Sid Cassidy (USA) joins elite group of Honor Contributors as part ISHOF Class of 2026
Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy (USA) has probably done more for the sport of open water swimming than anyone else. He has served is all aspects of the sport: as an athlete, coach, and race director, but Sid’s greatest influence in the sport has been achieved as the result of his work as chairman of the FINA/WA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, where he had oversight of the FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit, the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix series and the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships. Under his leadership, marathon swimming was added to the Olympic program at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. He was the official starter of the first Olympic 10 km Marathon Swim at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has helped standardize and professionalize the judging and staging of marathon swims around the world.
He coached and swam on a record-setting double-crossing of the English Channel by the USA Swimming National Team in 1990. He served as the USA Swimming National Open Water Coach for five years, was race director for six international marathon swims and the FINA Open Water World Cup events at Atlantic City, USA. Cassidy continues his role in reviewing and promoting the sport and its rules and regulations and being a strong voice and leader for open water swimming in America. As the sport grows, his leadership in educating referees and officials on how to correctly and consistently interpret the rules during competition will be especially important and appreciated.
As a swimmer, Sid Cassidy was ranked fourth as a professional marathon swimmer in 1979. He swam several 36 km (22.5-mile) Around-the-Island Marathon Swims in Atlantic City, USA and competed in professional marathon races in Chicago, Canada and Egypt. Sid won the highest honor from USA Swimming, the prestigious USA Swimming Award, which is given annually to an individual or organization with the most outstanding contribution to the sport of swimming. He received the Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2020 and was inducted as an Honor Administrator into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2005. He was the 1996 recipient of the Glen S. Hummer Award, an award given to the individual who makes the greatest contribution to Open Water Swimming in the United States and was inducted in the North Carolina Swimming Hall of Fame, Class of 2020.
Learn more about Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy and the other 12 outstanding Honorees who will be inducted this year at ISHOF’s 61st Honoree Induction Ceremony Buy your tickets NOW for ISHOF’s 61st Anniversary of the Honoree Induction Ceremony in Fort Lauderdale in conjunction with the World Aquatics High Dive World Cup
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2026
WHERE: Embassy Suites 17th St. 1100 S. E. 17th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Tickets are NOW ON SALE ~ PURCHASE THEM HERE!
ISHOF Class of 2026
Nathan Adrian (USA) Honor Swimmer
Laszlo Cseh (HUN) Honor Swimmer
Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) Honor Swimmer
Ryan Lochte (USA) Honor Swimmer (Class of 2025)
Ferry Weertman (NED) Honor Open Water Swimmer
Tania Cagnotto (ITA) Honor Diver
Simone Fountain (AUS) Honor Water Polo Player
Heather Simon Carassco (USA) Honor Artistic Swimmer
Jane Figueiredo (ZIM) Honor Coach
Gregg Troy (USA) Honor Coach (Class of 2025)
Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy (USA) Honor Contributor
Richard Burns (USA) Honor Masters Swimmer
Beatrice Hess (FRA) Honor Paralympic Swimmer
Make your Hotel reservations Now! The Host Hotel ~ Special Rate $219
Photo Courtesy: Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale
Embassy Suites 17th Street, 1100 S. E. 17th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
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Tickets for Friday Night’s Masters Induction, ISHOF Aquatic and Specialty Awards
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“After the Applause” ~ March 2026 ~ Grant Hackett (AUS) Honor Swimmer 2014
This month, in our series, “After the Applause”, ISHOF speaks with long distance swimming icon, Grant Hackett. The bio below is from Grant’s 2014 Induction bio.
Grant Hackett’s specialty was the 1500-meter freestyle; he was unbeaten from 1997 to 2007, winning every major world competition. His four world championship gold medals in this event make him the only swimmer to have won a world title in one event four times. In total, he won ten world championship titles, and in 2001 at the FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, he set a world record that lasted over ten years, finally broken by China’s Sun Yang, in Shanghai, at the 2011 Championships.
Hackett is best remembered for winning back-to-back gold medals in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and the 2004 Games in Athens, although his Olympic career spanned from 2000 to 2008, totaling, three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal in the freestyle events. During his career, he set a total of 15 world records, 5 long course and 10 short course.
This month, we proudly share a question and answer session we had with Hackett and his answers give a great insight into his life today after his competitive career. We hope you enjoy his honest insights….
You were inducted in 2014, tell us what you have been up to since then?
Since 2014, I’ve remarried and welcomed two more children, Edward (2020) and Olympia (2023), joining my 16-year-old twins. Professionally, I joined a small ASX-listed company and became CEO within 12 months. We’ve grown from a $50 million market cap to a multi-billion-dollar ASX 200 company. Finance and investing have always been a passion of mine, much like swimming. Today, I lead several hundred staff nationwide. It’s demanding, but I love building and leading at scale.
What do you do for work / as a profession?
I’m Group CEO of Generation Development Group. We manage close to $40 billion in assets across three core areas: tax-effective investment solutions, financial product research and ratings, and asset management. It’s a high-performance culture — not that different to elite sport.
Are you still involved in swimming in any capacity?
Yes. I was Chairman of the 2032 Olympic Legacy Committee and still support the sport when needed. I mentor athletes from time to time and enjoy helping them navigate performance, pressure and career decisions. As my work life eventually slows and my kids grow older, I’d happily contribute more to Australian/World swimming.
Do you still stay in touch with any swim mates from your competition days, if so, who?
Absolutely. I speak weekly with Michael Phelps — we’re very close and support each other, particularly around mental health. I also stay in touch with Michael Klim and Chris Fydler. Ironically, one of my biggest rivals (being the USA) is probably the one I’m closest to today.
If you have children, do your kids swim, if yes, tell us about them, if no, tell us about what they are involved in (sports, arts, etc.)
All my kids have swum at some stage. My eldest loves athletics — the 100m, 200m and especially the 400m. He must like pain!… We must share that characteristic. Edward, who’s six, loves swimming and is built like a mini version of me. Whether he pursues it will come down to mindset, not ability. I’m not a pushy dad — but I am an honest one. I don’t mind what they choose, as long as they commit and give it their best.
What is best memory of your days in swimming? (You can have more than one)
The camaraderie. The laughter. Traveling the world with teammates. Being in an environment where everyone — athletes, coaches, staff — was driven to be the best in the world. That collective pursuit of excellence is powerful. Winning is fun — but building greatness together is even better.
Seeing the changes that have occurred in swimming/aquatics now versus when you were competing, do you wish you could have competed now, or are you glad you competed when you did and why?
I have no complaints. But the 800m freestyle being added to the Olympics would have suited me — it was my strongest event for much of my career. More frequent World Championships would have created additional opportunities too – as it was every four years when I commenced my international career. That said, I’m grateful for my era. Every generation has its moment. On the male side I had – Thorpe, Phelps, Popov & Hoogenband – it was an amazing time to be in the sport.
Have you written a memoir/book about yourself, if yes, what’s the title and can our readers purchase it? If not, do you ever plan on writing a book?
I haven’t written one. If I ever do, it would be later in life. I’d want it to reflect the full journey — swimming, business and personal growth — told honestly. That’s the challenge. I’m naturally private, and telling the story properly would require complete transparency. If I write it, it won’t just be about swimming.
Any advice to all the future want-to-be Olympic swimmers out there?
People ask if it’s worth the sacrifice. I’d pay ten times the price to stand on the blocks at an Olympic Games again — especially a home Games — and compete for my country. There is nothing like it. If that’s your dream, chase it relentlessly. You’ll never regret giving everything to something that matters. I now get to live & die with those beautiful memories.
As an Olympian, National Team Member, you travelled all over the world. What was your favorite place you visited, or your favorite meet to attend?
Japan. The energy, the enthusiasm, the respect for athletes — it was incredible. I always seemed to swim fast there. I broke multiple world records and won many titles competing in Japan. The atmosphere, the crowds, the professionalism — it just clicked for me. When I read this question, Japan was the first place that came to mind.
Grant Hackett is also a member of the ISHOF Selection Committee, that votes on and helps choose those deserving individuals that are chosen for induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
To read Grant Hackett’s full biography, click here: https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-grant-hacket/
László Cseh to be inducted an Honor Swimmer, one of four swimmers in Class of 2026 ~
László Cseh (HUN) is a five-time Olympian and six-time Olympic medalist who is so talented, he competed in every stroke and nearly every event in world aquatic competition. He has won 74 medals in international competition, 38 gold, 19 silver and 17 bronze, representing the Olympic Games, World and European Championships and one edition of the World Universiade Games. In addition to being a 33-time European Champion, he has set five world records, in the IM, his signature event.
His father, Laszlo Cseh, Sr., also represented Hungary at the Olympic Games in swimming, but backstroke was his specialty. He started swimming at any early age and was coached by György Turi and Zoltán Nemes. In 2020, he was nominated Number #1, by SwimSwam magazine, in the category of top ten male swimmers to never have won Olympic gold. Might have something to do with the fact that he swam in the same events and in the same Olympic Games as Michael Phelps.
Cseh was named Hungarian Swimmer of the Year, nine times: (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016). He was named Swimming World Magazine European Swimmer of the Year twice (2005, 2006). He was named Hungarian Athlete of the Year once, by the National Sports Associations (NSSZ) awards (2006); Cseh was awarded the Budapest Pro Urbe Award in 2006; Was named Hungarian Sportsman of the Year (2006, 2015), voted on by sports journalists; Hungarian University Athlete of the Year (2015); Hungarian Heritage Award (2015); European Swimmer of the Year (2015) by LEN; and was chosen as flagbearer for Hungary for the 2020/21 Tokyo Olympics;
Learn more about Laszlo Cseh and the other 12 outstanding Honorees who will be inducted this year at ISHOF’s 61st Honoree Induction Ceremony Buy your tickets NOW for ISHOF’s 61th Anniversary of the Honoree Induction Ceremony in Fort Lauderdale in conjunction with the World Aquatics High Dive World Cup
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2026
WHERE: Embassy Suites 17th Street, 1100 S. E. 17th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tickets are NOW ON SALE ~ PURCHASE THEM HERE!
ISHOF Class of 2026
Nathan Adrian (USA) Honor Swimmer
Laszlo Cseh (HUN) Honor Swimmer
Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) Honor Swimmer
Ryan Lochte (USA) Honor Swimmer (Class of 2025)
Ferry Weertman (NED) Honor Open Water Swimmer
Tania Cagnotto (ITA) Honor Diver
Simone Fountain (AUS) Honor Water Polo Player
Heather Simon Carassco (USA) Honor Artistic Swimmer
Jane Figueiredo (ZIM) Honor Coach
Gregg Troy (USA) Honor Coach (Class of 2025)
Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy (USA) Honor Contributor
Richard Burns (USA) Honor Masters Swimmer
Beatrice Hess (FRA) Honor Paralympic Swimmer
Make your Hotel reservations Now! The Host Hotel ~ Special Rate $219
Photo Courtesy: Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale
Embassy Suites 17th Street, 1100 S. E. 17th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
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Tickets for Friday Night’s Masters Induction, ISHOF Aquatic and Specialty Awards
Use QR Code to buy tickets to Friday night, May 15th Masters and Awards Night.
Click link below to see all award winners
Who’s Next for 10 Olympic Gold Medals? Johannes Klæbo Has Reached Nine, But Only Michael Phelps in Double Digits
Michael Phelps — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by David Rieder – Senior Writer
16 February 2026
Halfway through the greatest single performance in Olympic history, Michael Phelps earned the 10th Olympic gold medal of his career, making him the first athlete in any Olympic sport to reach the double-digit threshold.
The existing record of nine gold medals had stood for 80 years since Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi completed his career at the 1928 Games. Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, American swimmer Mark Spitz and U.S. track star Carl Lewis went on to tie that record over their careers, but Phelps blew past it with his gold medal in the 200 butterfly in Beijing. That race is best remembered as the one where Phelps’ goggles filled with water on the start, yet he still broke the world record.
Phelps would reach 14 gold medals by the end of the Beijing Olympics before adding another four golds in London and five in Rio. The final career total was 23 gold medals, three silver and two bronze. And he remains in a club of his own: there is still no other Olympic athlete to win more than nine Olympic gold medals in their career. However, the tie for second place now includes seven athletes, three of whom remain active.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt finished his Olympic career with nine gold medals, but that was retroactively lowered to eight as Bolt’s 4 x 100 relay from 2008 received a retroactive disqualification nine years later when one of his teammates, Nesta Carter, tested positive for a banned substance. The next pair to reach nine were both U.S. swimmers: Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel, both on the second-to-last day of racing at the Paris Games.
Ledecky’s record-setting fourth consecutive gold medal in the 800 freestyle gave her nine golds total, including one at her debut Games in London, four in Rio and two each in Tokyo and Paris. Ledecky also owns four silver medals and a bronze. Later, Dressel secured his ninth gold when the U.S. mixed 400 medley relay claimed gold in world-record time. Dressel had raced in prelims of the event.
The next day, Dressel had a chance to claim second place on his own with a 10th gold medal. He rebounded from disappointing individual results to swim an electric 49.41 butterfly split on the U.S. men’s 400 medley relay, but China overtook the U.S. team on the anchor leg to hand the Americans their first-ever loss in the event in Olympic competition. Dressel, like Ledecky, was left to wait four years for a chance at joining Phelps in double digits.
Of course, Johannes Klæbo might get there first. Klæbo, a cross-country skier from Norway, has won four gold medals at the ongoing Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics: the 20-kilometer skiathlon, the individual sprint, the 10km freestyle and the 4 x 7.5km relay. Of those wins, only in the sprint event did a competitor come within two seconds. Still to come are the team sprint event, where Klæbo is the defending Olympic gold medalist, and the 50km mass start.
Klæbo already owns more gold medals than any other Winter Olympian in history, surpassing three other Norwegians who were tied at eight golds. He could be days away from winning a 10th gold and perhaps even an 11th. Should he come through for gold in either remaining competition, Klæbo would accomplish double-digit golds in just his third Olympics, just like Phelps.
Ledecky and Dressel will have their chances to get a 10th gold in two years’ time. Ledecky remains undefeated in the 800 and 1500 free since 2012, and while Lani Pallister and Summer McIntosh each issued enormous challenges in the 800 in 2025, the American remains in a class of her own in the 30-lap race. Notably, Ledecky would likely already have 10 or more golds had the 1500 been included on the Olympic schedule prior to Tokyo. Dressel is more of a wild card, but relays or an individual 50-meter race could offer another golden ticket.
Throwback Thursday: Michael Phelps’ 41 Days to Remember in the 200 Individual Medley
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
05 February 2026
Throwback Thursday: Michael Phelps’ 41 Days to Remember in the 200 Individual Medley
The lower-key nature of the 2003 Santa Clara Invitational belied what unfolded in the water of the George Haines International Swim Center. On the final day of the meet in Northern California, Michael Phelps treated the fans in attendance – and fellow athletes – to a surprise world-record performance.
In the final of the 200-meter individual medley, Phelps ripped a time of 1:57.94 to break the nine-year-old global standard of Finland’s Jani Sievinen (1:58.16). It was the sixth world record of Phelps’ fledgling career, No. 5 on an individual basis. While certainly a sensational swim, it was just the start of 41 sensational days by Phelps in the event.
More often than not, world-record performances slice miniscule amounts of time from the previous mark. Of course, there are outliers to this statement. For instance, last summer saw Frenchman Leon Marchand lop more than a second off the world record in the 200 IM. But for the most part, world records are lowered by a tenth here and a few hundredths there. Additionally, we don’t often witness multiple global standards in the same event within a tight timeframe.
So, the Summer of 2003 was anything but ordinary as Phelps, not yet an Olympic medalist, wore his eraser to a nub as he assaulted the record book in the 200 individual medley.
Phelps’ six-week assault began in late June at the Santa Clara Invitational, formerly a can’t-miss meet for elite athletes targeting a major summer competition. For Phelps, the meet was a tuneup for the impending World Championships in Barcelona, where Phelps would tackle a multi-event program at a global meet for the first time. The previous summer featured the Pan Pacific Championships and while Phelps contested multiple events in Yokohama, Japan, the meet did not include European foes.
On the final day of action in Santa Clara, Phelps left little doubt his trip to Barcelona would be memorable. Nine years after Sievinen set the world record in the 200 IM at the World Champs in Rome, Phelps cut .22 from the standard. For the first time, a swimmer covered the event in under 1:58, the effort further elevating Phelps’ rising star.
Less than a month later, Phelps – as expected – was the star of the World Championships. He doubled in the medley events and retained his world title in the 200 butterfly. A silver medal was added in the 100 butterfly. The 200 IM supplied the greatest fireworks. After Phelps set a world record of 1:57.52 in the semifinals, Phelps defeated Aussie Ian Thorpe by three-plus seconds in the final, a world record of 1:56.04 getting the job done. Phelps was now more than two seconds faster than anyone else in the history of the event.
Yet, he wasn’t done.
After arriving home from Barcelona, coach Bob Bowman had Phelps make the short trip from his training base at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club to the University of Maryland, which was hosting the United States National Championships. Could Phelps hold his taper from Worlds? That answer was emphatically provided when he broke his fourth world record of the summer in the 200 IM, going 1:55.94.
In the span of 41 days, Phelps became the first man under 1:58, 1:57 and 1:56 in the 200 individual medley. Phelps had a little extra motivation in Maryland, as Bowman told him he would shave his head if he went under 1:56. By the next summer, of course, Phelps had eight Olympic medals (six gold) from Athens.
“Wow. That’s all I can say,” Phelps said. “I shocked myself for sure. “I said, ‘I’m going out after it. I’m going out in 54 and try to hang on.’ I left it all in the pool.”
The Longest-Standing World Records in Each Event (Men’s Edition)
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
28 January 2026
The Longest-Lasting World Records in Each Event (Men’s Edition)
What are the longest-standing world records in each event? Swimming World analyzed the sport’s world-record progressions to present that data, which can be found below. It turns out that several current world records are also the most-enduring, such as Adam Peaty’s breaststroke standards in the 50-meter and 100-meter distances. And not surprising, several of the longest-lasting marks are from the 2009 season, where super-suit technology powered the sport.
This list focuses on the longest-lasting singular world record in each event, not the athlete who has held a standard for the greatest duration. For example, Michael Phelps’ longest-lasting world record in the 400-meter individual medley was 14 years, 11 months and three days, the span between his swim at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the day Leon Marchand broke the record at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. However, Phelps was the world-record holder in the 400 IM for 20-plus years, with his initial record in the event set in 2002 in Fort Lauderdale. A separate article in the coming weeks will look at the longest world-record reigns.
Here are the longest-lasting world records in each event:
50 Freestyle
Cesar Cielo (Brazil) – 20.91December 18, 2009-Present (16 Years, 1 Month, 10 Days)
100 Freestyle
Cesar Cielo (Brazil) – 46.91July 30, 2009-August 13, 2022 (13 Years, 0 Months, 13 Days)
200 Freestyle
Paul Biedermann (Germany) – 1:42.00July 25, 2009-Present (16 Years, 6 Months, 3 Days)
400 Freestyle
Paul Biedermann (Germany) – 3:40.07July 26, 2009-April 12, 2025 (15 Years, 8 Months, 17 Days)
800 Freestyle
Zhang Lin (China) – 7:32.12July 29, 2009-Present (16 Years, 5 Months, 30 Days)
1500 Freestyle
Sun Yang (China) – 14:31.02August 4, 2012-August 4, 2024 (12 Years, 0 Months, 0 Days)
50 Backstroke
Liam Tancock (Great Britain) – 24.04August 2, 2009-August 4, 2018 (9 Years, 2 Days)
100 Backstroke
Aaron Peirsol (United States) – 51.94July 8, 2009-August 13, 2016 (7 Years, 1 Month, 5 Days)
200 Backstroke
Aaron Peirsol (United States) – 1:51.92July 31, 2009-Present (16 Years, 5 Months, 28 Days)
50 Breaststroke
Adam Peaty (Great Britain) – 25.95July 25, 2017-Present (8 Years, 6 Months, 3 Days)
100 Breaststroke
Adam Peaty (Great Britain) – 56.88July 21, 2019-Present (6 Years, 6 Months, 7 Days)
200 Breaststroke
Mike Barrowman (United States) – 2:10.16July 29, 1992-October 2, 2002 (10 Years, 2 Months, 3 Days)
50 Butterfly
Rafael Munoz (Spain) – 22.43April 5, 2009-July 1, 2018 (9 Years, 2 Months, 26 Days)
100 Butterfly
Michael Phelps (United States) – 49.82August 1, 2009-July 26, 2019 (9 Years, 11 Months, 25 Days)
200 Butterfly
Michael Phelps (United States) – 1:51.51July 29, 2009-July 24, 2019 (9 Years, 11 Months, 25 Days)
200 Individual Medley
Ryan Lochte (United States) – 1:54.00July 28, 2011-July 30, 2025 (14 Years, 0 Months, 2 Days)
400 Individual Medley
Michael Phelps (United States) – 4:03.84August 10, 2008-July 23 2023 (14 Years, 11 Months, 13 Days)
‘Let your Flame Spark Hope’: IOC President and 2023 ISHOF Honoree Kirsty Coventry welcomes everyone to the Olympic Gamesin Italy ~ Full Speech
Kirsty Coventry delivers her speech during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic opening ceremony. (Photo Credit: IOC/John Huet)
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics opened Friday night. And like all Opening Ceremonies, they are productions to behold, and Friday nights was no different. But what was different was that the opening speech from the newly elected International Olympic Committee President was from one of our own this time, 2023 ISHOF Honor Swimmer, Kirsty Coventry.
It was the first time opening an Olympic Games for Coventry and in case you missed it, we wanted to bring it to you in its entirety because everyone in the world of swimming is so proud of Kirsty ~ the speech was uniting, uplifting and full of hope. Below you will find her speech in its entirety from Friday night, as she welcomed everyone to the Winter Olympics. Kirsty called on people to care for each other, celebrate the joys that sport can provide, and to live with the Olympic spirit in mind.
Bravo Kirsty!
My fellow Olympians,
Whether you are here in Milano, in Cortina, Predazzo or Livigno: welcome to your Games.
This is your moment.
I know what it feels like – that mix of excitement and nerves. Your whole life of hard work, of early mornings, long days, sacrifices, setbacks – it all comes down to this. I know that feeling, when you realise – this is it. You’ve made it.
So first, be proud. Be proud of how far you’ve come. And now, take it all in. Enjoy it. Enjoy every second.
Over the next two weeks, you’re going to give us something truly special.
You’ll show us what it means to be human. To dream. To overcome. To respect one another. To care for each other.
You’ll show us that strength isn’t just about winning – it’s about courage, empathy and heart.
You will not only make incredible memories. You will reach your Olympic dreams – and you will show the world how to live.
This is why we all love the Olympic Games. Because through you, we see the very best of ourselves. You remind us that we can be brave. That we can be kind. And that we can get back up, no matter how hard we fall.
And to everyone watching, here in Italy and around the world – thank you for joining this moment. Thank you for believing in the magic of the Olympic Games.
In Africa, where I’m from, we have a word: ubuntu. It means: I am because we are. That we can only rise by lifting others. That our strength comes from caring for each other.
No matter where you come from, we all know this spirit – it lives and breathes in every community.
I see this spirit most clearly at the Olympic Games. Where athletes from every corner of our world compete fiercely – but they also respect, support and inspire one another. They remind us that we are all connected, that our strength comes from how we treat each other, and that the best of humanity is found in courage, compassion and kindness.
So let these Games be a celebration of what unites us – of everything that makes us human.
This is the magic of the Olympic Games: inspiring us all to be the best that we can be – together.
Tonight, we are grateful to our gracious hosts, the Italian people, who set this spectacular Olympic stage with such passion and care.
When I was an athlete, this was always my most favourite moment. Watching that flame light up in the night – that’s when I knew the Games were real. Now it’s your turn, my fellow Olympians. Now it’s your moment. It’s your Games.
We cannot wait to watch you, to cheer for you, to be inspired by you. To see your courage. Your strength. To see the best of humanity shine before the world.
Let your flame spark hope, let it ignite joy and light the way for all of us.
Grazie mille. Thank you.
~Kirsty Coventry, President, IOC
The Longest-Lasting World Records in Each Event (Women’s Edition)
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
05 February 2026
The Longest-Lasting World Records in Each Event (Women’s Edition)
World records are spectacular by nature, a performance better than anything previously produced. But some world records hold iconic status, thanks to their durability. For example, distance-freestyle legend Janet Evans owns three of the longest-standing world records in history, her former marks in the 400-meter freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle all enduring for at least 17 years.
A week after Swimming World examined the longest-standing world records in the history of men’s competition, we shift our focus to the longest-lasting global marks in women’s action. The records included highlight the oldest singular performances registered, not the individual who held the world record for the greatest stretch of time.
50 Freestyle
Britta Steffen (Germany) – 23.73August 2, 2009-July 29, 2017 (7 Years, 11 Months, 26 Days)
100 Freestyle
Willy den Ouden (Netherlands) – 1:04.6February 27, 1936-February 21, 1956 (19 Years, 11 Months, 25 Days)
200 Freestyle
Ragnhild Hveger (Denmark) – 2:21.7September 11, 1938-February 25, 1956 (19 Years, 5 Months, 14 Days)
400 Freestyle
Janet Evans (United States) – 4:03.85September 22, 1988-May 12, 2006 (17 Years, 7 Months, 20 Days)
800 Freestyle
Janet Evans (United States) – 8:16.22August 20, 1989-August 16, 2008 (18 Years, 11 Months, 27 Days)
1500 Freestyle
Janet Evans (United States) – 15:52.10March 26, 1988-June 17, 2007 (19 Years, 2 Months, 22 Days)
50 Backstroke
Zhao Jing (China) – 27.06July 30, 2009-August 21, 2018 (9 Years, 0 Months, 22 Days)
100 Backstroke
Gemma Spofforth (Great Britain) – 58.12July 28, 2009-July 25, 2017 (7 Years, 11 Months, 27 Days)
200 Backstroke
Krisztina Egerszegi (Hungary) – 2:06.62August 25, 1991-February 16, 2008 (16 Years, 5 Months, 22 Days)
50 Breaststroke
Jessica Hardy (United States) – 29.80August 7, 2009-August 3, 2013 (3 Years, 11 Months, 27 Days)
Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania) – 29.48August 3, 2013-July 30, 2017 (3 Years, 11 Months, 27 Days)
100 Breaststroke
Lilly King (United States) – 1:04.13July 25, 2017-Present (8 Years, 6 Months, 10 Days)
200 Breaststroke
Rikke Moeller Pederson (Denmark) – 2:19.11August 1, 2013-July 30, 2021 (7 Years, 11 Months, 29 Days)
50 Butterfly
Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) – 24.43July 5, 2014-Present (11 Years, 6 Months, 30 Days)
100 Butterfly
Mary T. Meagher (United States) – 57.93August 16, 1981-August 23, 1999 (18 Years, 0 Months, 7 Days)
200 Butterfly
Mary T. Meagher (United States) – 2:05.96August 13, 1981-May 17, 2000 (18 Years, 9 Months, 4 Days)
200 Individual Medley
Wu Yanyan (China) – 2:09.72October 17, 1997-March 25, 2008 (10 Years, 5 Months, 8 Days)
400 Individual Medley
Petra Schneider (East Germany) – 4:36.10July 26, 1982-October 13, 1997 (15 Years, 2 Months, 17 Days)
ISHOF and Masters Honoree Laura Val Breaks Four SCM Masters World Records in First Meet in 75-79 Age Group
Laura Val broke four Masters world records in her first meet in the 75–79 age group, adding to a legendary career that includes 430+ world marks.
by Terin Frodyma 11
February 03rd, 2026
2026 Fabulous Las Vegas Masters SCM Meet at UNLV
January 17, 2026
Buchanan Natatorium, Las Vegas, NV
SCM (25 meters)
In the newest chapter of an already decorated Masters Swimming career, Laura Val, a 47-time individual Masters All-Star, competed in her first short-course meet in the 75-79 age group. Wasting no time, Val settled into her world record-breaking ways, notching four World Aquatics Masters World Records at the Fabulous Las Vegas Masters Short Course Meet on January 17th.
Val, a representative of Team Redbird in the Southern Pacific LSMC, picked up her first World Record of the meet in the 100 backstroke, turning in the 10th fastest time in the mixed event at the meet, but the fastest ever in the women’s 75-79 age group, touching in 1:18.19, smashing Cecilia McCloskey’s time from January of 2025 in 1:23.61.
In the 50 free, Val powered to a final time of 30.95, bettering Charlotte Davis’ two and a half month old World Record mark of 33.21. In the very next event, Val would lower McCloskey’s 50 backstroke World Record of 38.04 down to 35.71.
To put a pin in a historic showing, Val would take down another one of Davis’ freestyle marks when she clocked a 1:0.53 in the 100 free, clipping the former mark of 1:11.92 that Davis set in March of last year.
The career of Val includes over 1,000 individual All-American honors and more than 430 career world records broken across both long course and short course events, with her first coming as early as 1987. She also is the current holder of 72 USMS National Records across SCY, SCM, and LCM.
Today, Val boasts 44 World Aquatics Masters World Records that stand today (26 SCM, 18 LCM), with her longest held mark coming in the short course 200 butterfly for the women’s 55-59 age group, where she set the all-time mark in 2:32.13 in September of 2008.
Val began her swimming career at the age of 10, joining the Mountain View Dolphins Swim Team, two years later she would become a Junior Olympic National Champion in the water.
She later enrolled at San Diego State University, where she earned a nursing degree and graduated in 1972. 12 years later, Val joined the Los Altos Masters team, with the goal to train and use it as a workout. A year later, she raced in the U.S. Masters National Championships, where she broke six national records, and kickstarted one of the most decorated Masters careers in history.
In 2003, Val would be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and in 2004, she was inducted into the Masters International Swimming Hall Of Fame. In the more than two decades since, Val would rewrite both national and world record books, and firmly place herself in the conversation for one of the greatest masters swimmers of all time.
CSCCAA Honors IOC President Kirsty Coventry with McCaffree Award
Photo Courtesy: CSCAA
by Matthew De George – Senior Writer
03 February 2026, 02:53pm
Kirsty Coventry, former NCAA champion for the Auburn Tigers, back-to-back Olympic champion, and current President of the International Olympic Committee, has been named the Charles McCaffree Award winner by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America on Tuesday.
Selected by the CSCAA Board of Directors, the Charles McCaffree Award recognizes a collegiate swimming or diving graduate who has achieved outstanding success beyond the pool, exemplifying leadership, service, and lasting impact on sport and society. Coventry will be recognized at the 63rd Annual CSCAA College Swimming & Diving Awards Celebration May 4 in Chicago, Illinois.
Coventry’s athletic legacy is unparalleled. Collegiately, she competed for Auburn University, where she trained under co-head coaches David Marsh and Kim Brackin and emerged as one of the most accomplished swimmers in NCAA history. She led Auburn to three consecutive NCAA team championships (2002–2004) and earned seven individual NCAA titles, 25 All-America honors, and SEC Female Athlete of the Year (2004–05) recognition. Coventry also set multiple program records, including the 200-yard backstroke (1:50.54), and was honored as the nation’s top female collegiate swimmer with the 2005 Honda Sports Award.
“Since 2001, it has been evident that Kirsty seeks excellence and surrounds herself with hardworking, ambitious, and disciplined teammates,” said Brackin, Coventry’s coach at Auburn University and later as a postgraduate while Brackin served as head coach at the University of Texas. “She has always embraced audacious goals—from believing we could win the 2002 NCAA team title after finishing third at the SEC Championships to ultimately winning Olympic gold.”
On the world stage, Coventry is one of the most decorated Olympic swimmers in history. She competed in five Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016), capturing seven Olympic medals, including two gold medals in the 200-meter backstroke, and setting multiple world records. Her success established her as one of Africa’s most accomplished Olympic athletes.
“Kirsty carefully navigates her environment to ensure she is supported by like-minded teammates, family, and friends,” Brackin added. “Within that setting, she demonstrates a relentless drive and forward-thinking nature, leading both democratically and decisively. These qualities were nurtured during her time at Auburn, and I am confident her collegiate swimming experience helped shape her leadership trajectory.”
Since retiring from competitive swimming, Coventry’s influence has expanded well beyond competition. A dedicated global sports leader, she has served in numerous international roles, including as a member of the International Olympic Committee and Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. In March 2025, Coventry made history when she was elected the first woman and first African President of the IOC, officially assuming the role in June 2025.
“Unlike many athletes who prioritize rest during Opening Ceremonies, Kirsty always insisted on attending,” Brackin said. “The ceremony embodied her Olympic spirit, and she has consistently demonstrated a deep dedication to the values of the Olympic Movement.”
In addition to her IOC leadership, Coventry has contributed to global sport through service on organizations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency and involvement with the International Surfing Federation, advancing integrity, inclusion, and opportunity across sport. Her personal initiatives, including the Kirsty Coventry Academy and community outreach programs such as HEROES: Empowering Children Through Sport, reflect a deep and sustained commitment to youth development, education, and social impact.
“I have complete confidence that she will lead with passion and a strong moral compass,” Brackin concluded. “I know she will be extremely proud to be recognized by one of the communities that helped shape her into a global sports leader.”
“Kirsty Coventry’s career is defined not only by her extraordinary achievements in the pool, but by her enduring commitment to expanding the reach and impact of sport,” said CSCAA Executive Director Samantha Barany. “Her journey exemplifies how the discipline, leadership, and resilience developed through collegiate swimming translate far beyond competition. As the recipient of the Charles McCaffree Award, Kirsty represents the very best of our sport—a champion who broke barriers in the water and continues to break glass ceilings through her leadership and service beyond the pool.”
McCaffree Award Winners
2025 – Dr. David Scott, Army West Point 1954
2024 – Ambassador Andrew Young, Howard University 1951
2023 – Dr. Tara Kirk Sell, Stanford University 2004
2022 – Victoria Gmelich, Dartmouth University 1991
2020 – Roger Von Jouanne, Southern Illinois 1982 & Walter Rogers, III, Southern Illinois 1962
2019 – Dr. Brian Casey, University of Notre Dame 1985
2018 – Carter Cast, Stanford 1985
2017 – Morgan Burke, Purdue University 1973
2016 – Brad Snyder, U.S. Naval Academy 2006
2015 – Dr. James DeBord, University of Illinois 1969
2014 – John Davis, University of North Carolina 1991
2013 – Major Ray O’Donnell, University of Hawaii 2001 & Dr. Steven Scott, Springfield College 1972
2012 – Frank Comfort, Syracuse University 1967
2011 – Adolph Kiefer, University of Texas 1939
2008 – R. Todd Ruppert, Kenyon College 1978
2006 – Chuck Wielgus, Providence College 1972
2005 – Rowdy Gaines, Auburn University 1981
1998 – Pat Wall
1997 – Jody Durst, University of California, Berkley 1968
1996 – Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., NC State State University 1974
1995 – Dr. Steve Rerych, Columbia University 1969
1994 – Jim Veres
1993 – Dr. John Crecine, University of Michigan 1962
1992 – Robert Helmick, Drake University 1957
1991 – Frank McKinney, Indiana University 1961
1990 – ‘Tiger’ Holmes, University of Florida 1948
1989 – Charles Keating, University of Cincinnati 1966
1988 – William Simon, Lafayette College 1952
1987 – Dave McCampbell, U.S. Naval Academy 1933
1986 – Paul (Buddy) Bacha, Army West Point 1965
1985 – Hal Henning, North Central College 1941
1984 – Alvin Benedict, Rutgers University 1948