ISHOF hosts Paragon and Specialty Awards during Induction weekend
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) celebrated the recipients of the 2022 Paragon and ISHOF specialty awards on Friday evening, October 14, 2022, to kick off the ISHOF Induction weekend.
2022 Paragon Awards, sponsored by Pentair
The Paragon Class of 2022 consisted of six stellar individuals from around the globe with credentials that were quite impressive.
About This Year’s Paragon Award Recipients
Julie Ahlering – Diving
Bruce Wigo (ISHOF Curator), Julie Ahlering (Paragon Diving), Mike Fowler
St. Louis native Julie (Capps) Ahlering was a four-time All-American Diver and Scholar-Athlete for the University of Miami, coached by ISHOF Honoree, Tom Gompf, and ISHOF Paragon Award winner, Steve McFarland. She was a finalist in over 25 national diving events, including the Olympic Diving Trials.
After college, she returned to St. Louis and raised four sons, but diving was not at all forgotten. She was asked to become a FINA Certified Diving Judge and help provide needed expertise in the sport. In 2010 she became FINA certified and immediately became known as one of the best diving officials in the United States. She judged ten NCAA, ACC, and PAC-12 Championships as well as three Olympic Diving Trials. Ahlering soon became among the most respected international Diving judges in the World, judging FINA World Cups, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games. She also represented the United States as their Olympic Judge in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Julie’s love for diving and dedication to Judging found a partner in arms with former Paragon winner, Cokey Huffman (2016). Together they, and other like-minded colleagues, established the United States Diving Judge Education and Certification Program. Today it is one of the world’s top programs of its kind. Ahlering’s contribution to the sport of Diving and her commitment to fair play will continue to live on through this program and her example of giving back to the sport she loves!
Margaret MacLennan – Artistic (Synchronized) Swimming
Bruce Wigo (ISHOF Curator), Michelle Calkins (ISHOF Honoree), Mike Fowler (Pentair)
At 84 years young, and living out in British Columbia, Margaret was unable to come to Fort Lauderdale and receive her Paragon Award in person. She was, however, very well represented by her former (synchronized) swimmer, ISHOF Honoree, Michelle Calkins DeFillippi, who flew in from Hawaii to represent and accept the award for Marg.
Margaret MacLennan was the first female to be named a member of the FINA Bureau (now FINA TSSC) in 1988 after she decided that synchronized swimming needed a presence. It was her passion and her valuable skills that not only earned her a seat on the Bureau but allowed her to influence the advancement of FINA rules for synchronized swimming. Her political astuteness and diplomacy elevated the credibility and interest of synchronized swimming in a field of male-dominated aquatic sports. She worked tirelessly and consistently with the Bureau during her tenure and was well respected by her peers.
She began as a long-time judge and volunteer in BC Synchro before she became involved in the sport at the international level as a member of the formerly named FINA TSSC (Technical Synchronized Swimming Committee), from 1980 to 1988. Margaret lobbied long and strong with her cohorts to bring Synchronized Swimming to the world stage as part of the Olympic Games, as well as working with FINA to elevate the sport. She served as the Technical Delegate for Synchro at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia, and officiated the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Games as well.
She began her synchronized swimming journey in Vancouver, Canada, swimming for several different synchronized swimming clubs (1959-1965). Her highest achievement was placing second in duet at the Canadian National Championships. Marg moved from the pool to the deck, founding and coaching several synchronized swimming clubs (1960-1973).
Marg has a son Doug, a daughter Ann and a grandson, Logan.
Al Beaird – Water Polo
Bruce Wigo, Al Beaird, Mike Fowler
After recently retiring from the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, ISHOF was pleased to honor Al for his many years of service to the sport of water polo, and it was nice that he was able to be joined by his wife and daughter.
For 24 years, Al Beaird served as Executive Director for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). He was the first Executive Director chosen in 1992 when the MPSF was created and established to serve the competitive needs of member institutions from the Big West, Pacific-10 (now the Pac-12), and Western Athletic Conferences, as well as other selected universities in the western United States; and to provide championships competition for Division I intercollegiate Olympic sports in a conference setting. The founding principles on which the MPSF was originally formed were to provide enhanced competition and championship opportunities for sports without conference affiliation, to contain the costs of competition, and to ensure the survival of endangered sports.
The MPSF sports portfolio included, among other sports, men’s and women’s water polo, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and women’s water polo. Currently, the MPSF provides a conference home to 85-100 teams from 35+ universities in nine states competing in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics. Since the inception of the Federation, MPSF teams have won 81 NCAA team titles…
In addition to his position as Executive Director at the MPSF, Al was a member of the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Committee 2000-2004 (committee chair 2001-2004) and chair of the inaugural NCAA Men’s and Women’s Joint Water Polo Rules Committee 2004. Member National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and National Association of Sports Officials (NASO). Al retired from MPSF in 2021.
J. Arturo Abraldes, Ph. D. – Aquatic Safety
Bruce Wigo (ISHOF Curator), Dr. Arturo Abraldes, Mike Fowler (Pentair), Jennie Strauss (Translator)
Arturo lives in Murcia, on the Southeastern, coast of Spain, near Cartegena. He was very proud and pleased to travel to Florida and the United State to accept his award and be here in person and celebrate with his fellow award winners.
Dr. Arturo Abraldes is a fine example of a person that successfully mixes theory and practice in water safety, both nationally and internationally. He has served in the field of lifesaving as an academic, author, researcher, lifeguard, instructor, sports coach, journal editor, and conference facilitator for the last 25 years. His qualifications are both academic and vocational. He received a Master’s degree in Physical Education, Sports, and Health Education and a Ph.D. in Physical Education with a thesis on lifesaving. He holds 14 certifications in swimming, lifesaving, first aid, lifeguarding, instructor, coach, referee, and the national assessor from seven organizations (Spanish Lifesaving Federation, Galicia Lifesaving Federation, Rescue 3 International, Spanish Association Emergency, Spanish Swimming Federation, Spanish Lifesaving Referee Committee and Spanish Association Club Lifesaving), having practiced all these subjects.
Like his studies, his work has always been related to lifesaving professionally. After working for many years as a lifeguard and then sport lifesaving coach, he was instrumental in the formation of sports lifesaving of the Lifesaving Federation of Galicia, as the Secretary, Manager, and Vice President at different times. He also acts as a board member of the Lifesaving Federation of Galicia and the Spanish Association of Lifesaving Clubs.
And with over 180 publications, Arturo is one of the most prolific water safety authors in the world. He has co-authored over 20 lifesaving-related books, and numerous educational DVDs, and has been a speaker at national and international conferences. For his contributions to the field of water safety, he has been honored several times as well both locally and nationally.
Ellaine Cox – Competitive Swimming
Bruce Wigo (ISHOF Curator) and ISHOF Honor Contributor, Carol Zaleski accepting for Ellaine Cox, Mike Fowler (Paragon/Pentair)
If you have ever been to a United States Aquatic Sports convention, then you know or you’ve seen Ellaine Cox! Unfortunately, due to the kindness that is Ellaine, and the importance that she places on family, she was unable to accept her award in person……It was her Aunt’s 93rd birthday and all she wanted was for Ellaine to be a present for her birthday. So, Ellaine chose her Aunt’s feelings over her own. No surprise to anyone who knows Ellaine. Luckily, long-time friend, Carol Zaleski was there to step in for Ellaine and came prepared with a photo of her and Ellaine from the early 1990s. You were missed Ellaine!
Ellaine Cox began her career in swimming because she was a bored swim parent, sitting in the stands, waiting for her daughter to swim. She began as a timer, which evolved into a stroke and turns judge at the local level, state, and finally USA Swimming level, and was eventually attending monthly meetings in Indianapolis.
For Indiana Swimming she progressed from the representative for the monthly meetings for Michiana Marlins (South Bend) to Age Group Chairman, Administrative Vice Chairman, Indiana Swimming, and finally as a member of the Board of Directors. Eventually, Ellaine was asked to attend the annual United States Aquatic Sports convention, representing Indiana Swimming. She also served on the USA Swimming Site Selection/Facilities Committee for a number of years;
Recognizing another like-minded woman in 1986, Carol Zaleski asked Ellaine if she would consider chairing the Awards Committee for USA Swimming. Ellaine agreed and served as Chair until 2020 several committee responsibilities were taken in-house by USA Swimming for staff members to manage.
In 1998, Ellaine’s real talent was really put to the test when she was asked to become the Convention coordinator for the United States Aquatic Sports. Ellaine says she “was able to persuade the most amazing group of special friends, Bob and Helen Brown, Margaret Donofrio, Deb Turner, Penny Taylor, Paul, and Mary Beth Windrath, and Gay Wright to join me in this undertaking. As a team, we were able to generate one million dollars in profit for USAS in the years we were ‘in charge’.” Best bunch of brains and talents one could ask for! In 1999 we were responsible for our first convention in Burlingame, CA. As a result of the relationship, we established with Hyatt Hotels we were able to keep rates under control for the delegation that represented USA Diving, Master’s Swimming, USA Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, and Water Polo.”
Kent Williams, PPOA – Recreational Swimming
Photo Courtesy: Aquatics International
Although he was also unable to join us for health reasons, Kent Williams was also part of Paragon’s Class of 2022 in the category of Recreational Swimming.
Kent Williams literally wrote the book on swimming pool operations. He personally developed the program and wrote the textbook for the National Recreational Pool Association’s Aquatic facility Operator’s program, starting in 1991 and he went on to continue to help shape the educational pool operational process. In addition, he founded and operated the PPOA, the Professional Pool Operators of America, to promote professionalism and recognition of swimming pool operators.
Williams’s goal was to bring professionalism to his industry. In fact, to be part of his 1,500-member organization, you had to be a graduate of a recognized pool-operator curriculum, an instructor, or a pool-assigned environmental health specialist. “They’re truly professional because they are fully certified,” he would say. His PPOA membership stretched to Canada, Europe, Australia, Central America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. His group aimed to recognize, acknowledge, train, and refine the operators of institutional and public aquatics facilities throughout the Americas (and now the developed world).
Now retired, due to health issues, Williams is proud of what he did for his industry and hopes what he began continues to grow.
ISHOF Specialty Awards
The ISHOF specialty awards are presented annually to individuals for outstanding contributions to the aquatics community. The awards were presented along with the Paragon Awards on Friday evening.
This year’s ISHOF Specialty Award Recipients
Michael Loynd – 2022 Buck Dawson Author Award: The Watermen: The Birth of American Swimming and One Young Man’s Fight to Capture Olympic Gold
Author Michael Loynd, Bruce Wigo
The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame was pleased to award the 2022 Buck Dawson Author’s Award to Michael Loynd for his book, The Watermen: The Birth of American Swimming and One Young Man’s Fight to Capture Olympic Gold. This award is presented by ISHOF in the name of William “Buck” Dawson, ISHOF’s founding Executive Director, to an author of work that promotes and educates people about aquatics. Buck would have been thrilled with Michael’s book about Honoree, Charles Daniels.
Mike Loynd is chairman of the St. Louis Olympic Committee, a representative on the International Olympic Committee’s World Union of Olympic Cities, a member of the International Society of Olympic Historians, and a sports attorney and lecturer. He is the author of All Things Irish: A Novel, and now, The Waterman: The Birth of American Swimming and One Young Man’s Fight to Capture Olympic Gold, the story of ISHOF Honoree, Charlie Daniels. Loynd lives in St. Louis with his family.
Jordan Whitney-Wei — 2021 Buck Dawson Author Award: Katharine Whitney Curtis – Mother of Synchronized Swimming
2021 Buck Dawson Award Winner, Jordan Whitney Wei
The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame happily awarded, one year late due to Covid, the 2021 Buck Dawson Author’s Award to Jordan Whitney-Wei for his book, Katharine Whitney Curtis – The Mother of Synchronized Swimming. This award is presented by ISHOF in the name of William “Buck” Dawson, ISHOF’s founding Executive Director, to an author of work that promotes and educates people about aquatics
Jordan Whitney-Wei is the great-grandnephew of Katharine Whitney Curtis. His book, Katharine Whitney Curtis – Mother of Synchronized Swimming was released on February 25, 2020. His previous writing and research focused on philosophy and poetry, but this time, it focuses on family, synchronized swimming, and his “Aunt Kate,” a woman ahead of her time. This is Whitney-Wei’s third book and his first award. Katharine “Kay” Curtis was the originator of synchronized swimming, as we know it today. She also wrote a book about it in 1936. Though there was much more to her life and career. Unbound by fear, or the narrow expectations of society, she was a woman who lived ahead of her time making things happen along the way. Curtis was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1979. The book will be available on Amazon for purchase.
About Buck Dawson: Dawson was a veteran of WWII who served as assistant and publicist for Generals Gavin and Ridgeway in the 82nd Airborne. From the time he was chosen to lead ISHOF in 1962, until his death in 2008, Buck traveled the world armed with Hall of Fame brochures, books, and bumper stickers. He was always spreading the word, and always willing to talk and teach swimming and swimming history to anyone who would listen. He wrote hundreds of articles and was the author of eight books, ranging in subjects from bathing beauties to war, but especially swimming.
Russell Weaver — 2022 International Swimming Hall of Fame Service Award
Staffers Laurie Marchwinski and Meg Keller-Marvin present Russell Weaver with ISHOF Service Award
The Staff of the International Swimming Hall of Fame was pleased to present Russell Weaver with the 2022 ISHOF Service Award. The ISHOF Service Award is given to an individual who has selflessly volunteered their time, energy, and/or resources to advance the interests and work of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Russell Weaver has easily given over 25 years of his time, connections, and resources to ISHOF. He is extensively involved with business networks throughout South Florida. When he attends these meetings and events, he always has in his mind, “Can this help ISHOF in any way?” As president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Sisters Cities International and co-chair of Tower Club Internationals, Weaver works closely together with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Broward County, and the City of Fort Lauderdale. He helps to promote Broward County’s business and cultural highlights to the Miami-based Consulates and binational chamber of commerce organizations. During these international monthly meetings, new business and government relationships are established, highlighting Fort Lauderdale and Broward County as world-class destinations. As always, Weaver remembers ISHOF and always gives us the opportunity to showcase our Honorees at some of these events and educate the international and local community and others, about what our museum has to offer.
James S. O’Connor — 2022 Judge G. Harold Martin Award
Judge G. Harold Martin Award Winner, James O’Connor, had a lot of support from family and friends
The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame was pleased to honor James (Jim) O’Connor, as the 2022 Judge G. Harold Martin Award recipient. The G. Harold Martin Award is presented to someone for their long and exceptional leadership, insight, and dedication to the water safety of children and the cause of making “Every Child A Swimmer”.
Jim O’Connor has more than 40 years of experience as an aquatic professional and is committed to the prevention of aquatic accidents and teaching children to swim. O’Connor is the Aquatics Program Manager for Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Open Spaces Department, the third largest parks and recreation department in the United States and the largest municipal learn-to-swim provider in the state.
Mr. O’Connor has held numerous aquatic positions, served on the “Advisory Council” of the “National Drowning Prevention Alliance,” has been an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, Aquatics Coordinator for the American Red Cross Greater Miami and Keys Chapter, and was the Aquatic Director and Head Swim Coach at the University of Oregon.About G. Harold Martin: Back in 1908, G. Harold Martin almost drowned in the Ohio River. Over the next two decades, he almost drowned two more times. From these experiences evolved a mission to make “Every Child A Swimmer.” His civic involvement led to the building of Fort Lauderdale’s first municipal pool in 1927. Kiwanian sponsored free swim lessons at the pool, and eventually influenced the decision by ISHOF to be located in Fort Lauderdale. An active Kiwanian his entire adult life, he was instrumental in making the Key Club an integral club within Kiwanis International and the adoption of Every Child A Swimmer as a Kiwanian project.
Julia Meno — 2022 John K. Williams, Jr. Adapted Aquatics Award
Julia Meno, Bruce Wigo
The Adapted Aquatics Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame was pleased to award Julia Meno with the 2022 John K. Williams, Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award. The annual award, honoring individuals or organizations who have made significant and substantial contributions to the field of adaptive aquatics, is presented by S.R. Smith, a world-leading manufacturer of commercial and residential swimming pool deck equipment headquartered in Canby, Oregon.
Julia Meno, CTRS, ATRIC, CMT, is the founder and owner of Therapeutic Aquatics, LLC. and is an internationally known presenter and instructor on aquatic therapy and wellness. Julia has a profound love and respect for the power of water as a healing instrument. Individuals can learn the freedom of movement that they may not have been able to achieve otherwise, thus opening up an aquatic world for opportunities to grow, socialize and exercise.
She founded Therapeutic Aquatics, Inc. in 1996 and began providing aquatic therapy services in Jackson, WY. Julia also worked closely with the Jackson school district’s Adaptive PE Program, L.I.F.E. grants, and Wyoming Medicaid Children’s Waiver which all provided a platform to create Pediatric AquaHab© for children with challenges. She also became a Certified Massage Therapist, which complimented her aquatic training. Thus far in her career, she has studied and authored An Introduction to the Bad Ragaz Ring Method: A Visual Instructional Guide (1999). Julia Co-authored: PNF in the Pool (2004), Myofascial Aquatic Body Work DVD (2006), the Pediatric Aquatic Therapy Certificate Course (2010) and the AquaStretch™ Specialty Certificate Manual 1st ed. (2013).
Julia has worked as a Dementia Care Coordinator and as an instructor for Motivations, Inc., providing continuing education teaching in Pediatric AquaHab©. She is currently a presenter and faculty for the Aquatic Therapy & Rehab Institute, Inc. She was the recipient of the ATRI Tsunami Spirit Award in 2002 and the Aquatic Therapy Professional Award in 2014 for her innovations and contributions in education to the aquatic therapy industry. Today she continues to provide individual and group aquatic therapy as well as wellness classes in addition to individual aquatic therapy sessions.
Wayne Goldsmith — 2022 Al Schoenfield Media Award
Al Schoenfield Media Award Winner, Wayne Goldsmith
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and its Award Committee were pleased to award Wayne Goldsmith, as the recipient of the 2022 Al Schoenfield Media Award for his many outstanding contributions to the promotion of aquatic sports through journalism. This award is presented by ISHOF in memory of Al Schoenfield. We were pleased to welcome Wayne and his partner Libby, to join us, all the way from Australia.
Wayne Goldsmith has been a thought-provoking leader and influencer in the swim industry for more than 25 years. As a regular contributor to Swimming World Magazine, his “Goldmind” articles discuss goal setting, visualization, and team building concepts. He has worked directly with many of the world’s leading coaches, athletes, teams, and sporting organizations in over 30 different countries. Wayne is a recognized global expert in coaching, coach education, and coach development for peak performance. His lessons in leadership, team development, change acceleration and continuous improvement provide swim coaches with quality, credible, engaging information via articles, videos, podcasts, seminars, clinics, and talks.
Al Schoenfield was the Editor and Publisher of Swimming World Magazine (1960-1977) and served on various international committees of swimming, including the FINA Technical Swimming Committee (1980-1984). Schoenfield’s life was a commitment to swimming and he participated in its administrative structure and spread its stories through his magazines and promotions. Al died in 2005, but his legacy will forever endure to all who have benefited from his lifetime of service to swimming.
Patricia Cirigliano — 2022 Virginia Hunt Newman International Award
Bruce Wigo, Robert Strauss, Steve Graves (Committee Chairman)
Patricia Cirigliano was selected this year, as the 2022 recipient of the Virginia Hunt Newman International Award. Living in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ms. Cirigliano was unable to attend the ceremony, so she asked, the 2019 Virginia Hunt Newman Award winner, Robert Strauss of Miami to accept the award in her place.
Dr. Patricia Cirigliano started the first Argentine swimming school for babies in 1960. The school was centered around her holistic method, Matronatacion®, which is a creative and original approach to aquatic initiation for babies that involves human integrity and respect for the child and the family. To present, 17,000 babies, toddlers and young children beginning at 15 days old have learned to swim and have enjoyed the Matronatacion® method at Cirigliano’s school, whose motto is “Swimming is learnt by playing.” They are at the very core of learning. The Method’s distinctive characteristics are freedom, game, active mother role, intelligent learning according to a child’s maturity development without conditioned response, and didactical use of toys and materials.
Dr. Cirigliano is a member of a great number of associations such as the International Physical Education Federation and Panathlon Club in Buenos Aires and the National Swimming Schools Association in the U.S.A. Since 1991, she has been an active member of the Argentine Pediatrics Association.
Duraflex International Award
The Duraflex International Award recognizes outstanding international contributions to the sport of diving. It has been given to international sports federations and individuals whose contribution to diving has made a real and lasting impact.
Thomas Gompf – 2022 Duraflex International Award
Tom Gompf, Steve McFarland, Mark Pyatt
In typical Tom Gompf fashion, he is making all of us laugh. Pictured above with decades-long friends, Steve McFarland and Mark Pyatt, both of Duraflex, this year, Tom was presented the 2022 Duraflex International Award. Tom has given his entire life to diving, whether as an athlete, through coaching, as a member of FINA and the TDC, fighting to get 1-meter and synchronized diving into the Olympic Games, Tom has always given his all for diving. And no one can imagine a diving world without him. Thank you Tom for all you have done, and all you continue to do for our sport. To read Tom Gompf’s honoree bio, click here: https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-tom-gompf/
Steve Voellmecke – 2022 Duraflex International Award
Steve Voellmecke, Bonnie Read (Duraflex), Sam Dorman (Olympian)
Steve Voellmecke has been involved with the sport of diving for the past 35 years. He began as a diver, he is now a coach, a judge, and a volunteer. He dove for Xavier University, in Cincinnati and was captain of the team, his senior year.
He is a Life Member of USA Diving, a Trustee of the United States Diving Foundation, and a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), where he generously donates each year. He holds the position of Treasurer of The United States Professional Diving Coaches Association and is on the Executive Board for the ambitious Aquatic Training Center project. He was Team Leader for the USA for the 2000 FINA World Cup in Sydney and the 1996 Can-Am-Mex Junior Olympic International Meet in Winnipeg, Canada. At the 1996 U.S. National Diving Championships, he helped produce the memorable and highly successful event held at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, as Co-Meet Director.
In 1998, Steve was presented with the prestigious “WHOSAM” Award given annually to the Diving Coach who “demonstrates a commitment to excellence and dedication to the highest physical, mental and spiritual ideals.” This award is presented by ISHOF Honor Diver, Dr. Sammy Lee M.D. – 1948 and 1952 Olympic Gold Medalist — and the person responsible for introducing “The Sammy” Sport Towel to the diving world!
A highly respected diving judge, Steve is FINA certified and was the only judge selected to judge both the 2008 AND 2012 United States Olympic Diving Trials. He has judged the NCAA Championships from 2007 – 2014, as well as multiple international diving competitions and Collegiate Conference Championships, including the Big 10, SEC, and PAC-12 championships. For the past 30 years, Steve has been a constant in the Greater Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky area serving as referee and judge at countless Summer League Diving Meets.
Voellmecke’s first love is teaching diving at the Grassroots Level, although he is proud to have coached divers at all levels. He has coached the summer diving team at The Indian Hill Club since 1985 and was instrumental in designing their spectacular new diving well, built-in 2008.
He is the President and owner of Springboards and More, which is the largest Dealer of Duraflex Diving Equipment in the United States and the Preferred Equipment Supplier to USA Diving.
He currently lives in Loveland, Ohio with twins Aidan and Simone.
2022 ISHOF Honoree Ceremony
Thank you for your support of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Below is an inspirational video that will provide a glimpse into our spiritual mission; there are three facets to the reason we exist:
INSPIRE: preserving the history of aquatics by inducing worthy aquatic heroes and Olympic champions into our Swimming Hall of Fame.INVIGORATE: record events and activities in our library related to the history of the human race’s relationship with water.INSTIGATE: our spiritual purpose is Every Child A Swimmer! We are actively pursuing this goal by providing swim lessons to those children from families that can’t afford swim lessons!
“The International Swimming Hall of Fame is only as strong as the engagement of its members, and we need your help to make this new era of the Hall of Fame a success.” If you are interested in joining us in supporting any phase of these three goals, please contact me personally.
Thank you, Dr. Bill Kent, Chair of the BoardInternational Swimming Hall of FameEmail: dbk@teamhorner.comwww.ishof.org
Highlights From the International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Highlights From the International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Throughout the International Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremony over the weekend, members of the Class of 2022 shared numerous stories during their enshrinement speeches. It was truly a celebratory event in Fort Lauderdale, the 57th of its kind. Here are a few highlights from this special evening.
Photo Courtesy: Jason Leidy
• The 1988 Olympic champion in the 100-meter backstroke, Japan’s Daichi Suzuki was known for his underwater prowess, and that theme was a big part of Suzuki’s induction. During his speech, Suzuki acknowledged rival David Berkoff – who revolutionized underwater kicking – for laying groundwork and motivating him to elevate his performances.
Adding to the underwater theme was the fact that Suzuki was presented with his Hall of Fame sash and award by Jesse Vassallo, the 1980 and 1984 United States Olympian. In the late 1970s, it was Vassallo who first introduced the benefits of underwater power, which play a critical role in the sport today.
Jon Seiben giving his induction speech
• At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, West Germany’s Michael Gross was the heavy favorite to claim gold in the 200 butterfly. Instead, Australian teenager Jon Sieben, on the strength of a phenomenal last lap, reeled in the field and registered one of the great upsets in the sport with a world-record performance of 1:57.04.
Because the trip from his homeland to Fort Lauderdale is lengthy, Sieben indicated there was an initial uncertainty as to whether he would attend the induction ceremony. But once he heard that fellow 200 butterfly star Craig Beardsley was being enshrined, too, the decision to make the long trip was a no-brainer.
Sieben elicited a number of laughs from the audience, especially when he spoke of downing several beers – in grand Aussie fashion – with anyone who wanted to join the post-induction gathering at the hotel bar.
Mary T. Meagher inducting Craig Beardsley
• Craig Beardsley undoubtedly had the biggest support family in attendance, as he was joined by a collection of his 1980 Olympic teammates and fellow University of Florida Gators. Due to the boycott of the 1980 Olympics by the United States, Beardsley never got the chance to race at the Games, and the two-time world-record setter made a plea for politics to never again short-circuit athletic dreams in similar fashion.
As Beardsley walked onto the stage to give his speech, he was met with a standing ovation from his friends. A longtime fundraiser for Swim Across America, Beardsley spoke about compassion and kindness changing the world, and how we all can make a difference. He then invited his 1980 Olympic teammates to the stage as he received his awards.
• Australian great Michael Klim had the chance to cherish his induction with his parents (Wojtek and Ewa) and girlfriend, Michelle Owen, by his side. Klim was recognized for an illustrious career that featured six Olympic medals and 54 overall medals from international competition. At the 1998 World Championships in Perth, Klim walked away with seven medals.
Photo Courtesy: John Lohn
Growing up, Klim moved around the world due to his father’s work. During his speech, the freestyle and butterfly star noted the importance of swimming in providing stability and consistency to his life. Although he may have had an adjustment period with each move, the pool acted as a security blanket for Klim, who could immediately connect with the water.
Several months ago, Klim revealed he is battling Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a neurological disorder that progressively weakens function of the arms and legs. The Aussie first experienced symptoms, including numbness in his feet, a few years ago. In the face of his medical condition, Klim looked great at the ceremony and even logged some laps at the Hall of Fame Aquatics Center prior to the evening festivities.
• Australian diver Matthew Mitcham, who secured Olympic gold in the 10-meter platform event at the 2008 Games in Beijing, took a moment to pay tribute to his idol, Greg Louganis. Mitcham noted that Louganis was first an idol based on his diving excellence, but soon became one of his heroes in life. It was fitting, then, that Louganis presented Mitcham with his honors.
Honor Contributor Carol Zaleski
• Inducted into the Hall of Fame as an Honor Contributor for her years of service as an official with USA Swimming and FINA, Carol Zaleski shared a story of getting involved in the sport. When her kids were competing, she recalled seeing other parents on deck as timers, and thought it was a great way to get closer to the action and give back. Years later, Zaleski’s time in the sport is defined by giving back – on the national and international levels.
• With the induction of Australian coach Ursula Carlile, she joined her husband, Forbes Carlile, as Hall of Fame honorees. The Carliles are the first husband-wife coaching combination to be inducted into the Hall, recognition that was earned for years of guiding premier Aussie swimmers, including Shane Gould, and operating the Carlile Swim School. Carlile could not attend the ceremony, but she recorded an acceptance video which was played for audience.
Perica Bukic, Mirko Vicevic, Ratko Rudic and Jon Sieben
• Water polo star Mirko Vicevic, who represented Yugoslavia and Montenegro on the international stage, was the first honoree of the evening and had the chance to enjoy the night with some of his coaches and former teammates. Vicevic was a gold medalist in Olympic and World Championships competition and expressed appreciation for the individuals who enabled him to reach the pinnacle of his sport.
Ruth Ramsier, Peter Hurzeler, and Begonia Goce of Omega
• Feted as an Honor Contributor, Peter Hurzeler of Swiss Timing has had a major impact on the sport in regards timing, starting-block technology and backstroke ledges. During his speech, Hurzeler emphasized the importance of listening to athletes and their suggestions to make the sport better.
Photo Gallery: International Swimming Hall of Fame Weekend A Festive Affair (Part I)
It has been a celebratory weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the Class of 2022 will be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Late Saturday morning, members of the United States 1980 Olympic Team gathered at the new ISHOF Aquatics Center, with several athletes hopping in the pool. The atmosphere was a festive one, serving as a precursor to the evening enshrinement ceremony.
Those present at the pool had the opportunity to climb to the top of the 27-meter diving tower, which is a trademark of the new facility. Additionally, Australian honorees Jon Sieben and Michael Klim got in the water and had the chance to chat before being recognized at night.
Also on hand was Elizabeth Beisel, the multi-time Olympic medalist who has become a leading voice in the sport as a commentator and analyst.
Here are several images from Hall of Fame weekend, with more to come.
Elizabeth Beisel. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn
Daichi Suzuki. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn
Craig Beardsley and Daichi Suzuki. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn
Nancy Hogshead-Makar and Glenn Mills. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn
Mary T. Meagher. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn
Jon Sieben and Craig Beardsley. Photo Courtesy: John Lohn
Photo Courtesy: John Lohn
The Stars Came Out: What A Night At the International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The Stars Came Out: International Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony A Gala Event
To the left. To the right. In front and behind.
Anywhere the head turned.
A look around the Grand Ballroom at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa on Saturday night was to cast eyes on greatness. The evening was a party, the induction night for the Class of 2022 into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. It was perfect that five-time Olympian Dara Torres, a Hall of Famer herself, served as the emcee.
Baseball and football annually have their days in Cooperstown and Canton. Aquatic sports, specifically swimming, turns to Fort Lauderdale for its celebration. It has been that way for years, ISHOF long established as the treasure chest of excellence for swimmers, divers, and polo players. Fort Lauderdale is where history – old and more recent – is appreciated, and that fact was on display during this festive weekend.
As is always the case, the newest honorees into the Hall of Fame came from around the globe. The United States. Japan. Australia. Various locales across Europe. It was truly a global event, which is to be expected. Yes, certain nations have enjoyed greater success than others through the years, which is the norm in all international sports. But one of the things that makes a Hall of Fame special is the way it pays tribute to elite contributions from a widespread community.
Hall of Fame inductions are long, and this night was no different. It took more than three hours to move through the program, in which each inductee was recognized via a short video on their career. The honorees then had a chance to speak and were provided with their Hall of Fame sash and award. If the night carried on for an additional three hours, I doubt if anyone in the room would have cared. Rather, it would have provided further opportunity to applaud – literally and figuratively.
Applause. It was the prevailing trait of the night – constant acknowledgement of what the men and women entering the Hall had achieved. There, too, were small cheers. There were a few loud outbursts. There was a standing ovation. There was much laughter, and even a few tears. The emotion of the night was gripping. Years of hard work and dedication are what landed the honorees in Fort Lauderdale to begin with, so emotion should be a fixture of the night.
During their careers, those inducted triumphed in a way that is known by a miniscule percentage of folks who ever take up an aquatic sport. The best of the best? No. The best of the best of the best of the best…and we could go on.
It was magical to watch Craig Beardsley receive his due more than 40 years after politics robbed him of the chance to chase gold in the 200-meter butterfly at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Beardsley probably had the biggest cheering section of the night, with dozens of his friends and former teammates in attendance – and who were invited by Beardsley to join him on stage at the conclusion of his speech. Many of the supporters were surprise guests to Beardsley, and many also experienced the pain of being denied an Olympic opportunity by no fault of their own.
In Daichi Suzuki, it was a chance to doff the cap to a Japanese star who won gold in the 100 backstroke at the 1988 Olympics and played a critical role in revolutionizing the sport. Suzuki was one of several athletes who drove home the importance of the underwater dolphin kick, an innovation that remains as prominent as ever.
Aussies Jon Sieben and Michael Klim received well-deserved credit for special careers that included Sieben producing one of the greatest upsets in history and Klim leading off the 400 freestyle relay that won gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, a moment that lives in Aussie sporting lore.
The aforementioned athletes and their accomplishments account for just a portion of what was celebrated on Saturday night. The bottom line is that it was a special evening, exactly what is needed in sports. It’s why Halls of Fame exist, and it was a shining example of what the International Swimming Hall of Fame means to aquatic sports.
Next year can’t come soon enough.
As Emcee, Dara Torres Shares Sensational Stories At Hall of Fame Induction; Wonderful Messages Relayed
As Emcee, Dara Torres Shares Sensational Stories At Hall of Fame Induction; Wonderful Messages Relayed
The way she commanded the room, behind her charisma and easy-going way, reflected the way she operated during an illustrious career. During her competitive days, Dara Torres established herself as one of the greatest performers in history, a 12-time Olympic medalist who proved anything is possible when she raced to three silver medals as a 41-year-old at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
On Saturday night, Torres served as emcee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame induction, the 57th of its kind. It was an evening to celebrate many of the greats in the sport, and Torres was captivating as always. She made the crowd laugh, but she was poignant, too. Really, she was the perfect host.
When Torres took the stage, she proceeded to regale the audience with several stories of her competitive days. More than anything else, she focused on the latter stages of her career, specifically the comeback that led her to Beijing and a fifth Olympiad. She joked about being the “grandma” of the team, and rooming with teens Elizabeth Beisel and Allison Schmitt.
She shared a story about sitting in the hallway of her hotel, balled up against the wall, at the United States Olympic Trials. With so much attention placed on Torres for pulling off an unlikely comeback, she spoke of the pressure of succeeding for fellow middle-aged women. She noted that Hall of Fame coach Mark Schubert came by during that moment, and it was a brief conversation with Schubert which reminded Torres of her love of the sport.
Torres also discussed the final of the 50-meter freestyle in Beijing, a race in which she finished .01 behind Germany’s Britta Steffen – 24.06 to 24.07. She kidded about congratulating her competitors but uttering some “select” words underwater at the realization that she fell the smallest margin possible of securing a gold medal.
At the end of her opening speech, though, Torres delivered a beautiful commentary on the sport and what it meant to her. It was a message that can be applied to multiple facets of life.
“I asked for the best of myself that night and second place is what it was,” Torres said of her silver-medal showing in the 50 freestyle. “Olympians are always asked what their favorite moment was. Which medal? For me, after five Olympics, it was the path I followed. The hard work. The dedication. The time management I learned. It was about doing what I could to be the best I could be.”
ISHOF Induction Ceremony Silent Auction: Take A Look!
SILENT AUCTION
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Photo Courtesy: Clearwater Marine Aquarium
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Photo Courtesy: Chick-Fil-A Fort Lauderdale
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ISHOF Aquatic Center Makes Front Page News Again!
Sun Sentinel Front Page, Wednesday, September 28, 2022
On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the ISHOF Aquatic Center made the Front page of the Fort Lauderdale local newspaper, the Sun Sentinel. “Back in the Flow – After a 3 year makeover. Fort Lauderdale’s legendary pools by the beach reopen”. It seems everyone, not only the local swimmers, have been waiting for the local Ft. Lauderdale/ISHOF/Hall of Fame Aquatic Center to open. “We’ve had people from all of over the United States, as well as around the world, messaging us monthly weekly, even daily recently, for the last year, asking, “When will the pools reopen?” said ISHOF COO, Laurie Marchwinski. “We get the questions via social media on ISHOF and Swimming World, on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. We are just happy to be able to finally answer, the pool is Open!”
“This is the third time the aquatic center has made the Sun Sentinel’s front page during this project”, said a proud Laura Voet, of the City of Ft. Lauderdale’s Parks and Recreation Department and Manager of the Aquatic Center. Laura has been instrumental in the success of this project since the beginning.
Masters Swimmer, Adrienne Chin-Ogilive, of the Fort Lauderdale Masters Team is pictured in the photo, swimming laps on Tuesday, the 27th of September, 2022. The pools closed in April, 2019 and reopened on September 12, 2022.
Come by for a dip!!!!
ISHOF Induction Ceremony Silent Auction: Great Items Up For Bidding!
SILENT AUCTION
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Great Races: Women’s 100-Meter Backstroke at the 1964 Olympics
Great Races: Women’s 100-Meter Backstroke at the 1964 Olympics
By Dave Bartlett and Brenda Borgh Bartlett
“In one drop of water is found all the secrets of all the oceans.” – Kahlil Gibran
Dedication: We would like to dedicate our article to all female swim coaches over the decades, including one of Brenda’s first coaches, Stephanie Walsh Beilman.
There are many great races. The racers in them are participating in a complex Russian doll structure; a race inside a race inside another. The Tour de France is a composition of races. There is the race to win the “General Classification” – the overall winner; the race to win the stage; the race for the green jersey of the best sprinter; the race for the polka dot jersey for “king of the mountain.” There are races within each race and it goes on for weeks.
In swimming, there is “the race” – usually the final at a prestigious competition. Then there is a set of heats to qualify for the final and possibly preliminaries and semifinals before the final. There can also be races that are similar in stroke but different in distance, so some of the racers get to measure each other. Then there are the virtual races. The most prominent of those is the race for the “world record.”
“A world record!” “She has shattered the world record!” “She has set a new world record.” There is a great deal of hyperventilation surrounding world record swims. We don’t view a world record swim through the lens of a virtual race because it is most often seen as a badge of accomplishment, not a race in itself. Today, in the big televised meets, you see the “world record line” – a computer-generated line added to the picture so the viewer can see where the swimmers are in relation to the current world record.
But what exactly does “breaking the world record” mean? As is the case with most phrases, it means different things to different people. To great racers, it is a virtual race – a way to gauge and understand where your best swims compare to other great racers around the world and over time.
The women’s 100-meter backstroke at the 1964 Olympics was loaded with great racers. The world record had been repeatedly lowered in the months before the 1964 Olympics were held in Tokyo. There were five world-record setters in the race. Four would be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
It should be noted that in the early 1960s, if you broke the world record in any meet other than the Olympic Games, the world record was “pending.” Then at the end of the year, the FINA authorities would review all the times that went below the existing world record mark and decide who had the fastest official time. That would become the “world record.” Therefore, if you broke the world record at nationals, it was considered the “pending world record” not THE “world record.”
History of the Women’s Long Course 100-Meter Backstroke
The women’s 100-meter backstroke made its debut in the 1924 Paris Olympics. The gold medal was awarded to Sybil Bauer from the United States for a time of 1:23.2. It has been an internationally competitive event with gold medalists from the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain, South Africa and the United States in the subsequent Olympics.
In the early 1960s a new periodical – “Swimming World” – helped get times and results out to the swimming community. In those years, travel was limited and many international swimmers did not compete against each other except through the “pending” world records and the pages of Swimming World Magazine, and hopefully at the Olympic Games. Unlike swimmers today, who know a record has been broken almost instantly, Satoko Tanaka from Japan only heard about record breaking swims in the newspapers. Even then, it was often six months to a year before she got the news.
Photo Courtesy: ISHOF Archives
You can see startling drops in the line chart below. We will be focusing on the early section between 1959 and 1964. However, it is instructive to see the drops from 1973 to 1976 (East German steroid abuse records) and the drops around 2008-09 (tech suit era records). Also note the lack of significant time drops when turn rules were changed and the introduction of the “Berkoff Blastoff” in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Photo Courtesy:
The data points that represent the world record progression above from 1956 to 1964 are detailed below:1956-12-05 Judith Grinham Great Britain 1:12.9 Melbourne, Australia1958-03-12 Phillipa Gould New Zealand 1:12.5 Auckland, New Zealand1958-04-19 Margaret Edwards Great Britain 1:12.4 Cardiff, United Kingdom1958-07-20 Ria van Velsen Netherlands 1:12.3 Nijmegen, Netherlands1958-07-23 Judith Grinham Great Britain 1:11.9 Cardiff, United Kingdom1959-07-26 Ria van Velsen Netherlands 1:11.7 Waalwijk, Netherlands1959-09-06 Carin Cone United States 1:11.4 Chicago, United States1960-06-12 Ria van Velsen Netherlands 1:11.0 Leipzig, East Germany1960-07-10 Ria van Velsen Netherlands 1:10.9 Maastricht, Netherlands1960-07-17 Lynn Burke United States 1:10.1 Indianapolis, United States1960-08-04 Lynn Burke United States 1:10.0 Detroit, United States1960-08-05 Lynn Burke United States 1:09.2 Detroit, United States1960-09-02 Lynn Burke United States 1:09.0 Rome, Italy1963-07-28 Donna DeVarona United States 1:08.9 Los Angeles, United States1964-06-14 Christine Caron France 1:08.6 Paris, France1964-09-28 Virginia Duenkel United States 1:08.3 Los Angeles, United States1964-10-14 Cathy Ferguson United States 1:07.7 Tokyo, Japan
**It should be noted that lost to time and war is a recorded swim of 1:10.9 for the women’s 100-meter backstroke on September 22, 1939 by Dutch Hall of Fame swimmer Cor Kint.
The question to ask is what inspired such outrageous improvement? Nina Harmar Thompson, a member of the 1960 and 1964 Olympic teams, experienced all this improvement:
“I definitely believe that training was the biggest reason for improved times,” she said. “I lived in Philadelphia where there was basically no age group swimming but I was incredibly lucky that my coach, Mary Freeman Kelly, had swum in the 1952 Olympics, then married John B. Kelly, Jr. and founded the Vesper Swim Club. Mary was an amazing coach and studied how other sports were training.”
Cathy Ferguson was just 12 years old when she started training with Peter Daland at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in 1960. She says:
“Peter trained us on dryland, running, pulley weights and stretching,” Ferguson said. “I would do weight training for 45 minutes each day before practice in the winter months. As a result, I had no injuries, as my upper body was conditioned. My dad built me pulley weights in our garage and I continued to do weights throughout the year. I trained with the men’s team and a couple of the really accomplished girls.”
Satoko Tanaka, the 200-meter backstroke world-record holder, believes it was training:
“We used ‘image’ training (visualization) and ‘interval’ training in the late ’50s and the results were remarkable,” she said. “Later, we made our own dryland ‘tools’ out of ropes and pulleys and bicycle inner tube rubber. Initially, it didn’t seem to do anything and I have no proof it worked. But I think it helped my 100-meter race.”
Great women racers were no longer treated differently. If they could keep up they swam with the men. As Ferguson explains: “Peter was motivating in an unusual way. He mathematically analyzed (I used an actual formula) every swim with me. I could see the translation from workout times to performance times. I also was a member of his ‘Horse Team.’ These were swimmers who did the distance training. We worked out an extra hour before others arrived. I swam in the same lane as Murray Rose, the great Aussie! I learned so much about pacing from him. In the backstroke I learned from Bob Bennett (1964 Olympic backstroker) and Chuck Bittick (1960 Olympian). Therefore, I had great mentors in the pool.”
Leading up to the Summer of 1964
Dominating the backstroke in the 1960 Olympics was Lynn Burke. She lowered the world record nearly two seconds from 1:10.9 to 1:09.0. She held that record until 1963.
Going into the summer of 1964, the world record in the women’s 100 backstroke was held by Donna DeVarona. She broke Burke’s 3-year-old record from the Rome Olympics in 1960. Donna set the record on July 28, 1963 in Los Angeles with a time of 1:08.9. (Donna DeVarona was better known for her dominance of the IM events where she held world records in the 200 and 400 but her backstroke was world class).
In the early 1960s, the number of events at the Olympics was limited. For example, in the individual freestyle events, the men had three (100, 400, 1500 meters) and women had two (100 and 400 meters). In the backstroke, the men had a 200-meter race and women had a 100-meter race. However, world records were kept for many of the events that were not Olympic events like the men’s 100-meter backstroke and the women’s 200-meter backstroke. This would change in the 1968 Mexico Olympics as a full slate of events was implemented for both men and women.
In the early 1960s, the women’s 200-meter backstroke had been dominated by Satoko Tanaka. Amazingly, Satoko lowered the world record by over five seconds in eight swims between 1960 and 1963. Although she was the world leader in the 200, she never set the world record in the 100 meters. However, swimming in the Olympics in her native Japan was sure to give her motivation. Christine “Kiki” Caron got the world record parade going by setting a new world record of 1:08.6 at the French Olympic Trials on June 6, 1964.
Christine Caron and Cathy Ferguson. Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Archives
The Venue
The swimming venue for the Tokyo Olympics was the National Gymnasium. It had a spectator capacity of 11,112 for swimming and diving. It was brand new. It is still in use today and will hopefully host the Olympic handball competitions next year at the 2020ne Olympics in Tokyo. Caron remembers the 1964 Olympic swimming venue as “like a cathedral” – an impressive statement from one who grew up in Paris.
In 1964, the Tokyo pool was state of the art technology. The gutter system was designed to whisk away waves and not send them ricocheting back at the swimmers. The gutters and new lane line technology to replace the common “ropes and corks” seen in most of the pools in those years was a vast improvement.
The Tokyo Olympic swimming venue introduced another technology that we now take for granted – electronic timing. This meet was the first time that electronic timing was used in the Olympic swimming venue – however it was not official. There were sight judges, timers and button pushers on each lane. The electronic timing was only at the start/finish end and there were no split times at the 50-meter turn.
The Preliminaries
Cathy Ferguson. Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Archive
There were four heats of the women’s 100 meter backstroke late in the morning of Wednesday, October 14, 1964. In an odd twist, most qualifiers for the final came from the first heat – Harmar (1:09.8), Tanaka (1:10.0) and Linda Ludgrove (1:10.3) from Great Britain. Heat 2 had two qualifiers: current “pending” world record holder Ginny Duenkel set a new Olympic record at 1:08.9 and Eileen Weir (1:09.7) of Canada. Heat 3 had only one qualifier – Ferguson, who topped Duenkel’s Olympic record with a 1:08.8; she won her heat by three seconds. The fourth and last heat had Caron of France set the fastest time in the preliminaries with yet another new Olympic record with a time of 1:08.5. Jill Norfolk (1:10.6) from Great Britain became the final swimmer to grab a spot in the Olympic final.
Failing to make the final was Ria van Velson of the Netherlands. Van Velson had broken the world record four times in the late 1950s and early 1960s. She last set the record at 1:10.9 going into the 1960 Rome Olympics where she made the final and finished in seventh place.
Four preliminary heats were completed and the last three heats each produced a new Olympic record eclipsing the previous heat. All the racers preparing for the final knew it would take a world record to win the 1964 Olympic gold medal in the women’s 100-meter backstroke.
The 1964 Olympic finals were set:Lane 1: Linda Ludgrove (GB)Lane 2: Nina Harmar (USA)Lane 3: Ginny Duenkel (USA)Lane 4: Kiki Caron (FRA)Lane 5: Cathy Ferguson (USA)Lane 6: Eileen Weir (CAN)Lane 7: Satoko Tanaka (JPN)Lane 8: Jill Norfolk (GB)
The Race
The finals were in the evening. Lanes 3, 5, 4 had each set an Olympic record in successive heats. Lane 2 (Nina Harmar) and Lane 7 (Satoko Tanaka) had each competed in the 1960 Olympics in the 100 backstroke. There were four swimmers from North America, three from Europe and one from Asia. Four swimmers wore the heavy rubber caps of the day and the other four had short hair with no cap.
The Start
The blocks were heavy concrete slabs with a slight indentation for the backstroke start bar which was aligned with the end of the pool. The touchpads did not pose any problems for the start and actually created a better gripping surface than would have been the case with the concrete wall.
The gun sounded, and the start was clean across the pool. A great race was off.
First Lap
Speed! That is always the goal of a 100-meter race. In this race it was critical. Kiki Caron was FAST and her first 50 was always fast. Seeded first, everyone had some of their focus tuned to her. The goal of the other two Olympic record breakers was not to let her get away, to keep her close. Cathy Ferguson and Satoko Tanaka were considered better at the 200-meter race. They had to increase their turnover and try to stay with Caron.
The first 50 was a drag race to the turn. “Stay in the race” and “Don’t let her get away,” those were the goals. For Kiki Caron the goal was to get away, to explode away from the field. In backstroke if you get far enough in front you can see your competitors but they cannot see you. Approaching the wall, the race was still close. Now, they had to focus on the turn. A backstroke turn in 1964 was always a make or break moment in a race.
The Turn
It is difficult to overstate how important the turn was in a backstroke race before they changed the turn rules. The rules in races during 1964 stated that a racer had to touch the wall with their hand before changing directions while remaining on their back. It was done with a spin as the racer touched with a hand, then would rotate to place their feet on the wall.
The best racers all knew that in order to be consistently fast they had to be capable of touching and spinning with either hand. Cathy Ferguson has a great story about learning to turn with both hands:
“Peter and my dad kept telling me I needed to practice left handed turns in case I hit the wall with my left hand. In my first National Championships in Philadelphia (Nina’s home pool). I hit the wall left handed and really had difficulty getting off the wall. I failed to qualify for the finals by a tenth of a second. This was one of the greatest lessons in my life. BE PREPARED! So for the next three years I practiced left handed flip turns for 45 minutes every night before practice. The goal was to take the turn without looking. In the Olympic Games I judged I would hit the wall with the left hand and I didn’t have to worry about it.”
From the race video, you can see Kiki Caron get to the wall first but only by an instant. Both Cathy Ferguson and Ginny Duenkel were right with her. Kiki took a couple looks at the wall while Cathy drove to the wall without looking and kept her stroke turnover constant. They turned and came out even with Ginny Duenkel a fraction behind. Satoko Tanaka always turned on her right hand – she felt she had a good turn but knew a strong second lap was her only chance to get a top three finish.
Second Lap
What do great racers do on the last lap? They keep or increase their tempo. When every fiber and nerve in their bodies burns they keep going and often increase their tempo. That comes from training, lots of training.
Cathy Ferguson. Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Archive
The women’s 100-meter backstroke last lap at the 1964 Olympics was a 50-meter drag race between Ginny Duenkel in Lane 3, Kiki Caron in Lane 4 and Cathy Ferguson in Lane 5. The three Olympic record breakers were out to break more records. Backstroke racers look at where they have been but are focused on where they are going. Good backstroke racers keep their head steady and their eyes up. They don’t look around but they sense where their competitors are and their own place in the race. Each of these three knew they had a chance. As Cathy Ferguson explains:
“Caron was ahead of me slightly before the 50-meter turn and I came off even. Kiki swam a fast first 50 always. I knew if I could be even with her at the 75-meter mark, I could pull it out. I said a quick prayer, ‘Please God, help this to be the fastest race of my life.’”
At the 75, the racers were even and Satoko Tanaka was about half a body length behind. Satoko’s position left her in a difficult position to see the fight going on in Lanes 3, 4 and 5 – where they were dead even! The racers knew the stakes; they knew they were in position – each needing to push through the final 25 meters to the wall.
From the 75-meter mark to the flags Cathy Ferguson’s tempo took over and in the 10 strokes from the 75-meter mark she gathered half a head lead. Kiki Caron did her best to stay with her. Ginny Duenkel’s tempo didn’t keep pace with the other two. Out in Lane 7, Satoko Tanaka was having the best second lap of all the racers. The 200-meter record holder was powering into the finish.
Finish
Great racers finish. Under the flags and into the wall these Olympians powered to the wall. Watching the video, it seems as if the place order changed with each stroke. It was a tight finish and easier to judge the finish from the sides or a video than if you were in the pool. The racers hit the wall and it was too close for any of them to sense how they placed. Cathy remembers the touch pads needed to be taken into account on the finish:
“The pads did need to be adapted as they were too short and a person driving toward the finish might miss the touch pad because they touched deeper. This was especially true for backstrokers. I dove back for the finish and touched low on the wall.”
Nina Harmar remembers some sketchy finishes in the Rome Olympics:
“I remember in Rome all timing and judging was done by humans and there were often controversial finishes and often the winner’s time was a tenth of a second or two slower that the runner-up.”
Satoko Tanaka was happy she did her best time:
“I was 22 years old at the Tokyo Olympics, the others were teenagers. I didn’t think I had a chance to win. I simply wanted to do my best time. I did that and I broke the existing world record. I have always been happy with my effort, my time and my place. It was my last swim as a competitor.”
Post-Race
All this new technology was available and all these people standing around yet nobody knew the exact the order of the finish? It is hard to believe with today’s instant results but that is how it unfolded in 1964.
Kiki Caron remembers:
“At the end of the race my coach Miss Berlioux, shows me two fingers, to announce the silver medal. When she came to swim the nationals in 65, she took benefit of the Olympics experience and beat Ferguson. I thought It was the lack of world class experience which I needed in 64 to win the gold.”
Cathy Ferguson explains what went on after the finish:
“1964 was the first-year electronic timing was used but it was not official. There were sight judges, timers and button pushers on each lane. It was not like now when you can see your time immediately and you know the results immediately. I did not know I had won until they announced the winners. Peter Daland (was our Olympic Team Coach as well) had his own time so told me just prior to the announcement.”
The Results
Gold: Cathy Ferguson (WR) – 1:07.7Silver: Kiki Caron – 1:07.9Bronze: Ginny Duenkel – 1:08.0Fourth: Satoko Tanaka – 1:08.6Fifth: Nina Harmar – 1:09.4Sixth: Linda Ludgrove – 1:09.5Seventh: Eileen Weir – 1:09.7Eighth: Jill Norfolk – 1:11.2
Conclusion
There is something raw and elemental about great racers. They just love to race. Kiki Caron came to the U.S. and beat Cathy Ferguson in the 1965 U.S. Nationals. The next year in 1966, Cathy went to France and discovered how famous Kiki was in France. Although this time, Cathy won the race. Kiki says “It was a “yè yè” time and we went shopping, dancing in trendy clubs like two chums.”
These great racers all intersected in one race but their impact was to set the stage for generations of women swimmers to come. Dr. Cathy Ferguson went on to earn a doctorate in Education Administration. Satoko Tanaka has taught swimming to over 100,000 asthmatic children over the last thirty years and she firmly believes the 2020ne Olympics Games in Tokyo will take place. Christine “Kiki” Caron went on to become the first woman from a European country to carry her nation’s flag in the opening ceremonies of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. All these great racers went on to carry the flag of opportunity for future generations – the great race we all compete in.
Notes:
We highly recommend a wonderful website by Martin Osborne at the University of Toronto – (https://mjo.osborne.economics.utoronto.ca/index.php/swim). He has pulled together much of FINA’s world record data points and it provides a graphical view of the progression of swimming’s world records over the years. For a detailed description of his work see his notes section. We will use Martin’s data to highlight the details of the women’s long course 100-meter backstroke world record progressionYes, “yè yè” is a term – see this Wikipedia entry. In short, it is pronounced “yeah yeah” and is a style of pop-music that emerged in southern Europe in the early 1960’s. It was heavily influenced by the Beatles.
Thank you
The authors wish to thank the great racers who contributed generously to this article – Christine “Kiki” Caron, Cathy Ferguson, Nina Harmar Thompson and Satoko Tanaka. The contributions from Christine Caron would not have been possible without the translation skills of Nicolas Granger and the comments from Satoko Tanaka would not have been possible with the help of Akira Isahai.Written by Brenda Borgh Bartlett and David Bartlett, who reside in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
If you have an idea for a ‘Great Race’ please contact them at greatswimraces@gmail.com.