Michelle Ford, David Theile, Sir Frank Beaurepaire and Matthew Cowdrey Inducted Into Swimming Australia Hall Of Fame
MOSCOW GOLDEN GIRL: Michelle Ford’s magical Moscow gold in the 800m freestyle. Photo Russ McPhedran (Michelle Ford Collection)
by Ian Hanson – Oceania Correspondent
15 November 2025
Michelle Ford, David Theile, Sir Frank Beaurepaire and Matthew Cowdrey Inducted Into Swimming Australia Hall Of Fame
Olympic gold medallists Michelle Ford and David Theile, prolific Paralympic gold medallist Matthew Cowdrey and six time Olympic medallist Sir Frank Beaurepaire have been inducted into the Swimming Australia Hall of Fame.
The 2025 Swimming Australia Awards yesterday celebrated the latest Hall of Fame inductees, recognising the extraordinary achievements of four legends of Australian Swimming.
Beaurepaire (Dolphin #3), arguably the greatest freestyler across three decades, breaking 14 world records; Cowdrey (Dolphin #P224) Australia’s most successful Paralympian with 13 gold medals across three Para Games; Australia’s first two-time back-to-back Olympic gold medal winning backstroker Theile (Dolphin #103) and Australia’s only individual Olympic gold medallist from the 1980 Moscoe Games in Michelle Ford (Dolphin #254) –
The foursome joining a who’s who of the sport – initial inductees Freddie Lane, Fanny Durack, Dawn Fraser, Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe (2022); Lorraine Crapp, Murray Rose, Suzie O’Neill (2023) and Boy Charlton, Pfriya Cooper and Kieren Perkins (2024).
DAVID THEILE AO
Born: January 17, 1938
For the record (Olympic Games):
Melbourne (1956): Gold (100m backstroke);Rome (1960): Gold (100m backstroke), silver (4x100m medley relay);Queensland and Australian Junior Champion: 1947Australian Champion: 1955.Australian Records: 1955 (100m Backstroke).
BACK-TO-BACK: Australia’d David Theile wins his second Olympic 100m backstroke gold in Rome. Pic tired with US silver medallist Frank McKinney (left) and bronze medallist Bob Bennett.Phoyo Courtesy Wikipedia.
2025 Hall Of Fame David Theile Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia
At the 1960 Rome Olympics, David became the only swimmer other than a freestyler to win gold medals in two successive Olympics since World War II, winning back-to-back 100m backstroke gold medals in both the 1956 Melbourne home Olympics and 1960 Olympic Games.
He began competitive swimming aged nine and became the Queensland and Australian Junior backstroke Champion at 16, before beginning a five-year reign as the Australian open champion in 1955, at 17.
When Thiele set the Australian 100m backstroke record at 1:07.4 in 1955, he broke a 17-year-old record set in the year he was born – 1938, (1:07.8 by Percy Oliver).
Thiele won the 100m backstroke crown at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics in world and Olympic record time, 1:02.2. In Rome four years later, he lowered his Olympic record to 1:01.9 for a second gold medal and was part of the Australian silver medal medley relay.
Inducted into Sport Australia Hall Of Fame: 1985
Inducted into International Swimming Hall Of Fame: 1968
SIR FRANK BEAUREPAIRE
Born: May 13, 1891; Died: May 29, 1956; Age: 65
For the record (Olympic Games): London (1908) Silver, 400m freestyle; bronze, 1500m freestyle; Antwerp (1920) Silver, 4x200m freestyle relay); bronze, 1500m freestyle); Paris (1924): Silver (4x200m freestyle relay; bronze, 1500m freestyle.World Records (14): 200m, 500m, 1000m, 1 mile freestyle);
FREESTYLE LEGEND: Sr Frank Beaurepaire.Photo Courtesy Herald Sun.
Often recognised as the greatest swimmer across several eras in the early 1920s, Frank Beaurepaire swam the trudgen stroke in a competitive career that lasted from 1903 to 1924. Winning a total of six Olympic medals, – three silver and three bronze – across three Olympics (1908, 1929, 1924) a span of 16 years. The last – a second bronze in the 1500m behind Australian gold medallist Andrew “Boy” Charlton in Paris, 1924. Beaurepaire was 33.
In a remarkable career, Beaurepaire set five world records from 200m to 500m in 1910, his best year, but was still setting records 11 years later, this time in the 1000m and the mile. In 1910 he toured Europe undefeated.
In all he set 15 world records over a 13-year span, winning 34 Australian titles, 79 Victorian titles and 11 British Championships.
Beaurepaire or “Bogey” as he was known, won more than 200 first class swimming championships and his fastest times were done when he was past 30 and his career could have seen him achieve so much more. He was banned from the 1912 Games for earning money as a swimming teacher, robbing him of further honours, returning to the Olympic stage again in 1920 and 1924.
Beaurepaire became Melbourne’s Lord Mayor and was a principal organizer of the 1956 Olympics. He died of a heart attack in a barber shop in the middle of a typically full day in May 1956, just 5 months before “his” Olympic Games.
Inducted into Sport Australia Hall Of Fame and Inducted into International Swimming Hall Of Fame in 1967
MICHELLE FORD-ERIKSSON MBE
Born: July 15, 1962
For the record….
Olympic Games: Moscow (1980) Gold, 800m Freestyle; bronze, 200m Butterfly); Two World Records (800m freestyle)
Commonwealth Games: Edmonton (1978): Gold, 200m butterfly; silver 400m and 800m freestyle; bronze, 200m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay);
Brisbane (1982): Gold, 200m Butterfly; silver, 800m freestyle, Won Four Australian National Championships in the 200m butterfly
THRILLED: Michelle Ford on the gold medal podium. Photo Courtesy Russ McPhedran (Michelle Ford Collection)
2025 HALL OF FAME Michelle Ford Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia.
At age 13 Michelle broke nine records, six NSW State and three Australian – all in three days. Two of those records were by held by Hall of Famer Shane Gould and world champion Jenny Turrall.
That same year she earned a spot on the 1976 Olympic team, the second youngest Australian ever to do so.
Just one year later, Michelle set her first world record in the 800 freestyle. Little did she know her times in the 800 freestyle would someday beat the times swum earlier by the immortal Murray Rose and John Konrads.
Michelle continued her winning streak at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, taking a gold in the 200 butterfly, two silvers in the 400 and 800m freestyle and two bronze medals in the 200 freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay.
But Michelle Ford’s greatest feat came in the boycotted Moscow 1980 Olympics under extraordinary circumstances following Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.
Winning the gold medal in the 800 freestyle and conquering the might and power of her East German opponents adding bronze in the 200 butterfly.
A Games that became shrouded in a political firestorm following demands from the Australian government to boycott the Games.
But a defiant Olympic team that left Australian shores in 1980 under a cloak of darkness, heading off to secret training camps receiving death threats and branded as traitors as they prepared for the Games.
Their blazers hidden in their luggage with a coat of arms tucked away rather than sitting proudly on their chests, many of them teenagers, like Michelle Ford, thrust into the middle of a political stoush that would define their sporting futures – but remaining unrecognised by the Australian Government for 50 years.
“Competing in the Olympics helped define everything I am today,” said Ford who that year was named Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Her name etched in gold in Moscow as an Australian woman did not win another Olympic gold in swimming for 16 years – when Susie O’Neill triumphed the 200m butterfly in Atlanta in 1996.
Inducted into Sport Australia Hall Of Fame: 1985; Inducted into International Swimming Hall Of Fame: 1994
MATT COWDREY OAM MP
Born: December 28, 1988
For the record (Paralympic Games): Athens (2004): 3 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze; Beijing (2008): 5 gold, 3 silver; London (2012): 5 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
Commonwealth Games (3) Melbourne (2006): 2 gold; New Delhi (2010): 1 gold; Glasgow (2014): 1 silver
Inducted into Sport Australia Hall Of Fame: 2019
SIMPLY TGHE BEST: Matthew Cordrey. Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia
Born with a congenital amputation of his lower arm, Matthew Cowdrey clinched his first Paralympic gold medal as a 15-year-old at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games which launched his decade-long domination in the pool.
Growing into one of the most influential athletes within the Australian Paralympic movement by the time he retired.
In addition to his 23 Paralympic medals (13 gold, seven silver, three bronze), he won 21 medals at three World Championships (16 gold, three silver, two bronze), and broke dozens of world records – his first at just 13.
During Matthew’s prolific eleven-year para-swimming career, his tremendous talent saw him develop into an influential athlete who played an instrumental role in raising awareness of the Paralympic movement within Australia.
His strength in the 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley events earned him 57 international medals including 23 world championship and three Commonwealth Games gold medals.
By his retirement at the age of 26-years-old, Cowdrey had become the most decorated Australian Paralympian in history, with a total of 23 Paralympic medals including 13 gold across three Paralympic Games.
He left para-swimming holding five world records, five Paralympic records and nine short-course world records.
Matthew retired in 2015 at just 26 years old, but even at such a young age, stood as the most prolific Australian Paralympian in history, having won a total of 23 Paralympic medals including 13 gold.
Matt was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (2005), Australian Paralympian of the Year (2008) and Young South Australian of the Year (2009).
He also established a notable career since the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where he eclipsed Paralympic runner Tim Sullivan’s record of 10 gold medals. Today, Cowdrey is a Member of Parliament for Colton, SA.
2025 Hall Of Fame Matt Cowdrey Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia
Fort Lauderdale Open Returns in 2026 With Star-Studded Lineup of Elite Teams
Article reshared Courtesy of SwimSwam
With the Pro Swim Series not heading to Fort Lauderdale next year, the city returns the Fort Lauderdale Open in 2026 with a loaded field committed to race. Current photo via Swim Fort Lauderdale.
by SwimSwam
November 12th, 2025
Editor Update: University of Texas and pros will race at this meet.
The Fort Lauderdale Open is set to return in 2026 with one of the most loaded fields in meet history. The event will run April 29 through May 2 at the iconic Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, hosted by Swim Fort Lauderdale, the City of Fort Lauderdale, and Visit Lauderdale.
Last year’s edition of the meet delivered fireworks — two world records fell in one day. Katie Ledecky shattered the women’s 800-meter freestyle world record, and Gretchen Walsh broke the women’s 100-meter butterfly world record twice in a single day, first in prelims and then again in finals. With that kind of precedent, expectations for 2026 are sky-high.
The field reflects it. Some of the most powerful collegiate and club programs in the country have committed to compete, including:
University of Florida
University of Virginia
University of Texas & Pros
NC State University
Ohio State University
Auburn University
Princeton University
Arizona State University
Bolles School Sharks
SwimMAC Carolina
Nashville Aquatic Club
Sarasota Sharks
Meet Schedule
Wednesday, April 29: 1500 freestyle (timed finals)
Thursday, April 30: Prelims & Finals
Friday, May 1: Prelims & Finals
Saturday, May 2: Prelims & Finals + 800 freestyle timed finals
Meet Entries
January 27, 2026: Online Meet Entries Open
The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center continues to establish itself as a cornerstone of elite-level racing in the U.S., a venue that blends its rich swimming history with a world-class renovation and fast, reliable water.
With this kind of lineup and a proven record of producing historic performances, the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open promises to be one of the premier meets of the year.
Courtesy of the Fort Lauderdale Open
LA2028 Reveals 2028 Olympic Schedule, with Swimming from July 22-30
Photo Courtesy: LA 2028
by Matthew De George – Senior Writer
12 November 2025
LA2028 Reveals 2028 Olympic Schedule, with Swimming from July 22-30
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Committee released the official schedule for the LA2028 Olympics Wednesday. It includes the comprehensive session-by-session schedule for all swimming events.
Swimming will be a nine-day meet at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, officially labeled 2028 Stadium for IOC nomenclature purposes. The first eight days will feature prelims, with a single finals session on the final day. Swimming has been moved to the final week of the competition at these Olympics.
READ: 2028 Olympics to Feature Direct Qualification in 50s, 12 Qualified Relays
“With Olympic ticket registration opening in January of 2026, now is the time to start planning what events you want to attend, which sports are coming to your neighborhood and the moments of history you don’t want to miss,” LA28 Chief Executive Officer Reynold Hoover said in a press release. “Athletes and fans from around the world now have what they need to plan an unforgettable Olympic experience.”
Prelims sessions will start at 9:30 a.m. local time, with finals at 6 p.m. The exception is the final Sunday, when the finals session begins at 3 p.m. The medley relays will be the last medals of the entire Olympics.
The Closing Ceremony is at 6 p.m. at LA Memorial Coliseum.
Five swimming finals will be contested on Saturday, July 29, Day 15 of the Games and what the organizers are dubbing Super Saturday. It’s the most finals in a single day in Olympic history, with 26 in 23 sports. Among the competitions are 15 gold- and bronze-medal matches in team sports.
In terms of notable non-swimming events:
The first medals will be handed out in women’s triathlon, for the first time ever.
Track and field (Athletics, in the IOC nomenclature), moved to the first week, will be begin with the women’s 100 meter finals on Day 1 and the men’s on Day 2.
The marathon is in its customary place, on Days 15 and 16 of the competition, the final weekend.
Baseball, making its return to the Olympics, will begin the day before the Opening Ceremony, which is slated for July 14 or Day 0. (Making Baseball’s debut on Day -1 or July 13.) Baseball’s gold medal game will be on Day 5, softball on Day 15.
The women’s final in cricket will be Day 6, the men’s on Day 15.
Lacrosse will decide team champions on Super Saturday, Day 15.
Flag Football will crown its team champions on Days 7 and 7.
Fellow new sports squash will award medals on Day 9 and 10 for women’s and men’s, respectively.
The first events will be held July 12, or Day -2. That includes soccer group stage games and cricket matches.
The full schedule of all events is available here.
2028 Olympic Schedule, Swimming
Saturday, July 22
Prelims
Women’s 100m Butterfly Heats
Men’s 400m Freestyle Heats
Men’s 50m Butterfly Heats
Women’s 50m Backstroke Heats
Men’s 100m Breaststroke Heats
Women’s 400m Freestyle Heats
Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Heats
Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Heats
Finals
Men’s 400m Freestyle Final
Women’s 100m Butterfly Semifinal
Men’s 50m Butterfly Semifinal
Women’s 400m Freestyle Final
Men’s 100m Breaststroke Semifinal
Women’s 50m Backstroke Semifinal
Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final
Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final
Sunday, July 23
Prelims
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Heats
Men’s 100m Backstroke Heats
Women’s 100m Freestyle Heats
Men’s 400m Individual Medley Heats
Finals
Women’s 100m Butterfly Final
Men’s 50m Butterfly Final
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Semifinal
Men’s 400m Individual Medley Final
Women’s 50m Backstroke Final
Men’s 100m Backstroke Semifinal
Women’s 100m Freestyle Semifinal
Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final
Monday, July 24
Prelims
Women’s 400m Individual Medley Heats
Men’s 200m Freestyle Heats
Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats
Men’s 50m Breaststroke Heats
Men’s 200m Butterfly Heats
Men’s 1500m Freestyle Heats
Finals
Women’s 100m Freestyle Final
Men’s 200m Freestyle Semifinal
Women’s 100m Backstroke Semifinal
Men’s 100m Backstroke Final
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final
Men’s 50m Breaststroke Semifinal
Men’s 200m Butterfly Semifinal
Women’s 400m Individual Medley Final
Tuesday, July 25
Prelims
Women’s 200m Freestyle Heats
Men’s 50m Freestyle Heats
Women’s 200m Breaststroke Heats
Women’s 1500m Freestyle Heats
Finals
Men’s 200m Freestyle Final
Women’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinal
Men’s 50m Breaststroke Final
Men’s 1500m Freestyle Final
Women’s 200m Freestyle Semifinal
Men’s 200m Butterfly Final
Men’s 50m Freestyle Semifinal
Women’s 100m Backstroke Final
Wednesday, July 26
Prelims
Men’s 200m Individual Medley Heats
Women’s 50m Butterfly Heats
Men’s 200m Backstroke Heats
Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Heats
Finals
Men’s 50m Freestyle Final
Women’s 200m Freestyle Final
Men’s 200m Backstroke Semifinal
Women’s 50m Butterfly Semifinal
Women’s 1500m Freestyle Final
Women’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinal
Men’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinal
Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final
Thursday, July 27
Prelims
Women’s 200m Individual Medley Heats
Men’s 200m Breaststroke Heats
Men’s 100m Freestyle Heats
Women’s 200m Backstroke Heats
Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Heat
Finals
Men’s 200m Backstroke Final
Women’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinal
Men’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinal
Women’s 50m Butterfly Final
Men’s 100m Freestyle Semifinal
Women’s 200m Backstroke Semifinal
Men’s 200m Individual Medley Final
Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final
Friday, July 28
Prelims
Men’s 100m Butterfly Heats
Men’s 50m Backstroke Heats
Women’s 50m Breaststroke Heats
Men’s 800m Freestyle Heats
4x100m Mixed Medley Relay Heats
Finals
Men’s 100m Freestyle Final
Women’s 200m Backstroke Final
Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final
Men’s 50m Backstroke Semifinal
Women’s 50m Breaststroke Semifinal
Men’s 100m Butterfly Semifinal
Women’s 200m Individual Medley Final
Saturday, July 29
Prelims
Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats
Women’s 200m Butterfly Heats
Women’s 800m Freestyle Heats
Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay Heats
Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay Heats
Finals
Men’s 100m Butterfly Final
Women’s 50m Freestyle Semifinal
Men’s 50m Backstroke Final
Women’s 50m Breaststroke Final
Men’s 800m Freestyle Final
Women’s 200m Butterfly Semifinal
4x100m Mixed Medley Relay Final
Sunday, July 30
Finals
Women’s 50m Freestyle Final
Women’s 200m Butterfly Final
Women’s 800m Freestyle Final
Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay Final
Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay Final
Backstrokers ~ Who’s the Best? Play along in our “Name your favorite “Backstroker” CONTEST and WIN a PRIZE !!
Missy Franklin, Backstroker
Since its inception in 1965, the International Swimming Hall of Fame has inducted 338 Swimmers from 28 different nations from around the globe. They all had their own specialized stroke. Some had more than one. Today, we are going to focus on the BACKSTROKE swimmers.
Kirsty Coventry
Lenny Krayzelburg
Aaron Peirsol2008 US Olympic Trials: USA Swimming-Day 6Men 200 Meter Backstroke finalQwest Center/Omaha, NE04-JUL-2008X80569 TK7CREDIT: Heinz Kluetmeier
Al Vande Weghe
John Naber
Roland Matthes
From the early days of the backstroke with names like John Naber, Roland Matthes, Kiki Caron, Brad Cooper Tom Stock, Al Vande Weghe to newer names like, Kirsty Coventry, Lenny Krayzelburg, Aaron Peirsol, and Missy Franklin.
Who is your favorite Backstroker? Name your FAVORITE BACKSTROKE SWIMMER IN THE COMMENTS SECTION ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS for a chance to win a prize from ISHOF.
Share it onto your social media page and you get two chances to win!
Our last contest winner choosing the greatest Butterflier was Megan Chayer of Annapolis, MD who choose Mary T. Meagher. Congratulations!
Happy Birthday Jason Lezak!!
Country: USA
Honoree Type: Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100m medley), silver (4×100m freestyle); 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100m medley), bronze (4×100m freestyle); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100m freestyle, 4×100m medley), bronze (100m freestyle); 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: silver (4×100m freestyle); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (4×100m medley), silver (4×100m freestyle); 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (4×100m freestyle, 4×100m medley); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold medal (4×100m freestyle); 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): bronze (4×100m freestyle); 2002 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (4×100m freestyle, 4×100m medley); 2004 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): gold (100m freestyle, 4×100m freestyle, 4×100m medley); 2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (SC): silver (4×100m medley), bronze (4×100m freestyle);
From the beginning, Jason Lezak showed great promise in the pool, but he constantly butted heads with his coach, Dave Salo, over his commitment to training. Recruited to swim at UC Santa Barbara, Jason’s problems with authority continued until coach Gregg Wilson finally dismissed him from the team. This was the wake-up call he needed. He loved to swim and compete, and after promising to improve his training habits, he rejoined the team. In his Senior year, he was named Big West Conference Swimmer of the Year,
At the 2000 Olympic Trials, Jason finished fourth in the 100m freestyle. While he failed to qualify individually, his result was good enough to make the 4x100m freestyle relay team, an event Team USA had never lost in the Olympic Games. In Sydney, the Australians pulled off the unexpected upset in their home pool and the USA settled for the silver.
Over the next four years, Jason was the top sprinter in the world, and at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in Long Beach, he qualified for the Olympic Games in both the 50m and 100m freestyle.
In Athens, the US freestyle relay team was trying to win back the title it had lost in Sydney four years earlier. Instead, they finished third behind South Africa and the Netherlands. The next day Jason did not swim as well as expected and failed to reach the semi-finals. Individually Jason finished fifth in the 50. Success came when he swam the freestyle leg behind Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, and Ian Crocker to win the medley relay gold medal, in world record time.
In 2006, Dave Salo left Irvine to take the coaching job at USC, leaving Jason without a coach. He began coaching himself and proved by qualifying for his third Olympic Games that he had the discipline to train daily without a team or trainer at his side.
When he finished second in the 100m freestyle at the Olympic Trials in Omaha, he was 32 years old, the oldest male swimmer to make the team and was selected by his teammates as a captain.
At the 2008 Games in Beijing, his first event was the 4x100m freestyle relay. The USA hadn’t won this race since 1996 and this time the USA was not the favorite. That distinction belonged to the team from France, with 100m world record holder, Alain Bernard as its anchorman. Swimming last, and starting nearly a fully body length behind, Jason chased down Bernard in the final 20 yards to win the gold medal by eight-one-hundredths of a second. Jason’s split time of 46.06, is still the fastest 100m split in history.
The next day, Jason won bronze in the 100m freestyle for the first individual Olympic medal of his career. On the final day of competition, he anchored the USA’s world record setting medley relay that gave Michael Phelps his historic eighth gold medal.
Continuing to swim on his own after Beijing, Jason passed up the opportunity to compete in the World Championships to participate in the Maccabiah Games in Israel, where he won four gold medals and celebrated his heritage as a Jewish athlete.
In 2012, at the age of 36, Jason qualified for his fourth Olympic team by finishing sixth at the Olympic Trials in the 100 free. In London, he swam in the preliminaries and helped earn a spot in the final for the silver medal winning U.S. team. In doing so, he became the first male swimmer in Olympic history to win four medals in the same event, in the 4×100m freestyle relay, in four consecutive Olympic games.
Jason ended his Olympic career with a total of eight medals, four gold, two silver and two bronze. Today, Jason is a proud husband and father of three and a popular motivational speaker who is successfully balancing his family life with business opportunities.
The information on this page was written the year of their induction
Which Honoree would you like to hear about ~”What are they doing now?” Tell us in the comment section!
As we told you last month, ISHOF will be beginning several new sections in the newsletter in January 2026. The most exciting and prominent feature is “Where are they Now” ~ where we visit with an Honoree that has been inducted into ISHOF. We began inducting Honorees in 1965, and now, 60 years later, we have over 800 Honorees.
Who is your favorite???? Here a just a few…….
Michael Gross (GER) Swimmer, 1995; Mary T Meagher (USA) Swimmer, 1993; Greg Louganis (USA) Diver, 1993; Tamas Farago (HUN) Water Polo Player, 1993; Anastasia Davydova (RUS) Artistic Swimmer, 2017; Michael Phelps (USA) Swimmer, 2023, Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) Swimmer, 2023; Klaus DiBiasi (ITA) Diver, 1981; Missy Franklin (USA) Swimmer, 2023; Bob Bowman (USA) Coach 2023; Ous Mellouli (TUN) Open Water 2025; Guo Jingjing (CHN) Diver 2016; Daniel Gyurta (HUN) Swimmer 2024; Trischa Zorn (USA) Paralympian 2023; Sandro Campagna (ITA) Water Polo 2019; Maarten van der Weijden (NED) Open Water Swimmer, 2017; Maureen O’Toole (USA) Water Polo, 2010; Alex Popov (RUS) Swimmer, 2009; Penny Heyns (RSA) Swimmer, 2007; Cesare Rubini (ITA) Water Polo, 2000; Duncan Armstrong (AUS) Swimmer, 1996; Laurie Lawrence (AUS) Coach, 1996; Tracie Ruiz (USA) Artistic Swimming, 1993;
We have so many amazing athletes, coaches and contributors from around the globe to choose from it will be hard to know where to start. If it were up to you, who would you want us to interview to find out “what they are doing today”, how they are living their life away from the pool, or maybe they are still involved in aquatics.
Let us know in the comments WHO you would like us to interview and we will try to make it happen! We want to bring you the news and information you want to read about!
For a full list of ISHOF Honorees, visit: http://www.ishof.org/Honorees
Throwback Thursday: When Cesar Cielo Captured Olympic Gold and the Beautiful Emotional Aftermath (Video)
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
06 November 2025, 01:29am
In this edition of Throwback Thursday, we look back at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, when Brazilian Cesar Cielo confirmed his status as the world’s fastest man in water. It was a night that also featured a flood of emotions.
The easy part was the race, as crazy as that suggestion sounds. From experience, Cesar Cielo knew exactly what he needed to do to claim an Olympic title. Nail the start. Execute the breakout. Stay strong through the finish. Over and over, Cielo and coach Brett Hawke reviewed the finer details of the 50-meter freestyle.
So, as Cielo stepped onto the starting block for the final of the one-lap sprint at the Water Cube, the 21-year-old was awash in confidence. In peak form, Cielo eased through the preliminary round as the second-fastest performer, and then delivered the top mark of the semifinals. At that point, a little more than 21 seconds separated Cielo from completing a dream that only a few athletes realize.
Blazing a time of 21.30, Cielo comfortably mined gold. The Brazilian’s mark handed him a decisive triumph over silver medalist Amaury Leveaux of France, who touched in 21.45, and bronze medalist Alain Bernard, whose performance of 21.49 gave France two athletes on the podium.
A standout at Auburn University, Cielo advanced to the final of the 50 freestyle at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, finishing sixth. That showing proved Cielo belonged with the elite sprinters in the sport, and he was able to take his dominance in the American collegiate ranks and turn it into Olympic gold.
“I did it. It was my best race ever,” Cielo said in Beijing. “Today was my lucky day. The sun shone on me. I’m so overwhelmed with emotion. I gave up a lot for this medal. I never saw my family.”
The difficult part of the evening, in the most endearing way, was Cielo’s battle with his post-race emotions. As he stood on the podium and watched the Brazilian flag rise to the rafters as his nation’s anthem played, Cielo was overjoyed. He, too, was overcome, with tears streaming down his cheeks and sobs jolting his body.
Cognizant of the moment, the fans inside the venue rallied around Cielo. Some clapped. Some cheered. All provided support. Earlier in the evening, Cielo wowed those in attendance with a brilliant outing, and now the fans were going to applaud his talent and pay him back by carrying the Brazilian through the medals ceremony.
World records and induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame also dotted Cielo’s career, a legendary span that elevated the world of sprinting. That night in Beijing was a special highlight.
Read Cesar Cielo’s bio here
Newsletter “News” for 2026
Since ISHOF is closed as we are under construction and the peninsula is under renovation, this year in our newsletter, we tried to bring ISHOF to you in whatever small ways we could. Each month we would highlight an Honoree and show you what memorabilia that Honoree gave or loaned to us to put on display in the ISHOF Museum. We hope you enjoyed getting to know these Honorees and seeing their treasures.
As a new year is almost upon us, we wanted to try something new for 2026. We actually have a couple of ideas. The first is that each month we will feature one of our Honorees from around the globe, reach out to them and find out what they are doing today. So monthly, we will post a new interview with an Honoree from a different country and discipline and find out what they’ve been up to. If there is someone you would like us to reach to and interview, let us know and we will try to make it happen.
Another area we are going to try and highlight in the newsletter each month is ISHOF’s amazing art collection. As often as possible, we will highlight one of ISHOF’s amazing pieces of sculpture or art that we have acquired of the years. We will give you the history behind it, why it was commissioned and by who, who has won it and so on.
Also in 2026, we are going to regularly bring you updates from ISHOF Project Developer, Mario Caprini, who will give us updates on the ISHOF renovation project and what’s happening with the construction process.
2026 looks to be a very exciting year for ISHOF and we will keep you informed of all the happenings every step of the way!
If there is something you’d like to see in our newsletter, please reach out to meg@ishof.org
Swimming loses an Icon in Carol “Penny Taylor at age 96
Carol “Penny” Taylor just completed 96 years of service, achieving significant milestones. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 11, 1929 and passed peacefully yesterday, November 4, 2025, in New Orleans, LA, where she had been living for some time.
Penny was a member of the 1948 Olympic Team, competing in the 200 meter breaststroke. She was a member of the Lafayette Swim Club in Indiana, swimming for Hall of Fame Coach Dick Papenguth while she attended Purdue University. Penny attended the first Pan Am Games in 1951, winning gold in the 3×100m medley relay and taking the bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke event. Taylor was a six-time National Champion and American record holder in the 100, 200 and 250m breaststroke for five years. She was also one of the ten finalists of the prestigious 1951 “A.A.U. Sullivan Award”.
Penny was a swim coach in the St. Louis area for over 35 years. Penny was the first woman to be elected to ASCA’s Board of Directors. Penny’s most famous athlete had to have been Tom Jager. About Jager, Penny once wrote: “I was Tom’s coach during his formative years and during summers when he came home. I suggested that he go to UCLA because I felt Ron Ballatore could best handle his sometimes impetuous personality. He missed one World Championships because he got married to his high school sweetheart. Tom did live in the shadow of Matt . But he was instrumental in the fight for swimmers to make money.”
Penny served in many positions for USA Swimming as a volunteer and administrator. At the 1984 and 1992 Olympic Games, she was team leader for the men’s and women’s teams. She served as Head Manager at the 1986 and the 1991 FINA World Championships. She was Manager for the United States Swimming National Teams in numerous international competitions and served as a volunteer deck marshal for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Penny was Chef de Mission for all aquatic sports for the 1994, 1998 and 2001 FINA World Championships. She continued in this capacity at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona 2003, Montreal 2005, Melbourne 2007, Rome 2009, Shanghai 2011 and in Barcelona again in 2013.
She was a member and secretary of the Olympic International Operations Committee of USA Swimming for 24 years; this body determines policy and procedures for all swimming competition of the National Team in international events.
Penny served as Central Zone Director of USA Swimming, was a member of the Board of Directors of USA Swimming, and was a member of the Convention Committee for the United States Aquatic Sports Annual Convention, which she attended regularly. In 1999, she was the recipient of the prestigious United States Swimming Award presented annually to one person for their contribution to USA Swimming. In 2005, she was inducted into the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2012, she receiveed the Paragon award from the ISHOF.
Penny was a pioneer, she blazed trails for women, and surely inspired many others. She will be missed
November Featured Honoree: Pete Desjardins (USA) and his Memorabilia
Each month ISHOF will feature an Honoree and some of their aquatic memorabilia, that they have so graciously either given or loaned to us. Since we are closed, and everything is in storage, we wanted to still be able to highlight some of the amazing artifacts that ISHOF has and to be able to share these items with you.(USA) and his Memorabilia.
We continue in November 2025, with 1966 ISHOF Honoree, Pete Desjardins (USA) Honor Diver. Pete donated many fabulous things to ISHOF, and we want to share some of them with you now. Also below is his ISHOF Honoree bio that was written the year he was inducted.
Pete wore this suit when he competed and won the Silver Medal at the 1924 Olympics