Happy Birthday Nathalie Schneyder!
Nathalie Schneyder (USA)
Honor Synchronized / Artistic Swimmer (2013)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (team); 1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: gold (team); 1994 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: gold (team); 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995 FINA WORLD CUP: gold (team); 1991 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (team); 1988, 1992 SWISS OPEN: gold (team); 1991 ROME OPEN: gold (team); 1993 CHINA OPEN: silver (duet); 1994 FRENCH OPEN: gold (team); 1992 U.S. NATIONALS: gold (team), 4th (solo); 1993 U.S. NATIONALS: silver (team), bronze (duet), 5th (solo); 1994 U.S. NATIONALS: silver (team), 4th (duet) 6th (solo); 1995 U.S. NATIONALS: silver (team), bronze (solo).
When Nathalie fell into the swimming pool at the age of four and almost drowned, her mother decided she needed swimming lessons to keep her safe. Within four years, she was competing in synchro as a member of the Walnut Creek Synchronized Swimming Team.
Like in any sport, a number of coaches helped her along the way. Linda Kreiger started her synchronized swimming career; Betty Hazel coached her when she was twelve; Joan Marie Vanaski was her junior team coach who taught her to dance; Hall of Famer Gail Johnson Pucci brought her from the junior team to the club’s “A” team, developing her creativity; Lynn Virglio provided most of the 3,000 to 6,000 yards training before they started synchro training each day; Karen Babb worked tirelessly to get her figures up to par; and Chris Carver, National Team Coach gave her the final touch. But it was Hall of Fame coach Gail Emery who served as her club coach and developed her into the Olympic champion she would become.
As member of the United States National Team for nine years, she and her team rarely missed the top of the podium, winning five FINA World Cups and two FINA World Championships. Winning the 1994 French Open Team Championship in front of her family was special to Nathalie, because her mom and dad had both emigrated from France to the USA. At the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Nathalie reached every athlete’ s dream when she helped the USA win the gold medal with a perfect score of “10 “ in the freestyle event. This was the first and only perfect score of “10” in Olympic synchronized swimming history until Russia received the same award in Beijing for their freestyle routine. But for all of her accomplishments in the pool, she is also famous for the perfect pose with teammate Margo Thien that appeared in “Life Magazines” Celebration of the Olympic Body.
Since retiring from the sport, she has coached, been a consultant and choreographed for teams in China, Great Britain, Argentina and the Netherlands, as well as the U.S. Junior National Team and helped Stanford to their first synchronized swimming Collegiate National Championship.
ISHOF Paragon Awards to become ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal
In 1996, the International Swimming Hall of Fame first began looking for a sponsor to partner with for a new annual award we were creating that would celebrate the unsung heroes who make competitive and recreational aquatics possible. The individuals that we would honor, would be the people who save lives, promote water safety and further aquatic education around the world. The idea would be to recognize these important people who are often overlooked, during the ISHOF Honoree Induction Weekend. Paragon was a wonderful partner for many, many years. We could not have asked for a greater relationship, but after 28 years we are parting ways with Paragon / Pentair as the Title sponsor. Paragon / Pentair will stay involved with ISHOF, but in a smaller capacity.
ISHOF has decided to change the name of the event to the “ISHOF Aquatic Awards”, presented by whoever sponsor we choose. This way if it changes year to year, it will be a much easier name change.
So, for the very first time, for the year 2023, ISHOF is proud to present the ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal.
Mike Dooley, President of Team Horner and AquaCal had this to say about AquaCal’s new partnership with ISHOF: “For decades, the International Swimming Hall of Fame has had a program called “Every Child a Swimmer”, which existed largely in obscurity. Created by champions, the program itself was in need of champions to fulfill its “Spiritual Mission” of teaching children to swim. AquaCal, a subsidiary of The Team Horner Group, in collaboration with the Professional Swimming Pool Industry, The Bill Kent Family Foundation, the World of Aquatics professionals, and State Government Officials, is working to support the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s “Spiritual Mission” of teaching every child to be a swimmer. “In addition to our efforts with the Every Child A Swimmer mission, we are extremely proud to be newly partnered with ISHOF in recognizing this stellar group of individuals who are the recipients of the 2023 ISHOF Aquatic Awards, presented by AquaCal. “
AquaCal® has been the leading swimming pool heat pump manufacturer since 1981, offering a full range of units to meet any heating need. AquaCal® can maintain anything from small above ground pools up to very large commercial facilities. (Currently heating and chilling the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Aquatic Center pools) The chillers, as well as the heat and cool units, can be used to create cold plunge pools for therapy too. Whatever your pool heating/cooling needs, AquaCal® can help!
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s annual ISHOF Aquatic Awards, presented by AquaCal. The ISHOF Aquatic Awards are presented annually to individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to aquatics. This year’s recipients are Mike Unger for Competitive Swimming; Mark Koganov for Water Polo; Ellie Smart for Diving; Maria Jóse Bilbao Bruñel for Artistic/Synchronized Swimming; Cullen Jones for Water Safety and Sofia Forte for Recreational Swimming. This year’s awards will be held Friday evening September 29, 2023 during the ISHOF Honoree Induction weekend, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
To make hotel reservations,
HOTEL INFORMATION
Host Hotel: Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
Upscale retreat with private beach access, two pools, four restaurants, full service spa and oceanside bar.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, BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE
($39 Resort fee – Guests can opt out if not interested in resort amenities)
Additional Hotel Option: Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach
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, September 15, 2023
Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony
Make your plans now to attend the weekend, September 29-30, 2023!
Happy Birthday Adrian Moorhouse
Adrian Moorhouse (GBR)
Honor Swimmer (1999)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: 4th (100m breaststroke); 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (100m breaststroke); 1992 OLYMPIC GAMES: 8th (100m breaststroke); ONE WORLD RECORD: 100m breaststroke: 1991 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (100m breaststroke); 1982 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: gold (100m breaststroke), silver (4x100m medley relay), bronze (200m breaststroke); 1986 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: gold (200m breaststroke), silver (100m breaststroke, 4x100m medley relay); 1990 COMMONWEALTH GAMES: gold (100m breaststroke), silver (4x100m medley relay); 1981 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (200m breaststroke); 1983 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (200m breaststroke), silver (100m breaststroke); 1985 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m breaststroke); 1987 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m breaststroke), silver (4x100m medley relay), bronze (200m breaststroke); 1989 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (100m breaststroke); 1991 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: silver (100m breaststroke); ONE U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: short course (100y breaststroke); Awarded MBE.
Not since David Wilkie in the 1970’s had Great Britain seen a breaststroker like Adrian Moorhouse. Duncan Goodhew had won the Olympic gold medal in Moscow in 1980, but Moorhouse was equally great in the 100m and 200m races. He was destined to become the world’s best.
It all began in Leeds at age 4 when Moorhouse started swimming. However by age 9, he developed bronchial asthma and the doctor’s antidote was “keep swimming and do more of it”. That’s why under the tutelage of Coach Terry Denison at the Leeds Central Swimming Club, Adrian swam his way into the record books.
The 1982 Commonwealth Games at Brisbane were his first major international championships – gold in the 100m breaststroke in front of the Queen, silver in the 4×100 medley relay and bronze in the 200-meter. He won the gold medal in the 200m breaststroke the next year at the European Championships. In 1984 two months before the Olympics, Moorhouse was diagnosed with the German measles and told he had had them for the past three months, explaining the tiredness he had been experiencing. He never really recovered for Los Angeles, finishing a disappointing 4th in the 100m breaststroke. This was a time to heal and with the help of Denison, a time to re-evaluate his life goals.
At the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Moorhouse was back on track winning the 200m breaststroke and taking silver medals in the 100m breast and 4x100m medley relay. At the 1986 Madrid World Championships, he touched first in the 100m event but was disqualified due to a rule infraction. First in the World, but he didn’t win the prize. He continued: 1987, gold in the 100m breaststroke and medley relay at the European Championships in Strasbourg. It was on to Seoul and the 1988 Olympic Games.
In Seoul, he defeated Karoly Guttler (HUN) and Dimitri Volkov (URS) to win the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:02.04. He had previously set the world record in 1989 with a time of 1:01.49 breaking Steve Lundquist’s (USA) 5 year old record and equaling it another 2 times on separate occasions. Moorhouse wanted to continue after the Games. At the 1989 European Championships he won gold in the 100m breast and silver two years later in 1991 for a total of 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in a decade of European Championship swimming.
Adrian competed in his third Olympic Games in 1992 earning an 8th place finish in the 100m breaststroke behind Nelson Diebel (USA).
Spanning a phenomenal 14 year swimming career against such greats as Steve Lundquist (USA), Victor Davis (CAN), Karoly Guttler (HUN) and Mike Barrowman (USA), Adrian set the 100m breaststroke record three times. In all he competed in three Olympic Games and won 3 golds, 4 silver and 1 bronze medal in Commonwealth Games competition. He will be remembered as one of the world’s great breaststroke swimmers.
Share your memories of Fort Lauderdale and your favorite meet at the Hall of Fame Pool
As swimming fans and swimmers, we all have stories: Our first trip to Fort Lauderdale, whether it was to swim at a YMCA National Championship, visit during Christmas at the College Coaches Swim Forum or make a trek to Fort Lauderdale for Spring Break, or visiting the ISHOF Museum the memories are countless. We would love for you to share your #HallofFameMemories with us. Email meg@ishof.org and include your story and your name and we’ll share selected ones with our “swimming family.” We will post our favorites once a week. The best story at the end of the Summer will get a Hall of Fame T-Shirt.
To learn more about the history of Fort Lauderdale’s Casino Pool and Hall of Fame Pool/Aquatic Center, Click here:
Our wonderful friend and ISHOF Honor Swimmer Libby Lenton Trickett welcomes baby #4, a boy!!!!
After three beautiful little girls, Poppy, Eddie and Bronte, Libby gave birth to a beautiful healthy boy on May 17th at 9:09 a.m.
Libby posted via her Instagram page:
“The final little piece to our family puzzle (for reals this time! )
Alfred Sunny Trickett arrived at 9.09am on the 17th of May via an elective caesarean birth, weighing 3.5kg and 52cm long.
Every birth I’ve had has been extraordinary and this one was no different. Calm, full of joy and laughter, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to meet our baby boy.
Alfie has no idea what he’s in for with his 3big sisters and the girls are absolutely smitten. ☀️”
Libby came halfway around the world to Fort Lauderdale for her induction in 2017 with her husband Luke, her Mother, as babysitter and helper and daughters, Poppy and Eddie, as a newborn.
Congratulations Libby, Luke, Poppy, Eddie, Bronte and welcome to the world Alfred Sunny Trickett!!!!
I can’t remember meeting a lovelier person. Rebecca Adlington was inducted that year too. Between the two of the them, they might have been the sweetest girls ever!
Look who stopped by yesterday! Honoree Michelle Cameron Coulter ~ Honor Synchronized Swimmer from Canada with her husband Allan!
The lovely Michelle Cameron Coulter and her husband, Allan, stopped by the ISHOF Museum yesterday to say hello. Michelle was thrilled to be back, 23 years after her induction! “I only had three children the last time I was here!” We actually found a photo to fit that description at her 2000 induction.
Michelle, Allan and their three children at her 2000 Induction
Michelle and Allan spent a good while going through her “ISHOF file”. Since we spent so much time packing up the museum last year, especially the library, there has been much debate on whether or not we should keep the actual paper articles from the past. Everything now is digitized and it is all available online, so why would we need an article from 1975 or 1947 or even 1936, that is yellowing? Well, Michelle inadvertingly helped answer that questions yesterday. People love going through old things, articles, photos, magazines, they like to touch them, I think; the feel of them, somehow it is different than looking on a computer screen. (Which is how I felt when packing up the library, so we decided to save it all and packed it away.)
Michelle and Allan looking through her old articles, programs, and photos, in her “Honoree file”
We are so glad that the Coulters stopped by to say hello. Even though a lot of our things are packed away waiting for the new museum construction to begin, when an Honoree stops by, it is so wonderful, it makes us remember the reason we are here and why we do what we do every day.
Please read Michelle’s Honoree story below:
Michelle Cameron (CAN)
Honor Synchronized / Artistic Swimmer (2000)
The information on this page was written the year of their induction.
FOR THE RECORD: 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (duet); 1986 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: gold (duet, team); 1987 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: silver (team).
Coach Debbie Muir knew exactly what she was doing when she paired Hall of Fame Honoree Carolyn Waldo with this upcoming star just after the 1984 Olympic Games. Waldo had just won the Olympic synchronized swimming solo silver medal in Los Angeles. The young rising partner-to-be had been on the National Team only three years, but the union was to be the best match of the era. Waldo and her new partner, Michelle Cameron, never lost a major international event for the next four years, an Olympic quadrennium.
Michelle started as a youngster extremely fearful of the water, failing her first swimming level four times. From a family of 10 children (5 girls, 5 boys), she learned to survive and by the time she was 13 years old, she started synchronized swimming in her hometown of Calgary, Alberta. Michelle Caulkins became her first coach, but in 1981 Debbie Muir became her mentor at the Calgary Aquabelles Club. After teaming up with Carolyn Waldo in late 1984, Michelle never looked back.
The duet of Cameron and Waldo won every major duet international competition they entered: 1985 Rome and Spanish Opens, 1985 FINA World Cup, 1986 Spanish Open, 1986 Commonwealth Games, 1986 World Championships, 1987 Pan Pacific Championships and the 1987 FINA World Cup.
The 1988 Olympic Games at Seoul were the highlight of her career. Michelle and Carolyn swam to the music of “Spartacus” for their Olympic duet. With their dramatic, technically difficult beginning, slow artistic middle and fast-paced, catchy ending, they beat the USA’s Josephson twins by .433 points to win the gold medal. For Michelle it capped a 13 year career which saw her win 8 national titles in duet and team.
Known as “Mick” or “Mish” by her friends and family, Michelle is known for her adventurousness and spontaneity. In duet synchronized swimming where athletes must synchronize their movements, perform with technical accuracy and be artistic in their approach, they must be equal in performance and ability. Cameron and Waldo were equals when they won their Olympic gold medals and international competitions That’s why they’re Hall of Fame Honorees.
After retirement from competition, Michelle participated in many causes and charities. In 1996, she continued in the Olympic spirit as Canada’s Athlete Services Officer at the Atlanta Games. She has been involved with Special Olympics, children’s charities, drug awareness programs and missions of preventative health and nutritional support to children in need all over the world. She has been on the Board of Directors for Rogers Broadcasting, the Canadian Coaching Association, the Canadian Sports Council, the Canadian Athletes Association and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. As a performance development and motivational speaker, Michelle and her husband, Alan Coulter (two-time Olympic volleyball team member and captain) raise three children. One of her most prestigious awards has been the Order of Canada presented in 1989.
Throwback Thursday Video – 2023 Honoree Michael Phelps as a young teen before he owned any Olympic medals…..
Heather Petri, Sixth Female Water Polo Player to be inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame
Heather Petri is a four-time Olympian, winning one gold (2012), two silver (2000, 2008) and a bronze medal (2004) as part of the USA Women’s National Water Polo Team. She is only one of four women to be a four-time Olympian and one of two, who has won four Olympic medals. Heather is only the sixth woman ever to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in the sport of water polo, behind teammates Brenda Villa and Maureen O’Toole, Australians Debbie Watson and Bridgette Gusterson, and Karin Kuipers of the Netherlands.
As an Olympian, she helped Team USA win the gold medal in the 2012 London Games, the silver medal in 2000- the first-year women were allowed to compete in water polo in the Olympic Games, then in 2008, Beijing; and finally, the bronze in 2004, in the Athens Games.
Petri was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2018, and prior to that, into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year she had her cap retired by the Cal women’s water polo program, where she played collegiate water polo from 1997–2001. Petri also was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team in 2016.
Petri represented the USA at the other events as well, winning three World Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2009, three gold in the FINA Women’s Water Polo World League Super Finals in 2009, 2011 and 2013 and two Pan American gold medals in 2007 and 2011.
Heather also played professional water in Europe for several seasons and she is currently the Women’s water polo coach at her alma mater, Cal.
Come join Heather 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 (ZMB)…………..…….……..….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
September 29-30, 2023 – Complete schedule will be forthcoming soon.
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 Saturday evening induction 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
World Aquatics updates and clarification on the Paris 2024 Rules and Qualification
Written by:FINA Communication Department
In a historic milestone for aquatic sports, men will be eligible to compete in the Olympics’ artistic swimming competitions for the first time at the Paris 2024 Games.
Following IOC approval, World Aquatics today announces updates and clarifications to the rules and Olympic Qualification System for aquatic sports at Paris 2024 Games. Key among these was the inclusion of male athletes in artistic swimming.
The change means that, for the first time, both men and women will be eligible to compete in all the aquatic sports included in the Olympic Games programme. Rules enabling the participation of men in team events will also apply to World Aquatics World Championships and Junior World Championships.
Artistic Swimming
Image Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
On 3 October this year, during the Technical Congress, World Aquatics Rule AS 6.2.1 was modified for artistic swimming. The modified rule specifies the following:
For Olympic Games, team routines shall consist of eight (8) competitors. The total number of competitors entered by each Federation (unless otherwise specified) may not exceed nine (9) competitors, one as reserve. The total number of competitors may include a maximum of two (2) male competitors.
Mixed team entries in artistic swimming first featured in an international competition in 1998 and a dedicated mixed event has been featured in World Aquatics competitions since 2015.
“Aquatics sports are universal, and men have proven themselves to be excellent artistic swimmers. I look forward to seeing this new dimension of artistic swimming being shared with the world in Paris. The inclusion of men in artistic swimming is a great credit to all those who have worked for many years to make this happen,” said World Aquatics President Captain Husain Al-Musallam.
Diving
Image Source: World Aquatics/Antoine Saito
The Olympic Qualification System for diving has been clarified. References to phases one, two and three have been deleted or replaced to account for calendaring, with the prospect of Continental Championships taking place before the World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2022 (to be held in July 2023). The three pathways to qualification, via the World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2022, the Continental Championships and the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024 remain.
Open Water Swimming
Image Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
In open water swimming, a clarification has also been issued for those National Olympic Committees (NOCs) wishing to enter pool athletes in the Marathon Swimming event. These athletes must have achieved an Olympic Qualification Time in either the 800m or 1500m freestyle (for both genders). These athletes must also have swum in either the 800m or 1500m freestyle at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 prior to competing in the Marathon Swimming event there. All entries must comply with team limits whereby no more than two athletes per event of the same gender are from the same NOC.
Swimming
Image Source: Al Bello/Getty Images
For the Olympic Qualification System for swimming at Paris 2024, a clarification has also been made. As previously indicated, three (3) NOCs per relay event will qualify for the corresponding relay event at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 based on the final results achieved by their respective World Aquatics member federations at the World Aquatics Championships 2022 in Fukuoka.
The remaining 13 teams for each relay event will qualify on the basis of the fastest times from the preliminaries and finals performances of both the World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2022 and the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024.
Aquatics Sports at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Image Source: Getty Images
As was the case at Tokyo 2020, aquatics sports at Paris 2024 will offer the most medal opportunities for athletes at the Olympic Games.
Swimming will take place at Paris La Défense Arena, where a temporary pool will be used to enable as many as 17,000 spectators per session to experience the racing, as well as the water polo finals.
Diving, artistic swimming and the preliminary water polo games will take place at the new Aquatics Centre, one of only two sports venues being built for the Olympic Games and due to open in 2023. The Aquatics Centre will ensure a long-term boost to aquatic sports in Seine-Saint-Denis, the area to the North and West of Paris that will also be home to the Olympic Village. Seine-Saint-Denis is currently the French department that is least well-served in terms of swimming pool provision.
Open water swimming will take place in the Seine, the river running through the heart of Paris and providing an iconic experience for athletes, spectators and worldwide audiences alike.
United by Water | The Gyarmati aquatics family of Hungary
Written by:Meg Keller-Marvin, International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF)
In the Gyarmati family, a love of water is matched by their success in the pool. Dezso, Eva and Andrea are the lone father, mother and daughter grouping with their names etched into the walls of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Dezso Gyarmati | An Icon of Water Polo
Coming from a small, landlocked country in central Europe, at first blush it might come as a surprise that Hungarian athletes have traditionally excelled in the pool, particularly in water polo and swimming. Water polo is the national sport of Hungary.
As it has been said many times, Dezso Gyarmati is “the most decorated player in the history of water polo.” It’s a hard sentiment to argue. Gyarmati participated in five Olympics and medalled in each of those Games, including winning three gold medals at Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956 and Tokyo 1964 event editions.
The gold medal in Melbourne was a memorable event in the history of water polo. The Hungarians played the Soviets, in what became known as “The Blood in the Water” match, in which many stories have been written and even movies have been made. The match was played just weeks after the Soviets had invaded Hungary. Hungary won 4-0, with Gyarmati scoring the first goal, and setting up the other three in the semifinal.
Gyarmati and the Hungarians won the silver medal at the London 1948 Olympics and the bronze at the Rome 1960 Games.
After his career in water polo, Gyarmati went on to become the national team coach, where he won the first gold medal for Hungary at the first FINA World Championships (Belgrade 1973). In time, Gyarmati’s daughter Andrea would become Hugary’s top swimmer and a world record-setter.
Gyarmati coached the Hungarian Team from 1972 -1980, and then again from 1985-1988. In addition to the gold in 1973, the team won two silver World Championship medals in 1975 and 1978. The team also took gold at the first World Cup event in 1979 and two European Championships under Dezso.
After his successful career in coaching, Dezso went into politics, where he was already respected and well-known in his country. Elected as a Member of Parliament from the Hungarian Democratic Forum, he served on the Municipality, Public Administration, Internal Security and Police Committee, beginning in 1990.
In 2003, he was appointed chairman of the sports section of the Fidesz’s Cultural Department where he served for several years.
Hungary lost an icon in 2013 when Gyarmati passed away that August. World Aquatics said at the time “we are in mourning,” and went on to call him one of the best water polo players of all time and described him like this: “The left-handed genius could play in all positions of the field. Known for his fearless approach in every game, he was able to decide the biggest clashes single-handedly.”
Despite a long illness, Gyarmati attended Hungary’s last match before the World Championships – Barcelona 2013 and watched Hungary’s victory in the championship from his hospital bed.
He remained a water polo player until his last breath, which is only fitting for the greatest water polo player of our time.
Dezso Gyarmati was inducted into ISHOF in 1976.
As if Dezso Gyarmati was not enough in his own right, he went on to marry Eva Szekely, 1952 Hungarian Olympic gold-medal swimmer. Together they had the aforementioned Andrea Gyarmati, who won an Olympic gold medal for Hungary at the Munich 1972 Games.
Never has a father, mother and daughter all been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame until the Gyarmati Family came along.
Eva Szekely | “Madame Butterfly” of Swimming
Image Source: ISHOF
Eva Szekely, more than any other swimmer, took the difficult transitions in world records, more than any stride from butterfly-breast (Olympic gold) allowed in 1952 to the orthodox breast (Olympic silver) required in 1956.
Eva known as the original “Madame Butterfly,” overcame rough treatment during World War II to become the 100m breaststroke world record holder and Olympic gold medallist in the 200m breaststroke at the Helsinki 1952 Games. Four years later, Szekely would add another Olympic medal in the event – this time silver.
She was the first world record holder in the 400-metre individual medley in 1953. In a long career of three Olympics (1948-52-56), Szekely was Europe’s best all-around swimmer in the early 1950s. After her swimming career, she became a coach, training daughter, Andrea to a world record and Olympic fame.
Eva Szekely was inducted into ISHOF in 1976, right alongside her husband, Dezso.
Andrea Gyarmati | Continues the family legacy as Hungary’s top swimming ace
Image Source: ISHOF
Andrea Gyarmati was born in 1954 in Budapest, Hungary, to parents who had an Olympic heritage. Andrea’s commitment to succeed in her life goals developed because of her parents’ example.
Taught to swim at the age of three by her mother’s coach, the master and Hall of Famer, Imre Sarosi. By the age of four, Andrea was jumping off the 10m diving tower. As Andrea improved and her swimming became more her focus, Eva became her coach and taught Andrea the butterfly stroke – the stroke first performed in the 1940s by Eva as the overarm breaststroke which earned her the “Madame Butterfly” title.
Twenty-five years later, it was Andrea Gyarmati setting records at the Munich 1972 Olympics. Her goal was the Olympic gold medal, and she had not lost a 100m fly race in the preceding four years. In the semi-finals, she set a new Olympic and world record — 1:03.34. Eight of her competitors qualified for the finals within seven-tenths of a second of each other, but the in the finals Andrea couldn’t keep the winning streak alive.
To anyone else, a bronze medal would have been acceptable; Andrea was going for the gold. But she was strong and spirited and knew that only the winners can cry. She returned the next day to win a silver medal in the 100m backstroke, only one-tenth of a second behind Hall of Famer Melissa Belote of the United States.
All told, Andrea was Europe’s best butterflier and backstroker in the late 1960s and into the early 1970s, with Hungary honouring her as the country’s “Sportswoman of the Year” from 1968 through 1972. She won 28 Hungarian national championships in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. This included seven consecutive national championships in the 100m butterfly and winning the 100m backstroke for four consecutive years.
Andrea Gyarmati joins her parents to become the only mother, father, and daughter family ever to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.