Every Child A Swimmer Update ~ October 2024
Transforming Communities, Shaping a Generation of Swimmers
At the heart of the Every Child a Swimmer program is a singular, powerful mission: to equip every child with the life-saving skill of swimming and prevent childhood drowning. Our work is driven by passion, and the impact is undeniable. Over the past year, we have partnered with 282 swim schools across the country, providing over 1,800 children with access to swim lessons that they might not have otherwise had. Each of these partnerships represents more than just a number; it is a step toward creating a safer future for our children, where swimming is not just a skill but a life-saving necessity.
Our commitment to change extends beyond the pool. We’ve successfully implemented Every Child a Swimmer legislation in Florida, Georgia, and Arkansas, impacting thousands of students by integrating water safety education into schools. These legislative victories are monumental—they aren’t just policy changes, but powerful pathways to prevent future tragedies. Every child that learns to swim represents one less life at risk, and with each new law, we move closer to a world where all children are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in the water.
Nationally, our team has been active in spreading this message through our participation in key industry events like the Pool Nation Women’s Summit, the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) Conference, and the United States Swim School Association. By engaging with leaders and advocates at both the state and national levels, we are working to create a ripple effect that ensures water safety education reaches every community, every family, and every child.
The impact of these initiatives is clear: we are building a future where swim skills are a standard, not a privilege. We remain hopeful that with our continued efforts, the number of drowning incidents will decline as we cultivate a generation of confident and capable swimmers. Behind every swim lesson, every legislative success, and every event is a child whose life has been impacted—each one a reminder of the life-saving power of our work.
Join Us in Building a Safer Future We invite you to be a part of this important mission. Stay connected with us on social media to follow our progress, learn more about success stories, and discover ways to get involved. Whether it’s raising awareness, participating in community events, or donating to provide a child with a learn-to-swim scholarship, your support makes a direct impact. Together, we can create a generation of swimmers, prevent future tragedies, and build safer communities.
Visit www.everychildaswimmer.org to learn more about how you can contribute, volunteer, or make a donation today.
If you missed the 2024 ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremony, never fear! You can watch the entire show on ESPN+ or HULU, the link included below!
For the second year in a row, the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Honoree Induction Ceremony has been produced by Peter Lasser, and aired LIVE on ESPN+ After the live performance, the show is available for 30 days ON DEMAND, on both, ESPN+ AND HULU.
So, if you were not able to be in Fort Lauderdale this past weekend for this fabulous ISHOF event, now, you can see what you missed! Just log into your HULU or ESPN+ account and type in INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME HONOREE CEREMONY and this is the logo that you should look for:
Once you see it, Click on it, sit back and watch two hours of the best aquatic Honorees, including Honor Swimmers: Dana Vollmer (USA), Lars Frölander (SWE), Daniel Gyurta (HUN), and for the very first time ever, ISHOF inducted a Relay Team: The Women’s 1976 USA Gold Medal 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay, made up of Shirley Babashoff, Wendy Boglioli, Jill Sterkel and Kim Peyton*; Honor Divers: Alexandre Despatie (CAN), Wu Minxia (CHN), and Yulia Pakhalina (RUS); Synchronized/Artistic Swimmer, Virginie Dedieu (FRA), Water Polo Players, Carmela “Lilli” Allucci (ITA), and Vladimir Akimov* (URS); Honor Coach, Dennis Pursley (USA) and Honor Contributor, Dale Neuburger (USA). The 2024 Gold Medallion Award, ISHOF’s Highest Honor was present to Mr. Alex Blavatnik (URS/USA).
Saturday evening’s crowd was just over 300 people, from approximately 25 different countries, including dignitaries from World Aquatics, including CEO, Mr. Brent Nowicki, and Mr. Mike Unger, Senior Advisior. USA Swimming Acting CEO, Ms. Shana Ferguson was in attendance, accompanied by USA Swimming Foundation Executive Director, Ms. Elaine Calip.
ISHOF had so many returning Honorees from years past, it was absolutely heartwarming! Donna deVarona and John Naber came to Fort Lauderdale to relive their personal experiences for us from 1976 at the Montreal Olympics, where John had just won four gold medals and Donna was covering the Games for ABC to show their support for the Women’s 1976 Relay Team of Wendy Boglioli, Shirley Babahoff, Jill Sterkel and Kim Peyton, who was represented by her 92 year old Mother, Barb Peyton, and teammate, Maryanne Graham Keever. Honoree and 1976 Olympian Jim Montgomery also came to show his support for his teammates! Honor Coach Jozsef Nagy, who coached 2024 Honor Swimmer, Daniel Gyurta, flew in from Budapest, Boxi Liang, another Honor Coach, this time from the sport of Diving, came to ISHOF from Vancouver, BC to see fellow countryman, Wu Minxia, inducted, as she is considered to be the greatest diver to come out of China. The list of ISHOF Honorees continues with greats like Lenny Krayzelburg, Mary T. Meagher, Cynthia Potter, Tom Gompf, Carol Zaleski, Becky Dyroen-Lancer, Jesse Vassallo, Mark Schubert, Eddie Reese, and Tiffany Cohen.
We had several of the World Aquatics individuals that chair the different technical committees. From the Technical Swimming Committee, Craig Hunter, from Great Britain, and longtime friend and supporter of ISHOF, Chairman of the Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy. Also from World Aquatics Committees, we were happy to welcome Melanie Beck (GBR), Bureau Member, Maureen Croes, Jay Thomas and of course Dale Neuburger, who was being inducted as the Honor Contributor for 2024. We cannot name them all but we thank all that attended from around the globe!
Please be sure to watch the show and let us know your thoughts! You’ll recognize a lot of other famous faces in aquatics, mostly Olympians, but more importantly, you’ll enjoy yourself! We promise!
The show is available on ESPN+ and also on Hulu ~ Click the link below!
https://www.hulu.com/watch/71121175-804f-47e9-823e-93e7f9d5c953
Join Us for the Groundbreaking of the $218 Million International Swimming Hall of Fame Revitalization Project
MEDIA ALERT: Join Us for the Groundbreaking of the $218 Million International Swimming Hall of Fame Revitalization Project
Get ready for a transformational moment in Fort Lauderdale’s aquatic legacy! The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is breaking ground on its monumental $218 million construction project, and you’re invited to witness history in the making.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Details:
– Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
– Time: 11:00 AM (Reception immediately following)
– Location: ISHOF, 1 Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 (West end of the peninsula)
This isn’t just another groundbreaking—it’s the dawn of a world-class facility that will redefine aquatic sports and tourism globally. With a state-of-the-art Hall of Fame Museum, a stunning aquarium, event space, and more, this $218 million project is poised to be one of the most significant attractions in South Florida.
“Thanks to the inspirational leadership of the City of Fort Lauderdale, our one-of-a-kind International Swimming Hall of Fame is being reborn. The new facilities, including the aquarium, will be a new jewel in the crown of tourist destinations for all of Broward County,” said Dr. Bill Kent, Chair of the Board.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis added, “The reconstruction of the International Swimming Hall of Fame reaffirms Fort Lauderdale’s position as a global leader in aquatic sports and tourism. We are excited to see the transformation of this iconic location and what it will offer residents and visitors for generations to come.”
“This groundbreaking marks the beginning of something truly extraordinary for our community and visitors worldwide. We’re creating a space that honors the past while providing a cutting-edge experience that will engage people of all ages,” said Vice Mayor Steven Glassman.
Once completed, this architectural marvel will feature a cutting-edge Hall of Fame Museum with interactive exhibits, a stunning aquarium showcasing marine life, and versatile event space, restaurants, and a theater designed to entertain and engage visitors. Additionally, the facility will include on-site parking and modern amenities to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for all guests.
“We’ve put the best creative minds together to interpret what the International Swimming Hall of Fame has been and what it should be in the future, at the world’s most iconic aquatic complex, the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center. We are excited to be partners with the City of Fort Lauderdale and look forward to making this dream a reality.” Mr. Mario Caprini, CEO, Capital Group.
With its unique design and unmatched offerings, ISHOF will stand out not only in Fort Lauderdale but globally positioning the city as a top destination for aquatic sports and tourism.
This is an event that will make waves!
For more information, contact:
Meg Keller-Marvin/meg@ishof.org/570.594.4367
Australian Olympian and ISHOF Honoree, Michelle Ford releases new Book: “Turning The Tide”
Australian Honor Swimmer, Michelle Ford-Eriksson MBE, who was inducted into ISHOF in 1994, has recently written a new book, Turning the Tide, with foreword by IOC President Thomas Bach. The book was written by an Olympic gold medalist whose achievement was even more remarkable in an era rife with doping and politics, and who later successfully fought for gender equality, and the athletes voice in the Olympic Movement; at the heart of the story is the ultimate achievement of winning an Olympicmedal.
Set against the politics of the Cold War, the Olympic boycotts of Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984 and the emergence of systematic, state-sponsored doping, this was a time of great upheaval within the Olympic Movement.
Turning the Tide is a first-hand account of Michelle Ford-Eriksson’s life in the Olympic realm during one of the most turbulent times in sporting history. One of Australia’s greatest swimmers, Michelle’s story reads more like a spy novel than an athlete’s road to an Olympic gold medal. As a young athlete from the beaches of Sydney, Australia, Michelle had a dream, but to reach that dream, she had to compete against misogyny, boycotts, doping and even death threats.
The Olympic boycotts stripped thousands of young athletes of their Olympic dream. The scars are still raw for those who participated, as well as those who didn’t. The boycott reinforced that the athletes played no part in the administration of sport.
“We were voiceless,” Michelle explains in the book, looking back at her extraordinary career. “We felt we were treated as insignificant pawns by the political machinery. We wanted a seat at the table, the right to self-determination, the right to inclusion and equality. We wanted our voice, the athletes’ voice, to be heard.”
Turning the Tide is the first book written about this era from an athlete’s perspective, covering the narrative of a young teenager’s journey and the thematic discussions about East German doping and the destructive influence of sporting bureaucracy. It lays bare the struggles and battles that still haunt many young athletes.
Today, the international Olympic Committee loudly pronounces that “athletes are the centre of the Olympic Games,” but many still feel the anguish of past events, seeing history repeating itself.
With Paris 2024 upon us, and Los Angeles, and Brisbane around the corner, much has changed, but much has also stayed the same, just going by another name. Michelle’s hope is that the lessons of the past may open a discussion of this period, to allow a healing for those who lived it, and that Turning the Tide can be manifesto for change.
You can read Ford’s book, by purchasing it on AMAZON.COM
REVIEWS:
“A significant contribution to Olympic history. A must read.” Anita de Frantz, IOC Member, ex-Senior Vice President of the IOC and Chair of the Women and Sport Commission
“An important read for all athletes!” Claudia Bokel, ex-Chair, IOC Athletes’ Commission and Member IOC Executive Board
“Michelle Ford’s book, Turning the Tide, is a valuable and insightful recollection of her years as an upcoming and elite athlete. What she had to endure, and what she overcame, is definitely inspiring. Her stories are crisp, clear and accurate, and should provide food for thought or anyone interested in the value and future of sport.” John Naber, Olympic Champion, Broadcaster and Author
“Reading Turning the Tide brought back many memories of the 1980 Olympics and the boycott, and rekindled my admiration for Michelle and her colleagues who travelled to compete in Moscow. It is a great reminder to anyone that the path to success is often laden with obstacles, and I am thrilled that Michelle has pledged to use her voice to advocate for swimmers who were denied opportunities due to doping and boycotts. Let this story be a lesson that politics and drugs have no place in sport. Congratulations Michelle on another wonderful achievement! Tracy Stockwell OAM (née Caulkins), Olympic and World Champion swimmer
Even though we were involved in a different sport, Michelle Ford was a role model and inspiration tome for her achievements, dedication and resilience. They are all important traits in the Olympic journeyand this book tells a wonderful tale that I hope all young aspiring athletes and swimmers will read.Cathy Freeman OAM, Olympic and World Champion 400m athlete
About Michelle Ford-Eriksson MBEMichelle Ford-Eriksson MBE is one of Australia’s greatest swimmers, winner of the gold andbronze medals at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, dual world record holder and multipleCommonwealth Games medalist. She is a University of Southern California ‘USC’ graduatewith a Masters in Sports Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in business communication. Shehas held directorships at the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Sports Foundation, andSwimming Australia. She was a member of the first IOC Athletes Commission, Australia’s firstmember of the Commission, alongside the current IOC President, Thomas Bach, and SebastianCoe, President World Athletics.
Title: Turning the TideAuthor: Michelle Ford MBE with Craig LordISBN: 978-1-925914-92-4Subject: Memoir, Sport, Olympics, Swimming, Olympian, Gold MedalistAvailable in paperback and as an e-book from www.fairplaypublishing.com.au, Amazon, and more.
Newly Inducted 2024 ISHOF Honor Swimmer Dániel Gyurta appointed President of Hungarian Olympic Academy
Article Shared from “Inside the Games“
Friday, 4 October 2024
The 35-year-old former Olympic champion will be responsible for guiding Hungary’s new sporting talents. He will share his knowledge and experience to help develop the country’s sports. His appointment was announced by the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB).
Dániel Gyurta was a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission and studied economics alongside a long swimming career. Known as a consummate breaststroke swimmer, his greatest achievement was winning the gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the London 2012 Olympic Games, setting a new world record in the event. He had already come close to glory at the 2008 Beijing Games, winning the silver medal.
At the 2009 World Swimming Championships, Gyurta won gold in the 200m breaststroke, beating Eric Shanteau in the final metres. He was named Hungarian Sportsman of the Year. In 2011, he successfully defended his title by winning gold again at the 2011 World Swimming Championships, becoming only the second man to defend the world title in the 200m breaststroke.
Daniel Gyurta
Gyurta is also remembered for his gestures of sportsmanship. For example, he dedicated his London 2012 Olympic gold medal to fellow swimmer Alexander Dale Oen, who had tragically died of a heart attack just months before the Games. In recognition of this tribute, Gyurta was awarded the UNESCO International Fair Play Award.
All these achievements were taken into account by the members of the Hungarian Olympic Committee when they selected him for the role.
The appointments were made following the inaugural meeting of the board on 7 September, at which other measures were taken, as reported by Hungary Today. Szabolcs Bényi was elected as the President of the Budapest Olympic Committee, András Bodnár as the President of the Ferenc Mező Sports Committee, Dr András Tállay as the head of the Medical Committee and Csaba Sós as the head of the Sports Science Committee.
The Traditions Committee was dissolved, as its functions were considered redundant to those of the Ferenc Mező Sports Committee.
Finally, the Board also discussed the eligibility of sports to be included in the Olympic programme. It was confirmed that the Hungarian American Football Association is entitled to delegate a member to the MOB General Assembly, as American Football will be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
**Daniel Gyurta was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, Saturday, October 5, as part of the Class of 2024. He is seen here alongside two of his two coaches Ferenc Kovacshegyi and Jozsef Nagy.
ISHOF Inducts its Class of 2023 Masters Honorees into MISHOF
On Friday, October 4, during the ISHOF Honoree weekend, the International Swimming Hall of Fame inducted its (Masters) MISHOF Class of 2023. It was a wonderful evening for the Masters community and they showed up in force as did the rest of the aquatics world. The evening was hosted by ISHOF Historian, Bruce Wigo. Most Masters Honorees from the Class of 2023 were able to attend but two were not, and they were certainly missed.
SWIMMERS:
TOM WOLF (USA)
Tom Wolf began swimming at the age of four. He had quite a career through his high school and college years, graduating high school as a two-time state champ in the 100 back, adding the 200 IM as a Senior and was a three-time All-American his Senior year. He went on to Harvard to swim for some of the greatest coaches in our sport his Freshman year, Don Gambril and Skip Kenney. As a Freshman, he established school records in the 100 and 200 yd. backstroke, and captured the 200 yd. back title in the conference championships, during his last three years at Harvard.
After a six year hiatus, he began swimming Masters in the 25-29 age group when he moved to Washington and discovered DC Masters. He has set 28 FINA Masters World Records competing in the backstroke and the I.M. events and has been in the world rankings since 1983.
Wolf has been plagued with injuries between 2005 and 2021, but he is slowly making his way back. In 2023, he added one new world record. But this year, 2024 was a new year, and a new age group, 70-74, his TENTH age group, and he has already added five new individual and seven relays records to his count. There may be no stopping Tom now!
GLEN CHRISTIANSEN (SWE)
Glen Christiansen is a former Swedish Olympic swimmer who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics, where he finished 11th in the 200-meter breaststroke.
Since then, he has had continued success as a Masters swimmer and has pursued an international career as a swimming coach. He broke 24 world records between 1986 and 2009 and has competed in eight Masters World Championships , winning a total of 26 medals.
Glen’s excellence in the pool extends to a myriad of contributions to the sport. He founded “Swimming Without Borders” which organizes swim camps for children, youths and adults of different nationalities, ages and abilities. He also started “Schwimm Schule Schweden,” a swim school for children teaching curriculum he developed and teaches throughout the world.
In 2013, Glen’s Master career was interrupted by a stroke, he experienced while conducting a Master’s swim camp in Tenerife. The stroke caused a him to fall down a flight of stairs, only to wake up three weeks later in the hospital. He was paralyzed on his left side and unable to speak, eat or drink properly, but he promised his eight-year-old son that he would one day be fit again. Of course, swimming became the measure of his recovery and just six months later he won a 2.5 km open water race.
In 2022, Glen won his first international title, the 200m butterfly at the European Championships in in Rome, Italy. New world records are coming slowly, but Glen is thankful to be alive and back into swimming.
WATER POLO PLAYER:
JOSE LUIS MARTIN GOMEZ (ESP)
In 1998, Jose Luis Martin Gomez joined the Real Canoe Masters team, but the club’s philosophy was different from his. He envisioned water polo as a catalyst for shared experiences, a platform for family and friends to bond. Gradually, he transformed this vision into reality.
Inspired by a tournament in Germany, Jose Luis conceived the Copa de España de Waterpolo Masters. The inaugural event in 2004 brought together teams from Spain, Germany, and Italy. The tournament grew exponentially, fueled by the unwavering dedication of the players and the supportive atmosphere created by their families and friends.
Their commitment extended beyond the pool. They organized extravagant events, from pirate ship adventures to Spanish country fiestas. The tournament became a celebration of life, as much as a sporting competition. His teams have been champions, runners-up “and have even finished in last place. But, always, they have had their families and friends by their side supporting them.
For the record, Jose Luis has attended 11 FINA/World Aquatics World Masters Championships for one gold, one silver and three bronzes; eight European Masters for one gold, one silver and four bronze; one World Masters Games for a gold medal; and he played in 13 German Masters competitions for seven gold, four silvers and two bronzes.
Jose Luis has been the president of the Organizing Committee of the Spain Cup from 2003 until 2018 and has been awarded special prizes of the community of Madrid — 2011 Master Athlete of the Year and 2015 Extraordinary Medal of Sports Merit.
Jose Luis exemplifies what it means to be a masters athlete, both as an athlete and as an official who promotes the sport and shows what fun, competition and travel can do for us. For his home competition, the motto is: “Family, party and water polo.”
ARTISTIC SWIMMER:
LIZZI JAKOBSEN (USA)*
Lizzi Jakobsen was one of the five original members of the team that became the Southern California Unsyncables. She convinced the others that they too could compete in Masters. Events were added for Masters in local competitions. They gave exhibitions whenever and wherever asked, generally at other local pools, backyards and cities, even one offshore at the Catalina Island beach.
Lizzi Jakobsen and the “Unsyncables” were inspired by the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, so, they decided to enter the Masters National Championships that year, where they placed 6th in the team. Adding a few members each year, the self-taught group watched local competitions and tried to emulate what they saw. They competed in nationals again in 1986, ‘88, ‘90, and ‘91. With the FINA World Masters being held in Indianapolis in 1992, they planned to enter and asked Dawn Bean, recently retired youth coach, to help them and were elated to come home with medals in four events including gold medals in the 50-59 age group team.
Lizzi was the team leader who did all the organization and paperwork to be part of U.S. Synchro along with preparing entries for competitions and determining routines. As the group grew, Lizzie continued the Board of Directors and served as treasurer for many, many years. In her age group, she became a top swimmer in all events winning solo, duet or trio and team in national championships and in many of the international meets. She won the May McEwan award in 2008. The U.S. award is given annually to someone who has made outstanding contributions to and best exemplifies the spirit of Masters synchro.
Her first international event was a competition in her old hometown of Arbus, Denmark in 1989. Then when the World Masters meet was being held in Indianapolis, they began competing in the FINA Masters World Championships. Lizzi swam events in Indianapolis (1992), Montreal (1994), Sheffield, England (1996), Munich (2000), Christchurch, New Zealand (2002), Riccione, Italy (2004), Stanford, California (2006), and Goteborg, Sweden (2010).
Lizzi passed away on April 22, 2022. Lizzi’s daughter, Ingrid and her granddaughter, came to Fort Lauderdale to receive Lizzi’s award in person.
CONTRIBUTOR:
NADINE DAY (USA) – Masters Swimming Contributor
Born in Hawaii, Nadine’s introduction to swimming was natural. Her participation in the Amateur Athletic Union program at the age of seven was the beginning of a lifetime commitment to the sport. Her success in age group swimming led to a full scholarship to Northwestern University where she earned All-American honors and competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials. A back injury her freshman year curtailed her collegiate competitive career, but the injury and healing process inspired her to become a physical therapist.
In 2001, she discovered Masters Swimming. Masters was the chance to resurrect her competitive career. Nadine has earned USMS All-Star Honors in long distance and in the pool, achieved All-American honors in all four strokes and the Individual Medley, has set Masters World Records and is a multi- time world and national champion in both the pool and open water.
But Nadine’s competitive resume pales next to her volunteer achievements within the swimming world. After attending her first United States Masters Swimming convention in 2003, Nadine put her toe in the ‘volunteer’ water by joining several committees. Since that initiation, Nadine has been a working member of the Recognition and Awards, Governance, Convention, Policy, Coaches, Compensation and Benefits, and Sports Medicine and Science Committees. She also participated in the creation of the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation. Concurrently she served her LMSC as Vice Chair, and ultimately Chair. Nadine’s progression through USMS includes election to the Board of Directors in 2005, where she served for 17 years. Her deep immersion in all things Masters Swimming led to her election in 2011 as the youngest President in the history of the organization. Upon completion of her eight-year term, Nadine expanded her focus to FINA, initially as a World Championship Deck Coach, then as a USAS/FINA Delegate to the World Congress in Barcelona and beginning in 2021, as Chairperson of the World Aquatics Masters Committee. Nadine is also involved with Pan Am Aquatics (formerly UANA) volunteering in many capacities, from Deck Coach, to conducting Masters Swim Clinics, as an Open Water and Masters Member, and as an Open Water Masters Representative.
As part of her term on the United States Aquatic Sports Board of Trustees, Nadine took over planning and running the USAS 2019 annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri. Her team’s execution of the convention’s weeklong meetings for over 1,000 delegates was flawless.
Through her tireless devotion to all things Masters Swimming, Nadine has been recognized with numerous awards including the Dorothy Donnelly Service Award, Ted Haartz Staff Appreciation Award, United States Aquatic Sports Women in Swimming Award, the Illinois Masters Swimming Association Coach of the Year Award, and USMS’s most prestigious honor, the Capt. Ransom J. Arthur M.D. Award. With her selection to the Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame, Nadine has secured a place as one of swimming’s most valuable contributors.
CLARY MUNNS (AUS)
This 80-year-old grandmother competes for the Blacktown City Masters Swimming Club in New South Wales, Australia. She has set eight long course and 25 short course Masters World Records in the backstroke, butterfly and I.M since 1988 with 13 world records in 2019 alone, yet she has only competed in one FINA Masters World Championships, back in 1988, when the championships came to Australia.
Clary Munns accumulated all her 1297 world points by breaking world records and achieving world rankings. Since 1986, Clary has been in the Top Ten, 25 times and is currently competing in the 80-84 age-group, having just turned 80.
Clary started swimming at eight years old in her homeland of Denmark, where she was self-taught in Copenhagen harbor in the summer months. Breaststroke was something that she picked up quickly, due to the need to stay afloat with the harbor not having a bottom within reach to stand on. Those first few years of swimming weren’t about competition but about enjoying the water and swimming.
At around 12, Clary moved to Svendborg and when swimming at the local pool, some older girls from the swimming club spotted her and asked her to join. She would compete occasionally and when she was about 15, swam at the Scandinavian Junior Championships in Norway. Shortly after however, Clary gave up swimming.
It wasn’t until many years later, after she had moved to Australia, that she started swimming again with Blacktown Masters as a 44-year-old in 1988. While Clary is a remarkable backstroker, she has demonstrated her versatility and skill as a state and national record holder across all strokes.
One of Clary’s first major meets with the club was at the FINA Masters World Championships in Brisbane in 1988. At the World Championships, Clary placed in the top 16 in the back and breast events (50m-200m) in the women’s 40-44 age group.
Clary’s results continued to blossom from there as she set countless records. Clary currently holds 50 long course and 53 Australian records across different age groups and 65 long course and 64 short course New South Wales State Records. Clary is also part of many long-standing State and National relay records.
Clary has been named Sport NSW’s Masters Athlete of the Year on three separate occasions, in 2009, 2015 and 2016. In 2016 and 2019, she was awarded Masters Australia’s Swimmer of the Year. In addition, Clary has been awarded the Swimmer of the Meet trophy at the Australian National Championships, in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2016, Clary won Blacktown City Council’s Sportsperson of the Year award.
Clary does not swim for accolades – she swims because of the relaxation and stress release the sport brings to her. She is always a positive presence on pool deck and is always encouraging Blacktown’s members to swim their best and to have fun.
DIVER:
TARJA LILJESTROM (FIN)
Tarja Liljeström was born in 1946 in Helsinki, Finland. Her love of diving began at a young age when she was watching clown divers in a water show jumping from springboards and platforms playfully into the pool. She began diving at the age of 11 years old and 11 years later, she represented her homeland of Finland in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, on both the 3-meter springboard and the 10-meter platform in the diving competition. In the 1980 Moscow and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, she acted as a judge in the diving competitions.
She became interested in Masters Diving in 1989, when a small group of divers from the USA and Germany participated in the First Open Finn-Masters diving competition in Helsinki. Tarja tells a great story about the event which epitomizes the World and the beauty of Masters. “To the surprise of the organizers, and everyone in attendance, the USA had an 88-year-old diver, named Viola Krahn, competing on the 1-meter springboard. Tarja said, “the younger divers at the event stood by ready on the poolside to jump into the water to save her, if something went wrong in her dive, but the amazing lady dived magnificently.”
It was then that Tarja decided that joining the Masters group after your competitive diving career ended, was a great idea. It helps maintain your health, your muscle strength, and it is great exercise for all all age-groups. As a bonus, Masters diving makes you feel younger than your physical age. Tarja also finds it inspiring, when traveling to different international Masters events, meeting up with her many old diving friends from her early competitive days.
Tarja’s international Masters career includes competing in nine FINA Masters World Championships during 1992 – 2008, where she accumulated 25 medals (9 gold, 15 silver and 1 bronze) in the 1m and 3m springboards and the platform. During this period, she participated in four age-groups: 45-49 through 60-64.
In addition, she was a member of the FINA Masters Committee (1997 – 2009) and member of the LEN Masters Committee (1994 – 2008). Tarja is a researcher for the University of Helsinki.
About MISHOF
The purpose of the MISHOF is to promote a healthy lifestyle, lifelong fitness, and participation in adult aquatic programs. MISHOF recognizes the achievements of individuals who have participated in Masters programs through at least four different Masters age groups. Most must pre-qualify by an objective point system based on world records performances, world Top Ten rankings and World Championship performances. The MISHOF is a division of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please visit: www.ishof.org
The ISHOF 2024 Honoree Induction Weekend
The International Swimming Hall of Fame hosted the Class of 2024 Honorees and award winners, as well as the MISHOF (Masters) Class of 2023, this past weekend, October 4-6, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the 59th annual ISHOF Induction weekend.
The Honoree weekend kicked off Friday evening, October 4, with the ISHOF Aquatic Awards sponsored by AquaCal. The ISHOF Aquatic Awards are presented annually to individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to aquatics in six categories. We are so appreciative to AquaCal for stepping in and taking over this major sponsorship when Paragon could no longer do it. Thank you AquaCal for being the title sponsor for the second year in a row!!!
The 2024 ISHOF Aquatic Award, sponsored by AquaCal included Jay Thomas (USA), Competitive Swimming, Sheliagh Boudia (USA), Diving, Beth Root (USA), Recreational Swimming (USA), Chris and Jenny McCuiston (USA), Aquatic Safety, Cris and Pedro Pinciroli (BRA), Water Polo and Sandra Roberts (CAN) for Synchronized Swimming. All were outstanding choices this year. Visit www.ishof.org to read their individuals stories. (They will be posted very soon).
Other award winners for the evening included, Rodna Metz Bordner who received the John K. Williams Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award; Dominic Calabro was awarded the Every Child A Swimmer Award, and Sandra Rossi Madormo, of Brazil, was presented the Virginia Hunt Newman Award.
Ian Hugh McAllister, who wrote the story of his grandmother, “Lost Olympics: The Hilda James Story”, received the Buck Dawson Author’s Award. McAllister wrote his “Gran’s” fascinating true story. What is the ultimate price of success? In 1924, swimming superstar Hilda James was a dead cert for the British Team at the Paris Olympics. Her family had other ideas. This is the account of a World Champion who suddenly found that her ultimate challenge was to pull her life back together after her dream was cruelly shattered forever. Hilda wasn’t about to bow down to anybody and broke away, finally achieving full emancipation. A social history of life in South Liverpool plus the story of Parkgate Baths on The Wirral provide the early background for this extraordinary book. The final chapters are set against the backdrop of life as a celebrity crew member aboard Cunard’s first purpose built cruise liner, Carinthia.
We still have some autographed copies of this fabulous story, “Lost Olympics, The Hilda James Story”. If you would like to buy one, email: meg@ishof.org for a copy. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time!
The 59th Annual Honoree Induction began Saturday evening at 5:00 pm at the Westin Ft. Lauderdale Beach Resort and Spa with a cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres. Many old friends, got re-acquainted, swimmers and coaches reminisced, people met their idols, whether they were Olympians from yesterday or 50 years ago. One thing was for sure, everyone had a good time. And although, we missed ISHOF Board Member, and Olympic superstar, Dara Torres, as she is busy up in New England coaching her new team, Boston College, we were lucky enough to welcome a spectacular new emcee of the ceremonies. She comes to us just recently returned from Paris, where she was covering the swimming for NBC at the Olympic Games and even more recently, last month, she was married, 2012 Olympic medalist, Elizabeth Beisel. Elizabeth set the tone for a fun, upbeat evening, which was broadcast live on ESPN+. It will be playing On Demand on ESPN+ and Hulu, so please, watch the show if you have some free time, we promise you will not be disappointed. Here is the link: https://www.hulu.com/watch/71121175-804f-47e9-823e-93e7f9d5c953
This year’s Induction Class of 2024 included three swimmers, Lars Frölander (SWE), Daniel Gyurta (HUN) and Dana Vollmer (USA); and for the first time ever, a relay team, the USA Women’s 1976 Gold Medal 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay, consisting of Wendy Boglioli, Shirley Babashoff, Jill Sterkel and Kim Peyton*. The Class of 2024 saw three divers inducted, Alexandre Despatie (CAN), Yulia Pakhalina (RUS) and from the Class of 2023, Wu Minxia (CHN), who was unable to attend last year; one synchronized swimmer, Virginie Dedieu (FRA); two water polo players, Carmela “Lilli” Allucci (ITA) and Vladimir Akimov*; Coach Dennis “Denny” Pursley (USA); Contributor, Dale Neuburger (USA) and the 2024 ISHOF Gold Medallion recipient was Mr. Alex Blavatnik.
Beverly Boys, Alex Despatie, Cynthia Potter
The class of 2024 began with the only diver who has ever won a World Championship title in all three individual events, the 1- and 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform. Alexandre Despatie, competed for Canada in four Olympic Games, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2008, winning two silver medals and making the finals in each of his Olympic performances. Honor Diver.
Teri McKeever, Dana Vollmer, Milt Nelms, Craig Beardsley
Dana Vollmer, of the USA, is a seven-time Olympic medalist, 10-time medalist at the World Championships and with 35 medals earned in international competition. Yet with all those accolades, the one title she’s most proud of is she the only “Mother” in the sport of swimming to win an Olympic gold medal. Honor Swimmer.
Mike Goldburg, Roman Akimov, Lenny Krayzelburg
Honor Water Polo Player Vladimir Akimov* was represented by his son, Roman Akimov, who flew from Moscow and said he had to be present for this “very special honor for his father who will be inducted today on the same day he died under tragic circumstances, 5th October, 1987, 37 years ago today.” Vladimir Akimov was a member of the Soviet water polo team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Akimov was a driving force on the team and one the greatest defenders of his era.
Mary T. Meagher Plant, Dennis Pursley, Stephanie Elkins
Dennis Pursley (USA) probably had the largest cheering section of the evening. Inducted as this year’s Honor Coach, Pursley began his career at Lakeside Aquatics, coaching none other than possibly the greatest female butterflier of all time, Mary T. Meagher, and a host of other talented swimmers, with six of them, including Mary T. making the 1980 Olympic Team. Pursley held a host of prestigious jobs including Head Coach for the Australia Institute of Sport, went on to be named the first ever, National Team Director for USA Swimming, he guided the British National Team in the teens, and ended his career at his Alma Mater, the University of Alabama, where he led the men’s squad to six top 15 finishes.
Italian Water Polo Player, Carmela “Lilli” Allucci was unable to be with us, but she was part of the class of 2024, as captain of the 2004 Women’s Italian Olympic Water Polo Team, where she and her team won gold in Athens at the Games. In addition, she is a two-time FINA World Champion: 2001 and 1998, and four-time Eauropean Champion: 2003, 1999, 1997 and 1995. Lilli was also chosen to carry the flag in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2004 by all her Italian teammates, in all sports.
Carol Zaleski, Peter Diamond, Cynthia Potter
During the middle of the ceremonies, ISHOF presented Mr. Peter Diamond, with the Al Schoenfield Media Award. Diamond’s career spanned 17 Olympic Games, both Summer and Winter. His career began at ABC in 1974, as the Olympic Researcher for the 1974 (Innsbruck) and 1976 (Montreal) Games. In 1977, he moved to NBC as Executive Producer of Olympic Research. He returned to ABC, later in 1980 as Director of Olympic Planning, where he worked until the Olympic rights went back to NBC in 1988. Then so did Diamond, where he was an integral part of scheduling and programming through all the Olympic Games from then through the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Diamond was always a champion of aquatic sports and was partial to their placement in the Olympic Games. He became friends with many of the governing bodies of the sports he broadcast, event ISHOF in the early days.
Steve McFarland, Yulia Pakhalina, Cynthia Potter
Russian Diver Yulia Pakhalina, became the sixth Russian Diver to be inducted into ISHOF. She is a three-time Olympian, 2000-2004-2008, specializing in the 3-meter springboard. She won the gold medal in the synchronized diving event, on the 3-meter with her partner, Vera Ilyina, in Sydney, 2000. In the next two Olympic appearances, the duo won silver in 2004 and bronze in 2008, while individually on the 3-meter, Yulia won bronze in 2004 and silver in 2008. Yulia is a three-time World Champion, and an eight-time European Champion, five times as a soloist.
Jesse Vassallo, Lars Frolander, Sioux Sinnott
Lars Frölander (SWE) is a butterfly and freestyle standout whose career was notable for both its elite performances on the global stage and its longevity. Lars is a six-time Olympian, spanning every Games from 1992 through 2012, etching his name as a headliner in the 100-meter butterfly. While his prowess in that event accounted for his most noteworthy achievements, Frölander also excelled in the 50 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, and as a prominent figure on Swedish relays. In addition to his three Olympic medals, (one gold, two silver), Lars was a 21-time medalist between the long-course and short-course versions of the World Championships. Add in 33 medals from the European Championships (long course/short course) and Frölander’s career tally of major international hardware sits at an impressive 57 medals. Honor Swimmer.
Virginie Dedieu, Becky Dyroen-Lancer
To date, all Synchronized Swimmers that have been successful, have had entire teams behind them, usually winning the team medal. But not France’s Virginie Dedieu. Virginie is a three-time Olympian, and her combination of stunning artistry and technical excellence earned her three consecutive FINA World Championship solo titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007. In 2000, at the Sydney Olympic Games, Dedieu, and partner, won the bronze medal in the duet. At the 2004 Games in Athens, she placed 5th in the duet. Virginie is a three-time European solo champion and a 40-time French National Champion. In addition to her success in synchronized swimming, Virginie got her degree in architecture and interior design, she coaches, not only other students, but for other countries, is a “master” choreographer, has done television for several Olympic Games, and most recently was on the Paris Organizing Committee for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Honor Contributor: Dale Neuburger (USA)
FOR THE RECORD: FINA/WORLD AQUATICS: Vice President (2000-2021); Treasurer (2021-present); Bureau Liaison to the Technical Swimming Committee (2005-present); Chairman, FINA Technical Swimming Commission (2005-2022); Founding Chairman, FINA Development Program (2009-2022); Competition Director, FINA World Swimming Championships (2004); OLYMPIC GAMES: Technical Delegate/Competition Director (2008, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024); Youth Olympic Games (2010, 2014, 2018); PAN AM AQUATICS: Honorary Life President (awarded 2024); President (2015-2019);
Tom Gompf, Dale Neuburger, Carol Zaleski
Dale Neuburger is the longest serving American representative in the history of FINA/World Aquatics. He served as the Liaison to the FINA/World Aquatics Technical Swimming Committee for 19 years and was the Technical Delegate for swimming at five Olympic Games – including Paris, 2024. He is also the founding Chairman of the World Aquatics Development Program overseeing the largest grant program in the Olympic family with more than $10 million distributed annually to athletes and developing nations. Neuburger served two terms as President of USA Swimming and later two terms as the President of United States Aquatic Sports, the National Federation member of FINA/World Aquatics. At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games he was elected Vice President of FINA, the international federation governing aquatic sports; he was reelected four more times before being elected Treasurer and member of the Executive Committee of World Aquatics, the new name of FINA, in 2021 – and was re-elected in 2023.
Stephen Zhang, Wu Minxia, Boxi Liang, Anne Liang
Honor Diver Wu Minxia (CHN) is considered one of the greatest divers in the world. She is four-time Olympian, competing in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016, winning five Olympic gold medals, 1 silver medal and 1 bronze medal. In FINA World Championship competition, Wu is an eight-time gold medalist, and she was the only diver in the history of the FINA World Championships to win seven gold medals in the synchronized 3-meter springboard. During her career Wu earned seven individual medals at the World Championships as well.
In Diving World Series Competition, Wu has won 31 gold medals, and in DIving Grand Prix compeition, 23 gold. She was also a talent on the 1-meter springboard, winning a flurry of medals on the lower board as well. Wu was named the FINA Athlete of the Year in the female diving category in 2011 and 2012. She retired from competitive diving in late 2016.
Ferenc Kovacsshegyi, Daniel Gyurta Jozsef Nagy
Like many of his fellow countryman, Hungarian Honor Swimmer, Daniel Gyurta was a breaststroke specialist, winning gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in the 200-meter breast, and silver in the 2004 Olympic Games in the same event. He is a four-time Olympian (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), and three-time World Record holder in the 200-meter breast. Gyurta was crowned the 200-meter champion at the FINA World Championships, long course edition, beginning in 2009 for three consecutive meets, 2011, 2013. Gyurta also flourished in the short-course pool, where he was the world-record holder in the 200 breaststroke from 2009 to 2016, and the world champion in 2012 and 2014. Honor Swimmer.
On the eve of his induction, October 4, Gyurta was elected President of the Hungarian Olympic Academy (MOA), as announced by the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB). Daniel and his wife, Ezster Iszak, also became the proud parents of a baby girl, Mirabella, in mid July.
John Naber, Wendy Boglioli, Jill Sterkel, Barb Peyton (Mother of Kim), Shirley Babshoff, Donna deVarona
Few relays in history were and stilll are as exciting to watch as the USA Women’s 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay at the 1976 Olympic Games, swam by Babashoff, Boglioli, Sterkel and Peyton! It was the last event of the Games and the US women had not won one gold medal yet, but these four women were determined to change that fact. Everyone suspected the East German women of doping but it would not be proven for another 40+ years. The night before the race, these four US women visualized themselves winning the gold from start to finish. Now it was time to actually do it.
East Germany led off with its star, Kornelia Ender, who raced opposite Kim Peyton. Peyton led off in 56.95, a strong performance, and while Team USA found itself a body length behind after Ender touched in 55.79, the Americans were within striking distance. On the second leg, Wendy Boglioli produced the fastest split of her career by two seconds, going 55.81 to Petra Priemer’s 56.16 split. For Boglioli, it was the finest effort of her career. 15-year-old Jill Sterkel was given the chore of cutting into the East German lead further. The teenager accomplished her goal, and more, as she posted a split of 55.78, with Andrea Pollack going 56.99. Through 300 meters, the United States was in the lead by .40, with Shirley Babashoff facing off with Claudia Hempel on the anchor leg. Initially a dream, the potential of an American victory was real.
Dealing with a week of frustration and unfairness, Babashoff – with four silver medals behind East Germany – was not going to yield the lead. Producing a split of 56.28, against the 56.56 of Hempel, the United States beat East Germany by .68 and established a world record of 3:44.82, breaking the former mark by four seconds. One of the biggest upsets in Olympic history had been registered, and four women demonstrated what belief and teamwork can do.
Lenny Krayzelburg, Donna deVarona, Alex Blavatnik, Anthony Ervin
ISHOF’s Gold Medallion Award is presented each year to a former competitive swimmer for his or her national or international significant achievements in the field of science, entertainment, art, business, education, or government. The 2024 Gold Medallion was presented this year to Alex Blavatnik (URS/USA). Alex calls our beautiful city, home, part of the year and swims at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center for the Swim Fort Lauderdale Masters; He is a former member of the ISHOF Board and a member of the USA Swimming Foundation’s Board of Directors. He is the current Vice Chairman of Access Industries, Senior Advisor to the Blavatnik Family Foundation, Director of the Blavatnik Archive, and sits on the boards of several educational and charitable institutions. To read Alex Blavatnik’s story, so to ishof.org. (It will be posted very soon).
MISHOF announces new Class of 2024
ISHOF is proud to announce the Masters/MISHOF Class of 2024
Tonight, the International Swimming Hall of Fame hosted it’s Masters/MISHOF Hall of Fame Induction, the ISHOF Aquatic Awards, sponsored by AquaCal and the ISHOF Specialty Awards.
At the end of the festivities and award presentations, emcee ISHOF Historian Bruce Wigo, announced the MISHOF, Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame, Class of 2024, which included four swimmers, one diver, one artistic swimmer, one water polo player, and one contributor for a total of eight total Masters to be inducted from five different countries. Here is the new Class:
SWIMMERS:
Diann Uustal (USA)
Charlotte Davis (USA)
Tony Goodwin (AUS)
Hiroshi Matsumoto (JPN)
DIVER: Rolf Sperling (GER)
ARTISTIC SWIMMING: Joyce Corner (CAN)
WATER POLO: Gary Payne (AUS)
CONTRIBUTOR: Barbara McNamee (USA)
The Masters Swimmers include, two females, both from the USA, and two males, one from Japan and one from Australia.
Diann Uustal (USA)
From the time her grandmother introduced Diann to swimming as a child with the admonition, ‘When you get tired you gotta keep kicking,” ’she’s been a lifelong swimmer. As evidenced by her 43 FINA/World Masters records, that’s exactly what she’s done.A late comer to Masters, Diann began her career in the 60+ age group. Through four age groups she has consistently been a top performer. She swims five hard days a week and one easy day for joy and for stroke perfection. She’s always thinking in the water, focused her plan while enjoying the execution.She has been selected as Swimming World Magazine, “World Masters Swimmers of the Year” multiple times and has set 140 USMS national records. She’s competed in Canadian Masters Swimming Championships, USMS Nationals, YMCA Nationals and The FINA/World Masters Swimming Championships.Despite a neck and back injury which causes persistent pain, Diann continues to compete and break records without complaint. She faces major surgery in 2024 with goals for a comeback when she is 80.
Charlotte Davis (USA)
Charlotte Davis was inducted into ISHOF in 2014 as an Honor Coach for her beloved synchronized swimming. With older sisters in the sport, she began learning moves and at eight joined a synchronized swimming team, with great success. She performed with the 1970 Santa Clara Aquamaids, who won the highest level of international competition that synchro offered. She then formed her own synchro team, growing as a coach, and in 1984 was named the first USA Olympic synchronized swimming coach. Her athletes, Tracy Ruiz and Candy Costie, won solo and duet gold at the 1984 Olympics. Charlotte was named the National Team Coach and served until 2000, coaching and managing at four more Olympic Games. With her proximity to the pool, she began competitive swimming in 1987. With a first place in her first local competition, she was hooked. Her first National Championships in 1994 and in 2000 became the first Masters swimmer over 50 to break a minute in the 100 free.Despite her successes, Charlotte cites her diagnoses of breast cancer in April, 2015 as her greatest challenge. After two surgeries she resumed training during her five weeks of radiation therapy. She was able to compete two months later at Long Course Nationals in August where she set four USMS national records and one FINA/World Aquatic record.
Charlotte reflects. I can’t really say that swimming saved my life, but my life has been full because of swimming. After all, I met my husband, a Masters swimmer, in the pool!!
Tony Goodwin (Australia)
Tony Goodwin has been a Masters competitor for over 30 years. Tony was a highly competitive swimmer in his youth, with breaststroke his specialty. When he turned 20, he left the sport. He did not return to the sport to swim competitively for 35 years, although he’d stayed in shape playing cricket. He quickly returned to competitive form, breaking FINA/World Masters records. He has broken his own records in the three breaststroke distances, multiple times, including eight times last year and ten times in the previous year.With the recent death of his wife, Tony was despondent and found himself simply going through the motions in the pool. Encouraged by his son, he and his family traveled to the Fukuoka World Championships in 2023 where at 85, he came away with four golds in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, and the 200m individual medley. All three breaststroke events were FINA/World records. He also added placement points to his totals with a silver and bronze medal.
Hiroshi Matsumoto (JPN)
Hiroshi Matsumoto, is a Masters swimmer from the Minami Alps, in Japan, about 100 miles from Tokyo. He began swimming as a child in a local lake, swimming through his school years and recreationally as an adult until he joined a Masters program, at age 59. Early in his 60’s, he began setting records. In 2002, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer which required his prostate gland removed. A week after surgery he was swimming. “I feel alive when I swim!” Matsumoto has broken 28 FINA Masters World Records and has accumulated 933 World Points. He has competed in six Masters age groups beginning with the 60-64 and is currently in the 85-89 age group, He has been in the Top Ten 27 years and swims the freestyle and fly.Honor Masters Diver:
Rolf Sperling (GER)
Born in 1940, Dr. Rolf Sperling was a member of three Olympic Teams for Germany. He competed in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome (5th on Platform), 1964 in Tokyo, (7th on Platform, 14th on 3M), and in Mexico City, in the 1968 Games.He has competed in nine Fina Masters World Championships, and has won 22 medals, 14 gold, seven silver, and one bronze. Rolf has set eight World Records. His crowning Masters achievements came 14 years apart in the FINA World Masters in 1990 in Brazil and 2004 in Italy, where he won all three events and recorded World Records in each.
Honor Masters Artistic/Synchronized Swimmer:
Joyce Corner (CAN)
In 1969, Joyce Corner responded to an ad looking for coaches for a new synchronized swimming program that was beginning in Mississauga. After she was hired, she was given just one lane for the program while also sharing the pool with a Red Cross Leader’s Course. Over the years, enthusiasm for the group grew. She found another pool with more space and started a new club, the New Wave Synchro Masters where she was both coach and swimmer.Joyce has been involved in synchronized swimming in many different areas. She has been on the Canadian synchro committee for countless years and represented Canada in Masters FINA meets when present. She was the Canadian representative to the FINA Masters committee which helped develop the requirements when FINA transitioned from a figure competition to a technical program.She was a FINA rated “A” international judge and she has judged Pan Am Games 1983; 1987, World Aquatics Championships 1982; 1986, Seoul Olympic Games 1988 as well as many other events in Canada and around the world. She has been honored with many awards: Civic Sports Award 1977, ‘84, ‘89; Peterborough Sports Woman of the Year 1981, Ontario Special Achievement Award, CASSA Board of Directors Honor Award, Ontario ASSA Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, and Masters Delegate to the World Championships in Australia in 1981.
Honor Masters Water Polo Player
Gary Payne (AUS)
Gary has been the driving force of Masters water polo in Australia for many years, from the first Australian Masters in Perth in 2003 right through to the current day where health concerns have seen him slow down. He has toured the world following his favorite sport and it was refereeing where he excelled, gaining FINA international standard and participating as both an athlete and a referee at numerous FINA Masters.His involvement playing and refereeing at every level within Australia and mentorship and assessing abilities have seen a host of new officials flow through his hands. He was instrumental in nurturing Masters tournaments in Asia before Covid curtailed those events. His leadership and drive have seen numerous Masters teams from Western Australia become involved in FINA events and the Perth competition is the paramount Masters competition in the country. He has been awarded two Life Memberships in Western Australian among his many accolades and he has been heavily involved in promoting water polo in regional Australia with numerous country national championships. He was involved in the early Australian Masters championships in the 1980 & 90s, winning medals, as well as gold in 2015. His administration skills encompass club, state and national appointments, including the multi-sport Arafura Games (Darwin) between 1997-2005. He was on the organizing committee of the Thai Pacific Masters 2014-18 and the organizing committee of the Princess Chulabhorn Cup in Bangkok, 2016-18. A top-level referee for 36 years, Gary was a vital cog in National League, National Championships, State and club events around Australia. Gary’s immense value to Masters water polo in Australia andAsia is incalculable.
Honor Masters Contributor:
Barbara Mcnamee (USA) – Masters Artistic Swimming Contributor
Barbara McNamee has been involved with Masters artistic (synchronized) swimming since its inception in the United States. She competed in all the early U.S. Masters National Championships, beginning with the first test meet in 1975 and continuing until 1982, when she retired as a Masters swimmer after winning all three events she entered. In 1984, Barbara won the May McEwan Award, a U.S. award is given annually to someone who has made outstanding contributions to and best exemplifies the spirit of Masters synchro. To this day, Barbara has continued to attend almost all U.S. Masters meets, as a judge, official or coach and sometimes all three at once. She has been one of the most tireless supporters of the Masters synchro program in the U.S. and served for many years on the Masters committee. She has served as an official at every FINA World Masters since 2004, including three times as Chief Referee and once as Chief Recorder. She has served as the rules liaison for many years.
She has now served for over 40 years with synchro in administrative duties for national and local associations. She has served as a board member for United States Synchronized Swimming, the AAU, and the USOC. She is a national and internationally rated judge and was the U.S. judge for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. As a coach for over twenty years, she developed athletes from novice to national team levels. In 1988, she was elected as president of USSS and served until 1992, followed by vice president Olympic/International from 1992-1997. In 1996, she was the assistant competition manager for synchro at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
ISHOF and MISHOF hope to induct the new Class of Masters Honorees in Singapore next Summer during the World Championships, 26 July – August 22, 2025.
#ISHOF #MISHOF #WorldAquatics #Singapore #Swimming #Diving #Waterpolo #ArtisticSwimming #MastersSwimming #CityofFortLauderdale
Own some signed memorabilia by one of the greatest breaststrokers of all time and SMU alum, Steve Lundquist! ISHOF Honoree Silent Auction – Bid Now!
Get this and more at https://qtego.us/qlink/ishof
SMU basket of collegiate swimming & diving gear and memorabilia autographed by Olympic Gold Medalist, Steve Lundquist and SMU alum, including: autographed SMU pennant, Deckpass from 3/1994 swimming & diving competition, XL SMU sweatshirt, XL SMU Long sleeve t-shirt, L SMU long sleeve t-shirt, and XL SMU swimming & diving t-shirt.
Donated by SMU swimming & diving
Item available to ship for an additional fee
STARTING BID: $100
https://qtego.us/qlink/ishof/F9G169
Lots for items to bid on, travel, merchandise, Olympics, check it out now!!!!
#ISHOF #CityofFortLauderdale #USADiving #WorldAquatics #EveryChildASwimmer #SwimmingWorld
ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEMS UP FOR BID DURING THE INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME’S 59TH ANNUAL HONOREE INDUCTION & SILENT AUCTION
# 153 The Last Gold – Framed Limited Edition Poster 16 x 20
As the 59th Annual Honoree Induction weekend draws near, the International Swimming Hall of Fame is excited to welcome its newest class into the Hall of Fame. Beginning FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4th, with the ISHOF Aquatic Awards Presented by AquaCal, the ISHOF Specialty Awards and the MISHOF (Masters) Induction Ceremony, the weekend is set to be one for the books in Fort Lauderdale. The 59th Annual Honoree Induction Ceremony will follow on SATURDAY the 5TH, beginning with a 5:00 p.m. reception, followed by the Honoree Induction at 6:15, which will be streamed on ESPN+ LIVE from the beautiful Westin Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach.
ISHOF is excited to host twelve honorees in 2024, including Chinese Diver Wu Minxia from the Class of 2023, who was unable to attend last year, the first-ever Honor Relay team to ever be inducted into the ISHOF, as well as the 2024 Gold Medallion recipient, Mr. Alex Blavatnik, all who are making the trip as part of this year’s historic class.
With that, the International Swimming Hall of Fame is again hosting a silent auction this year with over 70 items available for bidding with more items being posted all the time. Some of which include autographed memorabilia from Olympians, Honorees, various professional athletes, gift baskets, hotel stays, an African safari, a behind-the-scenes tour of the upcoming World Championships in Singapore, including a swim with a three-time Olympic gold medalist! and so much more.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization that mission is to remember the heroes, history and the money we raise through our silent auction is one way we do that. Additionally, you can donate to ISHOF at https://qtego.us/donate/ishof
SEE WHAT’S AVAILABLE FOR BID IN THE 2024 SILENT AUCTION: https://qtego.us/qlink/ishof/F9G162
#162 SINGAPORE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS EXPERIENCE – SWIM WITH TONY ERVIN!!!
Haven’t you always wanted a chance to meet and swim with an Olympian? With this behind-the-scenes tour of the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, you can! Included in the experience is a 30-minute training session with Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Sprinting King ANTHONY ERVIN in the Singapore competition pool. This package includes (2) tickets to any (3) sessions (winner’s choice) for the World Aquatics World Championships Singapore 2025 (winner to decide the dates between July 11 to August 3, 2025). We expect this item generously donated by our friends at World Aquatics to be one of the most sought-after items available!
#121 AFRICAN SAFARI FOR 4 (6 DAYS/6 NIGHTS) ALSO AVAILABLE FOR 2 PEOPLE AT #112
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With this popular returning auction item, you have the opportunity of a lifetime at the Zulu Nyala private game preserve where animals roam freely in Southern Maputaland, one of the largest and most diverse conservation areas in South Africa! The package includes a one week stay (6 days & 6 nights) at your choice of two locations: 1) Heritage Safari Lodge or
2) Hemingway Tented Camps, also including three meals a day for four people with two game viewing experiences per day, guided by professional game rangers in open game viewing vehicles. Winner has up to two years to use the trip with no blackout dates! Speak to ISHOF staffer Meg Keller-Marvin or Honorees Tom Gompf or Debbie Meyer to find out just how FABULOUS the trip is!!!!!
Donated by Zulu Nyala and ISHOF
#176 SIGNED UVA SWIM CAP
This University of Virginia Cavaliers signed, framed swim cap, signed by 6 people, five 2024 Olympians and a coach. The cap is signed by: 2024 Olympians, GRETCHEN WALSH, 2 gold (4 x 100 mixed relay and medley relay) 2 silver (100 fly, 4 x 100 free relay); KATE DOUGLASS, 2 gold (4 x 100 medley relay and 200 breast) 2 silver (200 IM, 4 x 100 free relay); PAIGE MADDEN, silver (4 x 200 free relay), bronze (800 free); ALEX WALSH, 2020: silver (200 IM); and EMMA WEBER. Also signed by Todd DeSorbo, 2024 USA Olympic Women’s Head Coach and Head Coach of the four-time NCAA Women’s Champion, Virginia Cavaliers. The cap containing signatures from the five Olympians and Head Coach of the 2024 NCAA Champion Cavalier women is a one-of-a-kind item!
#161 SIGNED KATIE LEDECKY BOOK
Katie Ledecky has won more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. She is a four-time Olympian, a nine-time gold medalist, a twenty-one-time world champion, eight-time NCAA Champion, and a world record-holder in individual swimming events. At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, she became the most decorated US female Olympian of all time. Time and again, the question is posed to her family, her coaches, and to her—what makes her a champion? Now, for the first time, she shares what it takes to compete at an elite level.
Autographed and donated by Katie Ledecky
#138 TWO NIGHTS AT FAENA HOTEL MIAMI BEACH
This item is for a 2-night complimentary stay in a spectacular Ocean front Junior Suite at the luxurious Faena Hotel in Miami Beach. The stay includes daily breakfast and waived resort fees. Reservations are subject to availability and blackout dates apply. Parking is not included.
Donated by Faena Hotel Miami Beach & Expires October 2025.
#141 NAPA VALLEY RESERVE WINE
The Napa Valley Reserve 2007 blend – predominated by Cabernet Sauvignon – was produced at The Napa Valley Reserve in collaboration with the Harlan Estate winemaking team. Made to the same exacting standards as other wines in the portfolio, the final blend was returned to new French oak barrels for continued aging. The resulting wine exhibits great complexity and expression, offering new insights into the developing character of our estate as the vines mature. An outstanding vintage, the 2007 is pleasing at release but will continue to develop complexity and maturity with age thanks to its concentrated, classic structure.
Donated by Paul Asmuth and The Napa Valley Reserve.
#119 AUTOGRAPHED TOUCH .01 PHOTO PHELPS – CAVIC
With this item, you can own a piece of Swimming History!
One of the most iconic images in history by legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Heinz Kluetmeier, “The Touch .01”, captures the incredible finish of the men’s 100m butterfly race at the 2008 Olympic Games, where Michael Phelps won his final individual Olympic Gold on his quest to win 8 Golds. This is a limited edition and numbered museum quality print personally signed by both Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic.
Tickets are still available to any of the weekend events:
Friday, October 4, 2024
(Masters MISHOF Honoree Induction, ISHOF Aquatic Awards, presented by AquaCal and ISHOF Specialty Awards)
Click here for Tickets –MISHOF/AWARDS
Saturday, October 5, 2024
ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies, Al Schoenfield Media Award, ISHOF Gold Medallion Award
Click here for Tickets –INDUCTION
Sunday, October 6, 2024
10:00 – 11:00AM DIVE Show at Ft. Lauderdale Aquatic Center
#ISHOF #WorldAquatics #CityofFortLauderdale #Olympics #Swimming #Diving #WaterPolo #ArtisticSwimming #MastersSwimming #SwimmingWorld