Category: ISHOF News

Happy Birthday Gail Roper!!

Gail Roper (USA)

Honor Masters Swimmer (2003)

FOR THE RECORD:  MASTERS SWIMMING: WORLD RECORDS (42): (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, IM); USMS RECORDS: (166): (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, IM); 1984 MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (50m, 100m, 200m, 400m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke, 50m, 100m, 200m butterfly, 200m, 400m IM); 1985 MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m, 400m freestyle, 50m, 100m, 200m butterfly, 400m IM); 1986 MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m, 800m freestyle, 100m, 200m butterfly, 400m IM); 1988 MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m, 200m butterfly), silver (400m IM); 1952, 1953 US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 6 short course (100yd, 200yd, 250yd breaststroke, 300yd IM), 5 long course (110yd, 220yd breaststroke 330yd IM relays); 40-44 Age Group: 29 NATIONAL RECORDS; 45-49 Age Group: 7 WORLD RECORDS, 39 NATIONAL RECORDS; 50-54 Age Group: 16 WORLD RECORDS, 54 NATIONAL RECORDS; 55-59 Age Group: 12 WORLD RECORDS, 38 NATIONAL RECORDS; 60-64 Age Group: 1 WORLD RECORD, 2 NATIONAL RECORDS; 65-69 Age Group: 6 WORLD RECORDS, 4 NATIONAL RECORDS; US MASTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (130): 74 short course (50yd, 100yd, 200yd butterfly, 200yd backstroke, 100yd, 200yd breaststroke, 50yd, 100yd, 200yd, 500yd, 1650yd freestyle, 100yd, 200yd, 400yd IM), 56 long course (50m, 100m, 200m butterfly, 100m, 200m breaststroke, 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m freestyle, 200m, 400m IM).

She was not a particularly good athlete in school.  In fact, the school coaches never considered her when drawing up a team roster, but this strong willed and dedicated girl coached herself to become the best breaststroker in the world both as a younger senior swimmer and later as a master swimmer.  She had a number one world ranking in 1953, beating out Hungary’s Hall of Famer Eva Szekely, the 1952 Olympic champion and a number one world ranking in each of her Masters swimming age groups.

Gail Peters Roper, born in 1929 in Trenton, New Jersey, learned to swim on her own by reading books on swimming and then trying it out in the water.  She never found a coach serious enough to work with her, but she was the 1948-1951 New Jersey State Champion and a 1948 Eastern Interscholastic Champion.  In 1951, at the age of 22, a few years after high school, she moved to Washington, D.C. as a military geology draftsman for the government.  It was here that she began swimming with the girls on the Walter Reed Hospital Team relays, winning and setting records in the breaststroke, individual medley and 300yd medley relays with Hall of Famers Mary Freeman and Shelly Mann.  In 1952, she became the US National Champion in the 100yd and 200yd breaststroke and the 300yd individual medley in National Record time.  Her performances garnered her a spread in various magazines including the April 1952 Life magazine which described her after winning the US National Championships, “in a bathing suit, she looked scrawny and in street clothes, wearing glasses with a pink rim and rhinestones, she looked anything but athletic.  But in the water she looked wonderful and became the star of the meet.”  She was the swimming nominee for the coveted Sullivan Award that same year.

She coached herself to the 1952 Olympic Trials where she qualified first in the 200m breaststroke on the US Olympic team.  All set to take on the world in Helsinki, she pulled a ligament in her ankle just before the competition and was not able to race.  She left Finland disappointed, but eager to continue in the water.

The next year at the US AAU National Championships she won the High Point award by winning the 100yd and 250yd breaststroke and 300yd medley relay.  Swimming long course, she won the 110yd, 220yd breaststroke, 330yd IM, 330yd medley relay and the 880yd freestyle relay.  And again she was the Sullivan Award nominee.

Gail swam until she was 26 years old, beyond the normal age for a competitive female swimmer.  It was then time to start a family and live the family life.  She stayed away from swimming for 18 years.

It was at the age of 44 that Gail began to swim again, this time on her daughter’s swim team in California.  She competed in the first Masters meet ever held in 1970 and from the start began to set national records in all four strokes and the individual medley.  From 1974 to 1978, her five years in the women’s 45-49 age group, she held every short course yards record in her age group as well as 14 of the 16 long course records for most of those years.  She has set over 42 world records and won 27 gold medals at the first 5 Masters World Championship meets throughout the world.  She has won over 130 US Masters National Championships setting 53 records at these meets.  All total, she has set 166 US National Records in all of the age groups in which she has participated from the 40-44 to the 65-69 age groups.

In 1986, Gail was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and advised to severely restrict her swimming.  Following the doctor’s advice, she finally retired in 1990 and from 1991 through 1994, she was the Masters coach for the very successful University of San Francisco Masters Team.

But you can’t keep a good girl out of the water and in 1994, she decided to return to swimming, instantly setting national and world records in her new 65-69 age group.  Sports Illustrated has called her the most dominant swimmer ever.  Today, as a mother of 7 and grandmother too, she continues to swim up a storm.

Chris Carver to be inducted as Honor Coach of Synchronized/Artistic Swimming in Class of 2023

Chris Carver is a ground-breaking synchronized swimming choreographer and club coach of the world renowned Santa Clara Aquamaids. As the co-head coach of the U.S. National Team, the team won every gold medal in elite international competition between the 1991 Pan American Games and 1996 Olympic Games. Her swimmer, Becky Dyroen-Lancer won all four gold medals at the 1994 FINA World Championships and then repeated the grand slam another eight times for which she earned the FINA Prize, the only synchronized swimmer in history to be honored with the award. With four of her club swimmers on the 1996 Olympic team, Carver choreographed the USA Team to win the Olympics’ first gold medal, in the team event, earning the first perfect 100 score in Olympic history

For many years, Carver has been a promoter of men in synchronized swimming. In 1996, she started coaching Bill May, the first male to compete for the Aquamaids.  At this time, men could not compete at FINA sanctioned events, but open competitions welcomed them throughout the world.  This initiated tremendous support for the inclusion of the event.  Sixteen years later, it was announced that the mixed duet would be included at the 2015 World Aquatic Championships.  Up to that point, men would only be able to compete in open events and competitions. May won first prize at the 1999 Swiss Open and French Open and was named US Synchronized Swimming Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999. Once the inclusion of the mixed duet was announced, May came out of a nearly ten-year retirement, and returned to train with Carver and Christina Jones. In 2015, they won the first FINA World Championships for mixed duets in Kazan. Bill May became the first man in history win a gold medal in a FINA World Championship. In addition, he was honored by FINA as the Top Male Synchronized Swimmer of 2015.  As we progress even further, the Olympic Games of 2024 will introduce men into Artistic Swimming, thanks in part to so many, including people like Chris Carver and Bill May.

Kristina Lum and Bill May

Seven of the nine members of the 2000 US Olympic Team were Carver’s own swimmers as were eight of the nine in 2004, including Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova, who won bronze medals in duet.  Overall, Chris has produced more than 50% of the USA’s Synchronized Swimming Olympians since 1984. In an era when the USA was Synchro’s world leader, Carver was named Coach of the Year by U.S. Synchronized Swimming 14 consecutive time since 1992 and her Santa Clara Aquamaids have won 14 U.S. National Team Championships since 1985. Chris has also been generous with her time and sharing of her knowledge by giving coaching clinics around the world.

Charlotte Davis, Gail Emery and Chris Carver

Come join Carver and this year’s spectacular class of 2023 in Ft. Lauderdale.  If you cannot join us, consider making a donation. To make a donation, click here: https://ishof.org/donate/

This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:

International Swimming Hall of Fame 2023 Honorees

Bob Bowman (USA)……………..…….…….….….…Honor Coach

Chris Carver (USA)………..……………..…….………Honor Coach

Cesar Cielo (BRA)…………..….…….…..….……Honor Swimmer

Kirsty Coventry (ZIM)…………..…….……..….Honor Swimmer

Missy Franklin (USA)…………..…..……..……… Honor Swimmer

Natalia  Ischenko (RUS)…….…Honor Synchronized Swimmer

Kosuke Kitajima (JPN)……….……………….……Honor Swimmer

Heather Petri (USA)……..………..…… Honor Water Polo Player

Michael Phelps (USA)………………..….…………Honor Swimmer

Wu Minxia (CHN)……………………..…….………..……Honor Diver

Sam Ramsamy (RSA)…………….………….…..Honor Contributor

Stephane Lecat (FRA).……………Honor Open Water Swimmer

Trischa Zorn (USA).………..………..Honor Paralympic Swimmer

ISHOF 58th Annual Honoree Induction weekend

Friday, September 29, 2023

ISHOF Aquatic Awards Presented by AquaCal

5:00 – 6:00 PM – ISHOF Awards and Welcome Cocktail Reception – Outside Veranda

Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 / 954.525.4000

6:30 – 8:30 PM – ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal and the ISHOF Specialty Awards Presentation – Caribbean Ballroom

Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 / 954.525.4000

Tickets: $100.00

Saturday, September 30, 2023

58th Annual ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies

5:00 – 6:00 PM Cocktails at the 58th Annual ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies

The Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 / 954.462-02

6:30 – 8:30 PM – the 58th Annual ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies Presentation

The Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 / 954.462-0222

Tickets: $275.00 / $375.00 / $475.00 – Will be available through Ticketmaster beginning in mid July

HOTEL INFORMATION  

Host Hotel:  Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa

To make reservations click here:  https://book.passkey.com/e/50527236 

Upscale retreat with private beach access, two pools, four restaurants, full-service spa and oceanside bar. Location of the Friday evening awards ceremony. ¼ mile south of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

3030 Holiday Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 525-4000

Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $229 per night, 

($39 Resort fee – Guests can opt out if not interested in resort amenities)

Additional Hotel Option: 

Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach

 Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony

440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 524-8733

Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 – $189 per night

Honoree Ceremony September 29-30, 2023: Last Day to Book: Friday, August 31, 2023

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE AND TICKETS

or Call 570.594.4367

MARK SCHUBERT REJOINS THE ISHOF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Last week 1997 ISHOF Honor Coach, Mark Schubert, rejoined the Board of Directors of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.  Schubert, who took a leave of absence, was reinstated as an ISHOF Board Member at the Tuesday, June 14, 2023 Board Meeting by an overwhelming vote.

Schubert’s success as a coach is undeniable.  The one word describing Schubert on his Linkedin page by USA Swimming CEO, Tim Hinchey: LEGEND.  That kind of says it all.

He won his first National Championship, as Coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadore’s Women’s Team in 1974, alongside famed Coach, George Haines of Santa Clara, who took the Men’s and Combined Titles.  Schubert was only 25 at the time and Haines was his idol.  He would go on to win 44 Club National Championships over a total of 13 years. He would also capture nine National Titles for the Mission Bay Makos in Boca Raton, Florida, where he coached for just over three years in the mid to late 1980’s. Schubert would eventually returned to Mission Viejo, looking to bring the club back to its former glory.

He also had success on the NCAA level.  Schubert coached at the University of Southern California and the University of Texas, winning three NCAA Championships and 49 individual NCAA Titles, which included swimmers like Whitney Hedgepeth and Leigh Anne Fetter.

Schubert was a member of the USA Olympic Coaching Staff in 1980, (the Boycott Games) 1984, 1988, 1992 (Head U.S. Women’s Coach), 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympics.

The swimmers that Schubert has coached is like an Olympic roster of who’s who.  Shirley Babashoff (1976), Brian Goodell (1976), Tiffany Cohen (1984), Mike O’Brien (1984), Jesse Vassallo (1984), Dara Torres (1984), and that is just the tip of the iceburg…………

Through his years as a coach, he has served on various USA Swimming Committees, including Steering, Olympic Operations and Technical Operations.   He has also been on the American Swimming Coaches Board of Directors and has served as the College Swim Coaches Association of America’s Vice President.

We are very lucky and happy to welcome this extremely knowledgeable man, back to the ISHOF Board of Directors.

If you would like to read Coach Mark Schubert’s entire 1997 Honoree biography, click here: https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-mark-schubert/

Who wants to go to the Movies?

You may have thought Johnny Weissmuller was the first Swimmer turned Movie Star, but you’d be wrong…..Meet Annette Kellerman of Australia and then Hollywood.

Happy Birthday Margo McGrath!!

Margo McGrath (USA)

Honor Synchronized / Artistic Swimmer (1989)

FOR THE RECORD: AAU SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: 17 (solo, duet, team, 5 successive number 1 figure awards); CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 4 (solo, duet, team); EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2 (duet, team); Pacific Assn’s Outstanding Athlete: 1967, 1968; Helms Hall of Fame: 1970; Lawrence Johnson Aquatic Award: 1968; U.S. Synchronized Swimming Hall of Fame: 1969.

“McGrath & Redmond”.  So might have read the billing in Vaudeville at the Palace.  McGrath and Redmond, the first synchronized duet honored by the International Swimming Hall of Fame would have certainly had top billing anywhere.  This dynamic duo were show biz naturals in the art of “Swimdancing” long before synchronized swimming was recognized in our Aquatic World Championships or at the Olympics.  These two girls were superb athletes and won solo National & International Championships galore, but it was as a pair that they set duet standards previously unmatched in their sport.  Together, they completely dominated U.S. and world synchronized swimming.

Margo McGrath, while modest, honest and generous to a fault was a competitor who dominated synchronized swimming winning a total of 17 U. S. National Championships.  She was the youngest Senior National Champion in the history of the sport at age 13.  She made believers out of speed swimmers, too, when she won San Francisco’s Golden Gate Swim in 56 degree water beating 23 other girls before hundreds of spectators lining the Golden Gate Bridge.

Margo was the technician who brought figures to a new level of excellence.  She put “swim” into synchronized swimming.  She was the expert in fluid motion. Her “poetry in swimming” mesmerized her audience and made them feel a part of the water.  During the years 1966 and 1967, she never lost a championship and was the first to win all four events — solo, duet, team, figures — and did it four times consecutively.

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