Commentary: Michael Phelps Has Earned His Voice on USA Swimming Issues and Future
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
09 August 2025
Michael Phelps Has Earned His Voice on USA Swimming’s Future
The first brick was laid in 2000, a 15-year-old at the Sydney Olympic Games starting a project that would require dedication, patience and a skill set unto its own. Over the next dozen years, the walls rose, and a grandiose structure emerged. It was nothing before seen. In 2016, the architect put an addition on his creation.
Five Olympic Games. Twenty-eight Olympic medals. Twenty-three gold. Thirty-plus world records. Twenty-six world titles. And, arguably most important, the attraction of more eyes on a sport that – before him – was an every-fourth-year thought. Remember when swimming was the silver medalist to track and field on the Olympic stage? No longer.
Michael Phelps.
It’s been a little more than a week since several legends of the sport fired a shot across the bow of USA Swimming. It started with a tombstone meme from Ryan Lochte. Phelps sent the social-media post to another level. Rowdy Gaines was part of the mix, too, commenting in an Associated Press interview that USA Swimming was “rudderless.”
The comments were unleashed during the World Championships in Singapore, where the United States started slowly, a bout of acute gastroenteritis hammering a hefty portion of the Team USA roster. To their credit, U.S. team members battled and delivered a much stronger second half of the meet. When action in Southeast Asia wrapped up, the United States sat atop the medals table – both in gold medals earned and podium appearances.
Despite the United States leading the medals count in Singapore, there is obvious work ahead for a nation that has long dominated the sport. The women’s team is in fine form, carrying significant momentum on the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
On the men’s side, the story is different. For the second consecutive global championships, only one male athlete won a gold medal – Luca Urlando in the 200 butterfly. There were no relay titles, nor any silver medals in relay competition. The 800 freestyle relay missed the podium altogether, although that squad, it should be noted, was hampered by the absence of Carson Foster due to injury.
As men who have played prominent roles in building the United States into a world power, it shouldn’t be stunning that Lochte, Phelps and Gaines were frustrated, and opted to speak out. Their comments, unsurprisingly, didn’t sit well with some team members. The likes of Jack Alexy, Lilly King, Bobby Finke and Gretchen Walsh all took issue with the statements. By doing so, they showed leadership.
Yet, the comments from the legends were not direct fire at the athletes. Rather, they were aimed at the state of USA Swimming, a governing body that is nearing a year without a CEO. The concerns focused on organizational guidance and ensurance that the United States remains THE power in the sport.
Since the World Championships concluded, there has been ample criticism of all parties involved. Social media has offered a few well-constructed commentaries on the issue, while featuring a bevy of off-the-handle declarations that are the norm. Phelps and Gaines have taken the most arrows, which is unfortunate.
In these men, we’re talking about two individuals who have poured their lives into the sport. Gaines has been the Voice of Swimming for decades, someone whose love and exuberance for the water world cannot be questioned. It’s been more than 40 years since Gaines won three gold medals at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Every day since, he has given back to his sport.
Phelps’ situation is a little different. There might not be an athlete in any other sport who has created greater separation between No. 1 and No. 2 the way Phelps did during his career. Why does that matter? For one, his simple presence in the pool and his greatness promoted growth in swimming around the globe, but specifically in the United States. When Phelps was at his peak, kids dressed like him at Halloween. That fact represents reach. Eight-year-old kids watching him at the Beijing Games turned to their parents and asked to join a swim team. That’s great for developing future stars. It’s also great for water safety.
Why shouldn’t they have a platform? Why dismiss them? They care.
In a statement that was given to media at the TYR Summer Championships, USA Swimming Interim CEO Bob Vincent suggested that Phelps and Gaines showed poor timing in making their critical comments during the World Champs, especially with Team USA dealing with illness.
Well, the timing of their comments can also be argued as proper – and strategically well thought out. Swimming is not a mainstream sport and with eyes on the World Champs, it was an opportunity to place concerns in the spotlight when folks were watching. And guess what? The decision to voice displeasure during a major event has obviously generated chatter.
Vincent’s statement also suggested that Gaines and other USA Swimming alums have been approached by USA Swimming in recent months, to be given a forum. The statement indicated Gaines was offered the chance to be involved in governing body matters in an official capacity.
Phelps pushed back on Vincent’s statement, noting knowledge that Gaines had not been given this opportunity. More, Phelps said: “They’ve shoved us out the door for years. Treated me like a piece of meat thro [sic] my career. Hopefully it changes someday….”
Those comments from Phelps are concerning, and obviously suggest a history of discontent with the organization. Perhaps he’ll share those issues at some point, and the door here is always open for that opportunity.
Regardless, Phelps’ passion for American success in the pool has never waned. Of course, it was on display during his competitive days. Who can forget his reaction to Jason Lezak’s 400 freestyle relay anchor leg at the 2008 Beijing Games? But even in retirement, Phelps has always been an advocate for the sport and USA Swimming. Through the years, he has worked as an analyst for NBC Sports during major competitions. His insights have been superb, and reflect his savant status of the sport. These moments, too, have revealed his desire to see American athletes excel, and maintain the high bar he inherited as a fledgling star and helped raise.
Through his performances in the pool, Phelps grew the sport of swimming. Fans attended domestic meets in which he competed. Parents registered their kids for lessons and youth teams. Swimming took over as the top Olympic sport, dashing past track and field. Now, growth has stagnated, and the American men are struggling. Those facts are not sitting well with Phelps and Gaines, and they’ve decided to speak out.
To say they’ve earned the right to voice their feelings is an understatement, and to be told to quiet down – by anyone – is foolish. They should be given the chance to provide their thoughts, and to collaborate for change.
Gaines has been a cornerstone of the sport for almost a half-century. Phelps is the greatest of all-time. They merely want what is best for American swimming.
Listen to what they have to say, because watching the bricks crumble is not acceptable.
ISHOF Board creates new prestigious award to honor Chairman Bill Kent
On Monday, July 28, 2025, during the 60th Anniversary Honoree Celebration, the ISHOF Board of Directors presented longtime ISHOF Chairman, Bill Kent with a prestigious new award: The Dr. Bill Kent Chairman’s Award. The award was created to recognize individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, leadership and service to the Hall of Fame, water safety and the aquatics world.
Awarded only on rare occasions to maintain its distinction, the Chairman’s Award celebrates the lifelong achievements and unparalleled contributions of those who exemplify the values and mission of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
The first recipient of this award is Dr. Bill Kent, who’s life’s work has been a beacon of positive transformation for Fort Lauderdale and beyond.
Dara Torres and Bill Kent2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
Honoring Dr. William Kent: A Lifetime of Leadership and Service
Dr. Bill Kent’s remarkable career spans over five decades, marked by a visionary dedication to safety, community, and innovation in the aquatic industry.
* A Champion of Youth Safety and Aquatic Education: Dr. Kent’s advocacy for youth drowning prevention has set a new national standard. His groundbreaking Every Child a Swimmer program, which offers free swimming lessons to underserved children, has impacted countless lives. This program, passed by the Florida legislature and now adopted in several other states, aims to make swimming a universal life skill, with over 600 children reached so far and many more to come.
* A Vision for the International Swimming Hall of Fame: Under Dr. Kent’s leadership as Chairman of the Board, ISHOF has embarked on a $221 million renovation, transforming it into a world-class attraction featuring a state-of-the-art aquarium, museum, and public spaces. His vision has ensured that ISHOF will continue to inspire future generations and contribute to Fort Lauderdale’s cultural and economic vitality.
* A Legacy of Recognition: Dr. Kent’s contributions have been celebrated by his community and around the globe. Named Philanthropist of the Year by the Florida Swimming Pool Association and recognized as one of the “10 Most Impactful People” by Swimming World Magazine, Dr. Kent’s dedication to service, innovation, and safety has established a legacy of enduring impact.
Dr. Bill Kent is a model of leadership, philanthropy, and commitment to a better future for all, making him the ideal inaugural recipient of the Dr. Bill Kent Chairman’s Award. His contributions will forever inspire ISHOF and the aquatics community he has so deeply enriched.
As an added note, after this first inaugural presentation, this award will forever be known as the Dr. Bill Kent Chairman’s Award.
Dr. and Mrs. Bill Kent
ISHOF’s 60th Anniversary ~ A Smashing Success in Singapore!
ISHOF’s 60th anniversary celebration marked many firsts: Celebrating in a new city; Honorees from four new countries; new traditions; and lots of excitement!
2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
The year 2025 marked 60 years the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) has been inducting the greatest aquatic athletes, coaches, and contributors from around the globe, and we thought it only fitting to do something extra special.
Singapore and ISHOF celebrate 60 years!!!
On Monday, July 28, 2025, the second day of the World Aquatics World Championships swimming competition, just after prelims concluded, ISHOF officially inducted its 60th anniversary class in Singapore. The Honoree Induction was celebrated at the beautiful Park Royal Collection, Marina Bay, and thanks to the support of World Aquatics, the event had more than 300 attendees, 30-plus Federation Presidents, World Aquatic Bureau Members, Honorees, aquatic superstars, and friends and family who enjoyed lunch, followed by the Induction ceremony.
In a different twist this year, planned by ISHOF Historian and Curator, Bruce Wigo, ISHOF used superstar presenters to introduce each of the Honorees. World Aquatics was gracious enough to allow their WA athletes to participate, as well as ISHOF Honorees who were in attendance. We could not have been more pleased with how it turned out. ISHOF Honoree Dara Torres and Olympian Elizabeth Beisel shared the hosting duties and were splendid!
Elizabeth Beisel and Dara Torres2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
There were numerous Singaporean VIPs, which included a welcome from the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister in Charge of Trade Relations, Ms. Grace Fu Hai Yen, and Mr. Ng Ser Miang, Vice President of the IOC, under Thomas Bach, newly retired.
Easily, the most exciting guest of the afternoon was our own 2023 Honoree and newly elected President of the International Olympic Committee, Madame President Kirsty Coventry, who had flown in that morning from Paris.
Kirsty Coventry, Madame President, International Olympic Committee2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
It was an exciting year for so many reasons, one being, ISHOF welcomed Honorees from four new countries to our list: Kuwait, India, Tunisia, and Singapore.
The afternoon began with Kuwait, as the first Honoree inducted was Captain Husain Al Musallam, President of World Aquatics. “The Captain,” as he is known, was introduced by his good friend, and 2023 ISHOF Honor Contributor, Sam Ramsamy, of South Africa.
Sam Ramsamy and Captain Husain Al Musallam2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
Captain Husain AL MUSALLAM (KUW) began serving the world of sport as an Olympic Counsel of Asia Member in 1982. He began his tenure at FINA as a Bureau Member in 1996 through 2009, also serving simultaneously as Deputy Director General and Technical Director, on the Olympic Counsel of Asia (1998-2003). He was promoted to FINA Vice President (2009-2015); Also served as DIRECTOR GENERAL, OLYMPIC COUNSEL OF ASIA: (2005-PRESENT); He served as World Aquatics First Vice President (2015-2021); He is the Current President of World Aquatics (2021-Present) and Secretary General, Kuwaiti Olympic Committee: (2023-2027).
Pernille Blume and Anthony Ervin2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
WA Athlete and, as she put it, her “twin gold medal winner” at the 2016 Rio Games in the 50-free, Pernille Blume, of Denmark, introduced our next Honoree, who aside from local Singaporean, Joseph Schooling, may have had the largest cheering section in attendance.
Anthony “Tony” Ervin (USA) has been called one of the most naturally gifted swimmers to ever compete, a three-time Olympian, with four Olympic medals, three gold and one silver, 16 years apart – 2000 and 2016. He also holds the record for being the oldest swimmer to win Olympic gold. Tony is also a World Aquatics athlete.
Chad LeClos and Ashoke Nag, son of Sachin Nag2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
WA Athlete and South African Olympic Champion, Chad LeClos, introduced our next Honoree, Pioneer Sachin Nag, who was represented by his son, Ashoke Nag and family.
Sachin NAG* (IND) is India’s only gold medal winner in swimming at the Asian Games. As important, he also finished in sixth place at the 1948 London Olympics in the 100m freestyle event, also competing for the Indian water polo team, scoring four goals. He would also go on to compete in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, representing India in water polo. Following his incredible achievements in the pool, he would train future generations of Indian swimmers.
Daniel Gyurta and Endre Molnar’s grandsons2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
2024 Honor Swimmer, Daniel Gyurta, presented fellow Hungarian great water polo player, Endre “Bandi” Molnar, who was represented in Singapore by his grandsons, Bertalan and Benedek, young men who play water polo like their grandfather.
Endre “Bandi” Molnar (HUN) was a goalkeeper for Hungary in the 1970s, when Hungary was a powerhouse. He was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the time. He is one of only eight male athletes who won four or more Olympic medals in water polo (1976-gold, 1972-silver, 1968-bronze, 1980-bronze). He is a world champion (1973), with two silver medals, and a two-time European champion (1974, 1977).
Daichi Suzuki and Guo Jingjing2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
2021 ISHOF Honor Swimmer, and President of the Japanese Swimming Federation, Daichi Suzuki, was next up to introduce another great in a long line of Chinese divers.
Guo Jingjing (CHN) is a four-time Olympian in the sport of diving, with a total of 95 medals in international competition, 77 gold, 14 silver, and four bronze medals. In Olympic competition, she has four gold and two silver. In World Championships competition, Guo has 10 gold and one silver medal.
Vladimir Salnikov and Ous Mellouli2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
Vladimir Salnikov, longtime friend and 1993 ISHOF Honor Swimmer and hero of our next Honoree, enjoyed his task of introducing the first man to win an Olympic medal in both the pool and open water.
Oussama “Ous” Mellouli (TUN) is a three-time Olympic medalist who competed not only in the freestyle and IM races in the pool, but also in marathon swims and international open water swimming competitions. The world’s most successful crossover swimmer, who at the 2012 London Olympic Games, established the “Mellouli Double,” when, he won the 10km open water event in the Serpentine, five days after winning the bronze in the 1500m freestyle in the pool.
Tian Liang and Chen Ruolin2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
ISHOF 2012 Honor Diver, Tian Liang, now a huge television celebrity in China, was happy to return to his diving days to introduce former teammate and friend, Chen Ruolin.
Chen Ruolin (CHN) is a five-time Olympic gold medalist in the sport of diving on the 10-meter platform, competing in three Olympic Games: 2008, 2012, and 2016. She won 100 medals in major competitions, 84 of which were gold, 14 silver and two bronze. She is now loving her role as Coach!
Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Andrea Fuentes2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
Three-time Olympic Dutch gold medalist, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, another World Aquatics athlete, and new mother, was on hand to introduce another successful woman in her own right, Honor Artistic Swimmer, Andrea Fuentes.
Andrea Fuentes (ESP/USA) is the most decorated artistic swimmer in the history of the Spanish National team. She won a total of four Olympic medals, three silver and a bronze from two Olympic Games – London 2012 and Beijing 2008, as a member of the Spanish Synchronized swimming Team. Today, Andrea is the Head Coach of the Spanish National Artistic Swimming Team.
Cate Campbell and Joseph Schooling2025 WorldAquatics/DBM_Deepbluemedia
Australian superstar and WA athlete, Cate Campbell, recently retired with eight Olympic medals, four of which are gold, seemed most appropriate to introduce the homegrown Singaporean son everyone was waiting to see…..
Joseph Schooling (SIN), known as Singapore’s Flying Fish, is the only person, male or female, to win a gold medal in Olympic competition, in any sport, for the country of Singapore. It just so happens that it was at the Rio Olympic Games, in 2016, in the 100-meter butterfly, where he beat his idol, the greatest Olympian of all-time, Michael Phelps.
As you can imagine, Joseph is a hero in Singapore and even has an orchid named after him. The Singaporean National Parks Service generously made it possible for us to have the orchid, Dendrobium Joseph Schooling, on display during the Honoree Induction for everyone to see and as you can imagine, it was quite the showpiece!
Dendrobium Joseph Schooling Orchid
Unfortunately, there were three Honorees who could not be with us this year. Federica Pellegrini was shooting a television show, and it was just bad timing. Ryan Lochte and Gregg Troy could not make the trip to Singapore. All three, Pellegrini, Lochte and Troy, plan to be inducted next year in 2026 in Fort Lauderdale.
In closing, there are so many people to thank in helping making ISHOF’s 60th Anniversary Honoree Induction Ceremony in Singapore a success! We hesitate to name anyone in particular, because we undoubtably will leave people off, but there are some, we simply cannot go without thanking: First and foremost, a huge thank you to Madame President, Kirsty Coventry. From World Aquatics: Brent Nowicki, Mike Unger, Clea Muralti-Gonzalez, Ahmad Al Saabi, Ema Balciute; the World Aquatic athletes: Pernille Blume, Cate Campbell, Chad LeClos, and Ranomi Kromowidjojo. Emcees, Dara Torres and Elizabeth Beisel; ISHOF Historian Bruce Wigo, who spent hundreds of hours working tirelessly creating the Honoree videos, correcting, redoing, and perfecting, so they were all perfection, and to our very special AV guru Edison Rumbos, who also worked tirelessly to put this show together, in his free time, fly all the way to Singapore just to make sure it all ran smoothly ~ we thank you! Honorees and presenters: Daniel Gyurta, Tian Liang, Sam Ramsamy, Vladimir Salnikov, and Daichi Suzuki; To all our friends in Singapore, beginning with our new friend, the very best, Mark Chay, we couldn’t have done it without you! Also, Edwin Ker, Dr. Kenneth Goh, Derrick Gui, Cassandra Ong, Melissa Lo, Khoo Zhi Yu, Sherine Chen, Muhammad Hafid, and Shu Fen Ho; the ISHOF Board of Director who made the trip to Singapore: Mario (Eddy) Caprini, Mike (Bonnie) Dooley, Bill (Kim) Kent, Merle Liivand, Matt McKean, Dara (Tessa ) Torres, Rich (Brooke) Waltzer. And to Kathy Casey, thank you for all your hard work!!! Please forgive us if we have forgotten anyone!
Keep checking back to ISHOF.org. We will post all Honoree videos soon. See you next year!
World Championships Stats and Facts: From Debut in Belgrade to Phelps’ Fistful of Medals
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
20 July 2025
World Championships Stats and Facts: From Debut in Belgrade to Phelps’ Fistful of Medals
When did the World Championships launch? How many cities have been a multi-time host? Who is the all-time medals leader? Here are some facts and stats about World Aquatics’ premier event, which is in its 22nd edition.
The first World Championships was held in 1973, with Belgrade serving as the host. Forty-seven nations competed in the inaugural competition, with the United States (men) and East Germany (women) topping the medals table.
Perth (1991/1998), Rome (1994/2009), Fukuoka (2001/2023), Barcelona (2003/2013) and Budapest (2017/2022) have each served as host on two occasions. Budapest will become the first three-time host when it welcomes the aquatics world in 2027.
Michael Phelps isn’t just the most-decorated Olympian in history, thanks to 23 gold medals and 28 overall medals. The American is also the most successful athlete in World Champs history, with 33 medals, including 26 of the golden variety.
The World Championships first introduced the 50-meter stroke events in 2001, the same year the event moved to a biennial schedule. The Olympic Games will contest 50-meter stroke events for the first time in Los Angeles in 2028.
The most consecutive world titles won by an athlete is six, by Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom and the United States’ Katie Ledecky. Sjostrom has won every 50 butterfly since 2015, but that streak will end this year as the Swede is pregnant with her first child and taking the year off. As for Ledecky, she won the 800 freestyle from 2013-2023, but that streak ended when Ledecky did not race at the 2024 World Champs in Doha.
Fifty-seven nations have placed an athlete on the podium at the World Champs. The United States leads the way with 254 gold medals among the 609 overall medals it has won.
Katie Ledecky has the most individual gold medals in World Championships history with 16. That breakdown of that total is: 200 freestyle (one); 400 freestyle (four); 800 freestyle (six); 1500 freestyle (five).
Only once in history has the World Championships not produced a world record. That year was 1998, when the meet was held in Perth.
Mixed relays (400 freestyle/400 medley) were added to the World Champs program in 2015. Only the mixed medley relay is part of the Olympic schedule.
Australian Ian Thorpe is the youngest male to claim a world title. Thorpe was 15 years, 3 months when he won the 400 freestyle at the 1998 competition in Perth.
After Nearly a Century, ISHOF Honoree Bob Kiphuth’s Exhibition Pool Still Holds a Special Place in the Swimming Lore at Yale
by Adam Denn
16 July 2025
In the center of Kiphuth Exhibition Pool stands a large, wooden desk.
It’s an odd place for such a device, a majestic wood design contrasting the deck’s sheer white tile. You could travel around the country and never see anything like it.
And yet, at the oldest pool in college swimming, the lectern fits right at home.
Kiphuth Exhibition Pool has stood in place for 93 years, designed by and named after legendary coach Robert Kiphuth.
“There’s so much history involved in the building,” said Yale head coach James Henry. “So many championships, so many American records.”
Decades later, the pool has stood the test of time. But how has it kept in shape? And how long will it last?
Imagined by a Legend
The legacy of Kiphuth Exhibition Pool starts with its namesake, who actually has a special connection to Swimming World. Kiphuth served as the company’s first editor and publisher back in 1960, helping build the magazine from the ground up.
Long before he contributed to our publication, however, he was one of the best coaches in college swimming history. Kiphuth finished with a 522-12 record at Yale, by far the best winning percentage in history. In addition to leading the program to four NCAA championships, he also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to the swimming world in 1963.
During his tenure, Kiphuth guided the careers of multiple stars, including Don Schollander, Jim McLane and Allen Stack, among others.
Photo Courtesy: International Swimming Hall of Fame
“He was a titan of the sport,” said alum Bert Hazlett, swim class of ‘83. “We knew him as both a great developer of people, and a coach way ahead of his time.”
Legend has it that Kiphuth’s success earned him influence on the construction of Payne-Whitney Gymnasium, the historic building in which the Exhibition Pool sits. The nine-story gymnasium stands as one of the most unique sports complexes in the world, including the pool located on its third floor.
“It’s a place that’s shown the test of time,” said Henry. “Our students love that building, and are very proud of it.”
Built for Speed
Kiphuth’s input allowed him to create a pool showcasing his vision for swimming. The Hall of Fame coach took it upon himself to create a unique atmosphere, one fitted to host some of the world’s fastest meets.
The Exhibition pool is surrounded by 2,187 wooden seats, making it one of the largest in college swimming. The seats, according to Yale’s website, were made at a 45-degree angle, in order to create “a perfect view.”
“So much thought and detail was put into it by Kiphuth on the ‘fan experience’” said Henry. “You can see everything perfectly.”
The pool’s ceiling also contributes to its unique nature. At 157-feet wide and 50-feet high, the echoes of the impassioned bulldog fanbase carry forcefully through the hall.
“The acoustics are incredible,” Henry said. “Because of the way the ceiling is built, the noise reverberates back and forth, so that it always feels packed.”
The atmosphere gives Yale one of the biggest rarities in the sport of college swimming: a home advantage.
“It’s fun to watch teams that haven’t been in there before, just arrive and look around,” said Henry. “(The pool) is magnificent.”
A Training Paradise
Just as Kiphuth Pool has provided the Bulldogs with a unique competitive advantage on meet days for years, the coach’s construction vision has also provided an edge when it comes to training.
Photo Courtesy:
Just a floor above the pool lies an indoor track, used often by the coach during his tenure for conditioning. Kiphuth was one of the first proponents of “dryland” training, encouraging his athletes to diversify their training to build endurance.
“He really was ahead of his time,” said Hazlett. “He used a system of weights, pulleys, and medicine balls, as well as the track upstairs to keep his swimmers conditioned.”
Coach Henry admitted the recent teams don’t quite do conditioning the same way. But the facilities still are helpful toward training in different capacities. Henry pointed to the pool’s lighting as particularly helpful to the team.
“We do a lot of filming,” he said. “And the lighting allows us to pick up a lot of clarity, in order to help us analyze swims.”
Even decades later, the pool still proves advantageous for the Bulldogs, in and out of the water.
Historic Grounds
With an atmosphere as unique as Kiphuth Exhibition pool, it’s no surprise that it’s had its share of historic moments. The pool hosted both the 1933 and 1964 NCAA Championships, as well as the Amateur Athletic Union (a USA Swimming predecessor) Championships in 1961. Hoards of records have been broken there, in epic fashion.
But what makes Kiphuth Exhibition Pool special isn’t just the grand accomplishments it’s featured. It’s the stories it tells. From impassioned team meetings, to fierce battles with Ivy League opponents, every alum had an anecdote of a great race to tell.
“Every kid who steps onto that pool deck is aware of its rich history,” said Matt Meade, class of ‘87. “It’s an honor and a privilege to step on that deck, and look at those banners.”
Meade emphasized, however, that the pool doesn’t just mean a lot to the Bulldogs. The alums described their pride in the team’s “Swim New Haven” events, which help teach swim lessons to members of the community.
“It’s so cool, just seeing kids walk into that pool initially terrified,” said Meade. “And then moments later, they’re laughing and smiling with our swimmers as they learn an important life skill.”
The pool’s usage beyond competitive swimming makes it an important asset. It’s a place that will leave a legacy of stories, outside of any pool or meet.
Next Steps
While it’s remarkable that Kiphuth Exhibition Pool has lasted this long, it’s obvious it can’t last forever. According to Henry, Yale has been searching for a new pool since the early 1990s, with the biggest issue obtaining funding. For the time being, Kiphuth’s reliability is more than enough for the Bulldogs’ coach.
“The amount of maintenance and work (the staff) puts into it to keep it running is awesome,” said Henry. “I can count on my facilities people. We rarely have to shut down.”
As for the new pool, Yale hopes to capture what may be impossible: the magic which Kiphuth has provided for nearly a century.
“We would want to try to recreate some of the design, which makes it a fan-friendly venue, into the next pool,” said Henry. “It’s a place that truly is iconic.”
The Greatest Team in History: How the U.S. Men Dominated the 1976 Olympic Games
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
01 July 2025
The Greatest Team in History: How the U.S. Dominated the 1976 Olympic Games
The 1927 New York Yankees. The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls. The 1972 Miami Dolphins. The 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Each of these teams, defined by championship seasons and star-studded rosters, can make a claim for being its sport’s greatest squad in history. Yet, there will be a handful of arguments against the distinction, someone’s preference not jiving with the consensus.
In the pool, there is no doubt.
At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Team USA put on a show that hadn’t been seen prior, or since. Led by double individual champions John Naber and Brian Goodell, the United States captured gold medals in 12 of the 13 events contested, a statistic that just begins to characterize the dominance that was on display. Sixteen years before Michael Jordan led NBA players onto the basketball court for the first time in Olympic competition, this squad was the original Dream Team.
When the curtain rose for the 1976 Games, the athletes faced a daunting challenge. The previous Olympiad provided bountiful fireworks in the pool, American Mark Spitz surging to seven gold medals with as many world records, and Australian teenager Shane Gould winning five individual medals, highlighted by three titles. The efforts of Spitz and Gould were generational, and the risk of a letdown was real.
But the 1976 squad the United States sent to Montreal found a way to flourish in its own generational way. While there was no Spitzian performance on an individual basis, Naber and Goodell stood out as solo stars, and the sum of the team’s parts equated to legendary status for this Red, White and Blue roster.
“Nothing could be explained on a physical basis,” said Gary Hall, a team captain alongside Steve Furniss. “It was an emotionally charged team. It led us to compete at a level beyond what we thought we were capable of.”
Photo Courtesy: Minor Studio
One of the legendary figures in the sport, Doc Counsilman immediately recognized the special nature of the team he would oversee as the head coach of Team USA in Montreal. For one, several of his Indiana University swimmers, including Jim Montgomery and Hall, dotted the roster. Meanwhile, Counsilman was well aware of the talent he inherited from programs such as the University of Southern California and the Mission Viejo Nadadores, among others.
The key for Counsilman was connecting these rivals as teammates and convincing them to buy into a team approach. On the surface, that objective was not a simple task. At the time, Indiana and USC were fierce rivals on the collegiate scene, and with numerous athletes from the schools on the Team USA roster, how they would blend as teammates was a question. Ultimately, Counsilman succeeded, the Hall of Famer painting a picture ahead of the Olympics of vast success.
“(Counsilman) began the training camp with a pep talk to the team,” Naber said. “He said, ‘Congratulations, gentlemen. I assume that each you have a goal for your performances in Montreal. Allow me to share my goals for this team with you. In the 13 men’s events on the program, I think we can win every one. I believe we can win more medals than the rest of the world combined, and I think we can win more medals than all the other U.S. sports teams combined.’ With those words, he magically lifted our sights from what each of us might do, to what we could accomplish as a team. The backstrokers began to encourage the butterfliers. The sprinters helped the distance men. Medley swimmers pulled for the relays. No one was left behind. Doc also ordered that all club and school T-shirts and jackets be shipped home.”
Counsilman had long been known as a master motivator, and this initial speech to his Olympic squad worked wonders in breaking down walls between rivals and generating a belief that the team was unbeatable. The results from the Games proved – with one exception – that the team indeed was an unstoppable force. Even before Montreal, though, the level of racing was top-notch. As the athletes looked around the deck, they saw their biggest obstacles to Olympic glory. There was no mystery that the difference between a gold medal and a silver medal could be beating a teammate. Yet, Counsilman designed a training camp that kept both competitiveness and camaraderie high. Finding that balance perfectly positioned the team for the Games.
“Workouts were fun, but also intense,” said Naber, who complemented his individual backstroke wins with a silver medal in the 200 freestyle and contributions to both winning relays. “Like events were trained together. George Haines had all the backstrokers, and we trained similar sets on similar sendoffs. Naturally, we were aware of what the others were doing. We often did broken swims and the sums of our times often were faster than the existing world records. There was a sense that this team was firing on all cylinders.”
Photo Courtesy:
The belief by Counsilman that his team could win every event in Montreal – whether motivational or wholeheartedly truthful – nearly came to fruition over the week of racing. Only David Wilkie managed to prevent a sweep for the United States, as the British star won the gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke in a world-record time, Americans John Hencken and Rick Colella taking silver and bronze.
“I wanted to win very badly, and I wasn’t worried at all about the run of American successes,” Wilkie said. “I just swam for myself and for Britain. A great deal of effort and hard work went into the achievement. I’ll always cherish the moment.”
If there was any doubt in team members before the meet started, it was erased on the opening night of competition. The 200 butterfly was the first individual event on the schedule and East Germany’s Roger Pyttel was the favorite for gold. When the swimmers touched the wall and looked to the scoreboard, an American sweep was revealed. Mike Bruner set a world record for the gold medal, with Steve Gregg and Bill Forrester picking up silver and bronze.
Counsilman met with the team each night before finals, armed with two objects. An American flag reminded the swimmers they were racing for their country. A broom was used to motivate the team toward event sweeps.
“After the 200 fly, we all looked at each other and thought, ‘My God! He’s right. We can do it,’” Hall said of Counsilman’s belief. “It was one sweep after another.”
The confidence ran so high from the start that the United States swimmers were willing to wager with the Australians when they came looking for bets on the outcome of the 1500 freestyle. The Aussies were confident that Stephen Holland would win gold, but the U.S. saw no reason to doubt their momentum and backed Goodell and Bobby Hackett, who eventually stood on the top-two steps of the podium, Holland relegated to the bronze medal.
Simply, the Games proved to be a United States rout. Consider the team and individual achievements:
In addition to winning 12 of the 13 events on the schedule, the United States accounted for 11 world records. Eight individuals won solo gold medals, Naber (100 backstroke/200 backstroke) and Goodell (400 freestyle/1500 freestyle) emerging with a pair of solo crowns. Overall, 19 members of the team earned a place on the medals podium.
With the Games allowing three athletes per country through 1980, the United States swept the podium in four events – 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly. Additionally, the United States captured gold and silver in the 100 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 1500 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 400 individual medley.
Of the 35 medals the United States could have claimed, it tallied 27, or 77 percent.
In the 11 individual events contested, the United States failed to earn two medals in just the 100 breaststroke, which was won by Hencken ahead of Wilkie and the Soviet Union’s Arvydas Juozaitis.
In relay action, the 800 freestyle relay prevailed by more than four seconds while the 400 medley relay was triumphant by more than three seconds.
If not for a change in the schedule from the previous Olympiad, the United States could have been more impressive. In a shift from 1972, the International Olympic Committee cut the 200 individual medley and 400 freestyle relay from the program. While the 200 medley could have produced another American sweep, the 400 free relay would have been a foregone conclusion based on the United States’ power and depth among its sprint freestylers.
Photo Courtesy:
The 1976 Games also served as a stage for one of the most significant barrier-breaking swims in history. When Montgomery touched the wall to complete his victory in the 100 freestyle, the clock read 49.99, marking the first time a man had covered the event in under 50 seconds. Although South African Jonty Skinner, barred from the Games due to his country’s Apartheid practices, broke that record less than a month later, the fact that Montgomery ventured into unknown territory in Montreal fit perfectly with the virtuoso showing of Team USA.
Montgomery was largely unimpressed with his sub-50 effort, his gold medal the more meaningful achievement. Counsilman, though, told his pupil that the achievement would take on greater significance as time passed.
“He was exactly right,” Montgomery said.
While the United States men shined and enjoyed celebration after celebration, the same could not be said for the American women. Although stacked with an impressive roster of their own, the U.S. ladies ran into the drug-charged women of East Germany. Fueled by the systematic-doping program that was instituted at the government level and ran from the 1970s into the late 1980s, East German women were victorious in 11 of 13 events, posted gold-silver finishes in five events and swept the medals in the 200 butterfly.
The East German dominance left the United States with just seven medals, a dreadful showing for a country accustomed to topping the medals standings. Shirley Babashoff, who won three silver medals behind East German titlists, didn’t mince words in Montreal, and accurately accused the East Germans of performance-enhancing drug use. Babashoff’s willingness to speak out, ahead of the revelation years later that a state-sponsored doping program was at work, earned her condemnation in the press, including the nickname “Surly Shirley.” The backdrop of the American men’s success made the situation that much more difficult to accept, along with the International Olympic Committee’s continued refusal to disqualify the East Germans known to have doped and present medals to the rightful winners.
“From our side of it, the whole issue has been shoved under the carpet,” Babashoff said. “I think it is sad. So many women deserved their medals. They were cheated out of their medals at the Olympics. We would like to get what we earned. We were going for the medals, not the cash. We were amateurs. We worked so hard. We earned it, and it was stolen right in front of everyone’s face, and no one did anything about it. It was like watching a robbery where they just let the crooks go and then say, ‘It’s okay.’”
Brian Goodell
The efforts of the 1976 squad were the last for Team USA in Olympic action until 1984, due to the United States’ boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow over the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. That boycott denied a handful of members of the 1976 team from a second Olympic opportunity, most notably Goodell. As a 21-year-old in 1980, Goodell was in peak form and would have defended his gold medals in the 400 freestyle and 1500 freestyle against the Soviet Union’s Vladimir Salnikov. Instead, he watched bitterly as Salnikov won both crowns.
“I would have been in the prime of my career,” Goodell said.
The power of the 1976 United States men’s team also fueled a change in international competition. While nations were still allowed to enter three athletes per event at the 1980 Olympics, the entry limit was reduced to two beginning with the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. The decision hinged on preventing countries like the United States from dominating and sweeping podiums and giving other nations the chance for increased medal representation.
The possibility of a country matching or bettering the achievements of the 1976 United States men’s Olympic Team is minimal. Aside from the two-per-nation participation rule, worldwide depth is more prominent than it was nearly a half-century ago. Regardless of what unfolds in the sport’s future, this 1976 squad will be remembered for its legendary status.
“At the time, our results were not astounding,” Naber said. “They were what we were expecting. Each tipping point turned in our favor, and with each success, our momentum grew. Looking back on it now, I can see how significant it might seem, but at the time we just wanted to win.”
“From our side of it, the whole issue has been shoved under the carpet,” Babashoff said. “I think it is sad. So many women deserved their medals. They were cheated out of their medals at the Olympics. We would like to get what we earned. We were going for the medals, not the cash. We were amateurs. We worked so hard. We earned it, and it was stolen right in front of everyone’s face, and no one did anything about it. It was like watching a robbery where they just let the crooks go and then say, ‘It’s okay.’
Today is World Drowning Prevention Day and the Chairman of ISHOF is fighting everyday to Make “Every Child A Swimmer”
Story By Rebecca Robledo, Aquatics International, March 2025 Power Issue
As with so many things, the seeds for the every-child-a-swimmer movement were planted years before the fruits were borne. Decades, in fact. The basic idea — that teaching every child to swim would make the most effective way to prevent drownings — was first expressed in the 1980s. Between then and the late 2010s, though, this concept saw little to no follow-through in the pool and spa industry. In the last decade, these efforts have blown up and become a common mission among the aquatics and pool/spa industries, not only raising funds for swim lessons, but resulting in legislation to promote the water-safety message. Bill Kent was there during the more dormant stages. Then he became a major driver converting idea into reality. Through his service for the National Swimming Pool Foundation and, more recently, the International Swimming Hall of Fame, he played a key role in starting two of the largest learn-to-swim initiatives in the field. And the recent push by the pool/spa industry to lobby for legislation started with him. “Every organization needs a spiritual mission,” says the CEO of Team Horner, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “For the swimming pool industry, the right swimming pool mission is ‘every child a swimmer.’ For 20 years, he has worked to see that the idea takes that lofty position.
EARLY EXPOSURE
After Kent joined the pool/spa industry in the early 1970s, it didn’t take long for him to move up the ranks, not only in the company he came to own but among pool associations as well. In short order, he held high office in organizations such as the National Spa & Pool Institute (a precursor for today’s PHTA) and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
That’s how he learned about the “every child a swimmer” concept in the mid 1980s. It was with ISHOF, where he served on the board. There, he met Harold Martin, who had co-founded ISHOF and started its “EveryChild a Swimmer” program. “He kind of infected me with the idea that we should teach children to swim who can’t afford swim lessons,” Kent says. At the time, ISHOF’s program was very small and basically faded away after Martin’s passing. Decades later, another organization began a similar program, this time under Kent’s watch. The National Swimming Pool Foundation started Step Into Swim when Kent was chairman. The program funds lessons for those who otherwise can’t afford them. NSPF saw the idea gain traction, taking spots in the philanthropy portfolios of many industry companies and organizations and increasing the lesson count each year. (NSPF merged with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals to form the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, which now runs Step Into Swim.) Later, Kent became the chairman of ISHOF — a title he continues to hold. He created another means for children to receive free swim lessons. “One of the first things I did was revive Every Child a Swimmer,” he says. In fact, he grew it into an operation that came to require a full-time executive director, Casey McGovern, along with two part-time staffers.
A LEGISLATIVE APPROACH
It became clear that embedding the “every child a swimmer”concept into the national fabric would take more than soliciting for donations. “To bring it to life, I needed to do something to create awareness,” Kent says. So he began a campaign to promote legislation that would generate awareness of water safety and the importance of learning to swim. The first bill passed in 2020 in Florida. It requires every school to provide water-safety information to parents of children entering elementary school. When it first sought a legislative solution, Every Child a Swimmer advocated for bills that would require all children to receive swim instruction by a certain age. The organization learned that wouldn’t work, because it would impose a financial burden on families, school districts or other government entities — a serious roadblock to passing legislation, especially in fiscally conservative states. After hearing a fellow drowning-prevention advocate muse that schools should provide water-safety information, Kent set about writing model language for the bill. On his own, he reached out to representatives.
“I was able to go face-to-face with several legislators, drove all over the state, had meetings and explained the goal.” So far, bills have passed in four states – Florida, Georgia, Arkansas and Washington. Soon, Kent and his team hope to see Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey and Ohio added to that list, with the ultimate goal being all 50 states. The organization now promotes a second type of bill. Recently, New York began requiring hospitals to give parents of newborns the option of watching a water-safety video during their stay. Every Child a Swimmer did not initiate that bill, but Kent’s group now advocates for similar language in other states, in addition to its first bill. “This is a long-term marathon race,” Kent says. “But we’re becoming more and more successful. We now have people calling us wanting to get involved.”
Look who was in town for a swim? 2024 Honor Swimmer, Daniel Gyurta of Hungary
ISHOF Honor Swimmer Daniel Gyurta of Hungary was recently in Cocoa Beach and made the trip down to Fort Lauderdale to visit ISHOF. Daniel took a swim in the beautiful new aquatic center. Our guess is, he did a few laps of breaststroke.
Daniel will be joining us in Singapore at ISHOF’s 60th Anniversary Honoree Induction Celebration on July 28, 2025 at the ParkRoyal Collection, Marina Bay. For ticket information, click here: https://halloffameswimshop.com/products/2025-ishof-honoree-induction-ceremony-singapore
See you in Singapore, Daniel!
To read more about Gyurta’s amazing career and watch his induction video, click here: https://ishof.org/honoree/daniel-gyurta/
President of World Aquatics, Captain Husain Al Musallam to be inducted as ISHOF 2025 Honor Contributor
Swimming has always been a part of his life. After representing the State of Kuwait at Pan-Arab, Asian and World Championships, in the mid 1970’s, his competitive swimming career ended at 18, when he enrolled at the Oxford Aviation training school. After receiving his commercial pilot’s license, Al Musallam joined Kuwait Airways but quickly realized how much he missed being involved in sport.
Despite being active with his career and supporting his family, Al Musallam resolved to use his experience to help athletes by taking roles in sports administration, initially at the club level, then at the National Federation with his eventual involvement with the Olympic Committee.
In 1996, Al Musallam joined the FINA Bureau. In 2009, he became FINA Vice President, representing Asia and in 2015, he was elected to First Vice President, becoming a member of its Executive Committee. Then, when he was elected President, in June of 2021, he became the first individual from Asia to lead the organization since its founding in 1908.
In December 2022, Al Musallam, led the FINA Extraordinary Congress into a new future, as FINA officially became inclusive and voted to change its name to World Aquatics. Six months later, Al-Musallam was re-elected as President of World Aquatics in July 2023 for an eight-year term.
President Al Musallam’s vision for the future of aquatic sports around the world is for the world to be united by water for health, life, and sport, so that the world can live a better life, free from modern-day diseases that have spread at a frightening rate and threaten our future generations. Therefore, he says, we strive to preserve our wealth of youth, children, and young people through water.
To learn more about World Aquatics President, Captain Husain Al Musallam‘s story, join him and the other 11 outstanding Honorees who will be inducted this year at ISHOF’s Diamond Anniversary in Singapore! Buy your tickets NOW for ISHOF’s 60th Anniversary of the Honoree Induction Ceremony in Singapore in conjunction with the World Aquatics World Championships
WHEN: Monday, July 28, 2025, 1:00 PM
WHERE: Park Royal Collection, Marina Bay, Singapore
Tickets are NOW ON SALE ~ purchase them HERE!
Buy your tickets NOW for ISHOF’s 60th Anniversary of the Honoree Induction Ceremony
ISHOF Class of 2025
Anthony Ervin (USA) Honor Swimmer
Ryan Lochte (USA) Honor Swimmer
Federica Pellegrini (ITA) Honor Swimmer
Joseph Schooling (SIN) Honor Swimmer
Ous Mellouli (TUN) Honor Open Water Swimmer
Chen Ruolin (CHN) Honor Diver
Endre “Bandi” Molnar (HUN) Honor Water Polo Player
Andrea Fuentes (ESP) Honor Artistic Swimmer
Gregg Troy (USA) Honor Coach
Captain Husain Al Musallam (KUW) Honor Contributor
Sachin Nag* (IND) Honor Pioneer Swimmer
Guo Jingjing (CHN) Honor Diver (Class of 2016)
*deceased
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is proud to announce this truly international Class of 2025. This year, ISHOF will induct 12 honorees from nine countries. In addition, ISHOF will be inducting Honorees from four new countries that we have never had Honorees inducted from before, Kuwait, India, Tunisia, and Singapore.
Happy Birthday to Joseph Schooling who will be inducted as ISHOF’s first Honoree from his country!!
Joseph Schooling will be the very first Honoree to be inducted into ISHOF from the country of Singapore, and it will take place in his own back yard.
It is probably the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro which Joseph Schooling is best remembered for and where he produced his greatest performance. Through the preliminaries and semifinals, Schooling established himself as one of the favorites and in the final he dominated, winning the title in an Olympic-record time of 50.39, three quarters of a second clear of Phelps, Laszlo Cseh and Chad le Clos, who shared the silver medal in a historic, three-way tie at 51.14
His victory, the first for his country, regardless of sport, at the Olympic Games, serves as a powerful message, especially for athletes from smaller nations. That seemingly insurmountable goals, like beating a legendary figure like Michael Phelps, are achievable if you are willing to believe in yourself and make a commitment to the hard work and sacrifices that will make your dreams come true. He is a role model not just for his competitive career, but by his example after his retirement from competitive swimming – through Sports Schooling, a business committed to Raising Active, Confident And Growth-Minded Children Through Sports, and his role as co-founder and principal in the investment firm of Swaen Schooling Capital.
Join Joseph Schooling and the other 11 outstanding Honorees who will be inducted this year at ISHOF’s Diamond Anniversary in Singapore! Buy your tickets NOW for ISHOF’s 60th Anniversary of the Honoree Induction Ceremony in Singapore in conjunction with the World Aquatics World Championships
WHEN: Monday, July 28, 2025, 1:00 PM
WHERE: Park Royal Collection, Marina Bay, Singapore
Tickets are NOW ON SALE ~ purchase them HERE!
Buy your tickets NOW for ISHOF’s 60th Anniversary of the Honoree Induction Ceremony
ISHOF Class of 2025
Anthony Ervin (USA) Honor Swimmer
Ryan Lochte (USA) Honor Swimmer
Federica Pellegrini (ITA) Honor Swimmer
Joseph Schooling (SIN) Honor Swimmer
Ous Mellouli (TUN) Honor Open Water Swimmer
Chen Ruolin (CHN) Honor Diver
Endre “Bandi” Molnar (HUN) Honor Water Polo Player
Andrea Fuentes (ESP) Honor Artistic Swimmer
Gregg Troy (USA) Honor Coach
Captain Husain Al Musallam (KUW) Honor Contributor
Sachin Nag* (IND) Honor Pioneer Swimmer
Guo Jingjing (CHN) Honor Diver (Class of 2016)
*deceased
The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is proud to announce this truly international Class of 2025. This year, ISHOF will induct 12 honorees from nine countries. In addition, ISHOF will be inducting Honorees from four new countries that we have never had Honorees inducted from before, Kuwait, India, Tunisia, and Singapore.