniversary)
Site: Paris…Number of Events: 11
Century has passed since Paris served as host of the Olympic Games, and was the site of Johnny Weissmuller’s international emergence. At the 1924 Games, Weissmuller surged to gold medals in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle, and anchored the United States to victory in the 800 freestyle relay. Of course, Weissmuller would go on to excel at the 1928 Games, and eventually become a Hollywood star as Tarzan.
The United States dominated the women’s competition in 1924, claiming gold in four of the five female events. More, American women combined for 10 podium appearances, including gold-silver-bronze sweeps in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle.
1964 (60th Anniversary)
Site: Tokyo…Number of Events: 18
Australian ace Dawn Fraser made history during the Olympic Games’ first visit to Asia. After winning gold in the 100 freestyle at the 1956 Olympics and 1960 Games, Fraser became the first swimmer to three-peat when she prevailed in 1964. That feat was not matched until 1996, when Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi won her third straight Olympic title in the 200 backstroke.
When the topic of greatest American swimmers of all-time is raised, Don Schollander’s name is always part of the conversation. At the Tokyo Games, Schollander secured his place in history by capturing four gold medals, including individual titles in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle. Schollander was denied a third solo title in the 200 freestyle only because the event, which was his strongest, was not part of the Olympic program.
Overshadowed by Fraser’s greatness was American Sharon Stouder, who finished as the silver medalist to the Aussie in the 100 freestyle. Stouder, though, earned three gold medals in her other events, highlighted by a world record in the 100 butterfly. She also helped the United States to triumphs in the 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.
The gold medal in the men’s 400 individual medley went to American Dick Roth, but not without drama. Ahead of the prelims of the event, Roth was stricken by a bout of appendicitis and taken to a U.S. Army hospital. Prepped for surgery, the 17-year-old Roth begged his parents to let him swim and to delay the procedure to remove his appendix. Given the opportunity to race, and with the help of antibiotics, Roth fought through the pain and delivered a world-record performance of 4:45.4 to capture the gold medal.
1984 (40th Anniversary)
Site: Los Angeles…Number of Events: 29
The 1984 Games marked the second straight Olympiad in which a major boycott affected the participating nations. After the United States led a boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, as a protest to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, the Soviet Union led a retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Games by Eastern Bloc countries that also included East Germany, Hungary and Poland.
The final of the women’s 100 freestyle featured the first tie in Olympic swimming history, as Americans Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer produced matching times of 55.92. The opportunity for a deadlock resulted from the final of the men’s 400 individual medley at the 1972 Games in Munich. There, Sweden’s Gunnar Larsson and the United States’ Tim McKee tied to the hundredth of a second, but Larsson was awarded the gold medal when the time was taken to the thousandth of a second. Following that incident, it was determined that ties would be allowed if athletes had matching marks to the hundredth of a second.
West Germany’s Michael Gross, nicknamed the Albatross, won three individual medals. Behind world-record performances, Gross stood atop the podium in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. In the 200 fly, where Gross was the world record holder and heavy favorite, the West German captured the silver medal, as 17-year-old Australian Jon Sieben set a world record and delivered the upset of the competition.
Because the United States boycotted the 1980 Games, many top American athletes waited four years for their chance at Olympic glory. Among those enduring the heartache of four years earlier and capturing gold medals were Tracy Caulkins (200 individual medley/400 individual medley), Mary T. Meagher (100 butterfly/200 butterfly) and Rowdy Gaines (100 freestyle).
2004 (20th Anniversary)
Site: Athens…Number of Events: 32
After making his debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney as a 15-year-old, Michael Phelps walked away from Athens with the first eight medals of his Olympic career: six gold and two bronze. Phelps captured individual titles in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley. In the years ahead, he added 20 more medals to his collection.
The men’s 200 freestyle was dubbed “The Race of the Century,” as it matched Aussie Ian Thorpe and the Netherlands’ Pieter van den Hoogenband with Phelps, who was an upstart in the event. Ultimately, Thorpe avenged his defeat to van den Hoogenband from Sydney, with Phelps grabbing the bronze medal.
One of the most underappreciated swimmers of this millennium, Ukraine’s Yana Klochkova doubled in the individual medley events for the second consecutive Games. After sweeping the 200 IM and 400 IM in Sydney, Klochkova repeated that feat by edging Americans Amanda Beard (200 IM) and Kaitlin Sandeno (400 IM). Beard, who made her Olympic debut as a 14-year-old in 1996, won gold in the 200 breaststroke.
Controversy erupted after the final of the men’s 100 breaststroke, which was won by Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima over his American rival, Brendan Hansen. Video of the race showed Kitajima using illegal dolphin kicks (banned at the time) off the start and turn en route to a narrow triumph over Hansen. After the race, the United States’ Aaron Peirsol voiced his opinion on the outcome, stating that “Kitajima cheated his way to gold.”
Kristen Hayden ~ first African American woman to win a USA Diving National title ~ Continuing our salute to Black History month!
Grayson Hall Photography | Avery Bane
*Shared from our friends at USA Diving
Kristen Hayden: A legacy of firsts and leadership in diving. Hayden was the first African American woman to win a USA Diving National title which qualified her for her first World Championships in 2021. In her collegiate years, she was the 2021 B1G 1 meter runner up and the 2021 NCAA 3 meter runner up. In 2023, Hayden was recognized as one of the top 10 women in the NCAA Division 1 and top 30 across all divisions. Beyond the pool, she co-founded USA Diving’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion council, amplifying voices and fostering unity. She is also the co-author for ‘Dear Rebel’ which shares the stories of empowering women. Her impact transcends sport, inspiring generations. #BlackHistoryMonth
KNOXVILLE, TN – December 05, 2023 – sd during the women’s 1 meter springboard final at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Avery Bane/USA Diving
: Grayson Hall Photography | Avery Bane
Happy Birthday Amy Van Dyken!!
Amy Van Dyken (USA)
Honor Swimmer (2007)
FOR THE RECORD: 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES; gold (50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 4x100m medley, 4x100m freestyle), 4th (100m freestyle); 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4x100m medley, 4x100m freestyle); ONE WORLD RECORD: (50m butterfly-sc); 1994 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (4x100m freestyle, 4x100m medley), bronze (50m freestyle); 1998 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle, 4x100m medley); 1995 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: gold (100m butterfly, 4x100m freestyle, 4x100m medley), silver (100m freestyle); 1994 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (50m freestyle).
Amy VanDyken set the world on fire when she qualified in five events for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and won an unpredicted four gold medals – 50 free, 100 fly and both relays, the most ever by an American woman at one Olympic Games and a feat achieved only two other times in women’s Olympic swimming history.
An asthmatic since childhood limiting her to about 65% of normal lung capacity, she was advised by her doctors to take up swimming. A slow starter, it took her a few years to finish one length of the pool. But after winning a race, she was hooked. As she matured, she became a Spartan, no-nonsense competitor who tried to psych out her opponents with pre-race claps, growls and stares. After her stellar Atlanta Olympic performance, she won three gold medals at the 1998 Perth World Championship and another two more Olympic gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Games as a member of the 4 x 100 meter freestyle and medley relays giving her a total of six career Olympic gold medals.
Amy competed in the 1995 Pan American and Pan Pacific Games winning four gold and three silver medals in freestyle and butterfly events. She was the NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year at Colorado State University in 1994 and then trained with US National Team coach, Jonty Skinner. At 6’0” and 145 pounds, Amy is one of the world’s great freestyle and butterfly sprinters who held the World Record in the 50m butterfly – short course. She was the 1996 U.S.O.C Female Athlete of the Year and the Associated Press Worldwide Female Athlete of the Year. She is seen on the Wheaties cereal box, Got Milk ad and TV and radio programming along with husband Tom Rouen, NFL punter who has won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos.
Happy Birthday Jonty Skinner!!
Jonty Skinner (RSA)
Honor Swimmer (1985)
FOR THE RECORD: WORLD RECORD: 1976 (100m freestyle); AAU NATIONALS (4): 1976, 1977, 1978 (100yd, 100m freestyle; 1 relay); NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1975 (100yd freestyle); U.S. OPEN RECORDS: 3 (100yd freestyle); SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMPION: 1973, 1974 (100m freestyle); Awarded South African “National Colours” in Swimming and Life Saving.
John Alexander Skinner, better known as Jonty, was born in South Africa, educated at Alabama and now coaches the San Jose Aquatic Club in California. He weighed 185 pounds, stood 6’5″ and was the fastest sprinter in the world, but it was 1976, and South Africa was non-grata in the Olympic Games. Jonty watched his friends go one, two, three in the Montreal Olympics on television.
Jonty’s big chance came on “The Day,” August 14, 1976 at Philadelphia’s John B. Kelly Pool. It was the U.S. Nationals, held as an anti-climax. It was hard to get oneself up for a race after the Olympics, as many Americans found four years later trying to beat the times they could have swum if not for the Moscow Olympic boycott. Jonty Skinner knew this was the only chance he’d have to prove he was the world’s best sprinter, even if no one was watching.
Skinner was strictly a hundred sprinter. In addition to his World Record, he won the U.S. Nationals three times, the N.C.A.A.’s once and set a U.S. Open Record and three American Records. He was voted Alabama’s most valuable swimmer three straight years and was both Alabama and South Africa Athlete of the Year.
ISHOF Celebrate Black History Month ~ A Tribute to Coach Jim Ellis
Jim Ellis’ story is testimony to the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and transform human life. His story is the subject of the 2007 film, PRIDE, starring Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac. Ellis was born in 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a period in American social and cultural history when swimming pools were strictly segregated along racial lines and for the most part African Americans were provided very few opportunities to swim. While the Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. Board of Education officially ended segregation, most municipal swimming pools simply closed or privatized in the 1950’s rather than allow racial mixing.
In Pittsburgh, there were two great pools, Highland Park and Kennywood. While Highland Park integrated, Kennywood closed. It was at the Highland Park pool where Jim Ellis learned to love swimming and eventually became a lifeguard at the pool in spite of the racial tensions that existed at the time. He swam for Winchester High School and then Cheney State, a historically Black college near Philadelphia. As the movie PRIDE recounts, Ellis took job in an impoverished neighborhood and founded the P.D.R. (Philadelphia Department of Recreation) Swim Team, based at the Marcus Foster Recreation Center in the Nicetown section of Philadelphia, in 1971.
Over the past 36 years, Ellis has been introducing competitive swimming to inner city youth and their families. His coaching and mentoring has provided a healthy and stimulating environment in which the young athletes can grow and compete. It also brings together families from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Through travel to various competitions, the program exposes swimmers to other parts of the country and different lifestyles. Today, P.D.R. is a nationally recognized competitive swim team, the nation’s best predominately African-American team, and has become a model for urban swim programs around the country. Over a hundred of his swimmers have attended college on swimming scholarships.
As a real-life role model, Ellis’ story strikes a chord with all types of audiences. Coach Ellis is a loveable storyteller whose inspiring true-to-life story captivates and motivates audiences to always remember the influential power of one.
Ellis was recognized by ISHOF not only for his accomplishments as a coach and mentor, but bringing his personal story to the BigScreen. “Jim is a remarkable individual with a remarkable story to tell,” said President of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. “We all share Jim’s dream that PRIDE will serve as an inspiration for more African Americans and everyone who sees the film to share his love of swimming.”