ISHOF is looking for swimmers for its Corporate Swim Challenge, which is going to be a great FUN Event on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 3:00-6:00pm.
ISHOF is looking for up to 36 swimmers for our inaugural event, the ISHOF Corporate Swim Challenge. The event will be held, Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 3:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center. The format of the event will be: Each team of four will swim as many laps as they can in the 45 minutes time limit; Any of the four swimmers on the team can substitute for one another as many times as they like during the forty five minutes; Just try and get in as many laps as you can in to win.
It will be a great day filled with music, fun, food, prizes and friends!
If you would like to participate and be a part of this great event, email Devin at Devin@ishof.org or call 631.880.2539.
Come join the Fun!!!
ISHOF ANNOUNCES RECIPIENT OF 2026 “ESTHER” AWARD: “The Dual We Missed”
Fort Lauderdale – The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) recently announced the recipients of the 2026 “Esther” Award, named after 1966 ISHOF Honoree and Hollywood legend, Esther Williams. The award which recognizes outstanding achievements in the film and entertainment industries that promotes a positive image of swimming as a key to fun, fitness, good health, a better quality of life and an essential water safety and lifesaving skill.
“We are extremely proud that Ms. Esther Williams has lent her famous name to this award,” said Bruce Wigo, Historian of ISHOF. “As one of America’s iconic film stars, she did more through her films to promote swimming than anyone else in history.”
Esther Williams was a national swimming champion in 1939. Unable to compete in the 1940 Olympics because of WWII, she turned professional and swam alongside Olympic Champion and Tarzan star Johnny Weissmuller in the Billy Rose Aquacade in San Francisco. The Aquacade brought her to the attention of MGM talent scouts and the rest is history. She starred in 27 major Hollywood films and as a businesswoman organized traveling water shows and ran a swimwear company with her name. Esther was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1966 and received ISHOF’s Gold Medallion Award in 2006.
This year, ISHOF will present the 2026 Esther Award to “The Dual We Missed” from a category intended to revive interest in a historically significant film: “ This movie tells the story of Brian Goodell of the USA and Vladimir Salnikov of Russia, the two greatest long distance swimmers in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s who never got the chance to race because of politics. One of our favorite writers, John Lohn, Editor of Swimming World Magazine penned this article about the film back in November:
Brian Goodell vs. Vladimir Salnikov: ‘The Duel We Missed’ Documentary Receiving Academy Award Consideration
By: John Lohn, Editor, Swimming World Magazine
Documentary films, at their core, take a deep dive into a specific topic. They are detailed. They offer emotion. They introduce engaging characters and storylines. They take the viewer behind a curtain, often revealing elements of a tale that were never before presented, or might have gone overlooked.
“The Duel We Missed” checks those boxes, However, due to political inerference, a duel between Goodell and Salnikov – with both men at the peak of their powers – was left to the imagination. “The Duel We Missed” delves deeply into the careers of Goodell and Salnikov, and their shared chase to become the first athlete in history to swim the 1500-meter freestyle in under 15 minutes.
The documentary, produced by Bravo Films and directed by Ilnur Rafikov and Edward Staroselsky, also examines several complementary storylines – the political influence and boycotts of the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, athlete mentality, training of the era and the respect developed among individuals with like-minded goals.
At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, where the United States men won all but one gold medal in the 13 events contested, Goodell stormed to victory in the 400 and 1500 freestyle events, world records established in both. In the 1500 freestyle, Goodell was timed in 15:02.40, not far off the 15-minute barrier that was a target. Salnikov, a rising 16-year-old at the time, was fifth in the Montreal final, and while he finished off the podium, his prodigious talent suggested big things to come, including a rivalry with Goodell.
However, in the years ahead, multiple factors prevented Goodell and Salnikov from meeting while the men were at the top of their prowess. Goodell missed the 1978 World Championships, where Salnikov won gold medals in the 400 freestyle and 1500 freestyle, the longer event not far off Goodell’s world record. And as the 1980 Olympics neared, a hammer dropped on a potential duel in Moscow when U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced the United States would boycott the Games due to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.
Through the use of current-day interviews, highlighted by Goodell and Salnikov, “The Duel We Missed” takes both a wide-ranging and topic-specific look at the era. The feelings of Goodell and Salnikov were repeatedly shared, and their status in the sport was examined, including through the lens of Hall of Fame coach Mark Schubert, who was the mentor of Goodell. Also weighing in were Olympians John Naber and Rowdy Gaines, each sharing a perspective. Naber won three gold medals during his Team USA days and transitioned into a broadcasting career, which allowed him to interact with Salnikov and hear the Soviet star state that he was not a “true champion” without competing in a fully attended Olympic Games.
As for Gaines, now known as the Voice of Swimming for his work with NBC Sports, he provided personal stories about how the boycott impacted his life and career. Ultimately, Gaines returned to training after a brief retirement and won three gold medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and he spoke about seeing his dream through. Yet, Gaines also poignantly discussed the heartache of the Olympic hopefuls who did not get their chance on the biggest stage in sports.
Vladimir Salnikov. Photo Courtesy: Dutch National Archives
The documentary, which was perfectly organized, spanned 1976-1988, as it examined Salnikov dealing with the Soviet Union’s retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Games and his triumphant return to win gold in the 1500 freestyle at the 1988 Games in Seoul. The film also provided footage of Salnikov cracking the 15-minute barrier for the first time, an accomplishment that will live on as a distinguished achievement in the sport.
Among other standout moments from the documentary:
Footage and interviews from a Soviet Union trip to the United States which allowed for training under Schubert’s guidance. The memories shared from this time were genuine and both illustrated respect among athletes, and how the Soviet Union learned about the intensity of Schubert’s workouts in Mission Viejo, California.
Schubert, in this current era, telling Goodell that he wished he had not retired following the boycott, and Goodell stating that he had a few reservations about his decision as the 1984 Games neared.
The playing of the Soviet national anthem following Salnikov’s victory at the 1988 Olympics, one of the final times the anthem was played before the breakup of the USSR. More, the story of Salnikov being lauded by his fellow athletes in the dining hall in Seoul on the night of his 1500 freestyle victory elicited goosebumps, and emphasized the appreciation Olympians share for each other.
The illustrations and graphics used during the documentary were sensational, providing the feel of a comic book and celebrating the individuals and moments featured.
The emotion expressed throughout the 90-minute documentary was tremendous. Tears flowed. Words were sometimes difficult to find. Admiration was constantly evident.
A phone call late in the film between Goodell, Schubert and Salnikov was a wonderful touch, and further emphasized the respect that permeated the film and the careers of all three men.
“The Duel We Missed” is an extraordinary film, exactly what a special documentary should be. Years of work, research and interviews went into making this film and bringing the story of Goodell and Salnikov to viewers. Swim fans, especially those with an understanding of the rich history of the sport, will appreciate it. But casual viewers will also find themselves engaged, enraptured by a story that has emotion, intensity, goal-chasing and more.
Sadly, a showdown between Brian Goodell and Vladimir Salnikov in their prime was missed. But “The Duel We Missed” pays beautiful homage to the athletes and the era, and what might have been.
ISHOF will present the Esther Award for this film during the 2026 ISHOF Honoree Induction Weekend, May 15, at the Embassy Suites, 17th Street, in Ft. Lauderdale. ISHOF is holding a special viewing of the documentary on Saturday, May 16, at 3:00 p.m. free of charge, at the Embassy Suites, 1100, S.E. 17th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316. After the showing of the film, Brian Goodell and coach, Mark Schubert will be available for a question-and-answer type forum.
For more information, contact Meg Keller, at meg@ishof-org or call 570.594.4367 or Bruce Wigo at Bruce.wigo@yahoo.com or call 954.559.1622.
To buy tickets for the 61st Annual Honoree weekend, click here:
2025’s Honor Coach Gregg Troy to be inducted into ISHOF this year with Class of 2026 along with his swimmer, Lochte
Gregg Troy (USA) is a three-time Olympic Coach for the USA, 1996, 2008 and 2012. He has coached many Olympians and Olympic gold medalists including Ryan Lochte, Caleb Dressel and Elizabeth Beisel to name a just few. He was the Head Coach of the Bolles School, 1977-1997, and the University of Florida Gators from 1998-2018, winning the Women’s NCAA’s in 2010.
Learn more about Coach Troy 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: War Memorial Auditorium, 800 Northeast 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33304
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
Use QR Code to make your Hotel Reservations
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
ASCA/ISHOF Coaches Clinic Featuring Honoree Gregg Troy:
https://web.cvent.com/event/95f72cfc-f855-4e4d-bfb4-856f4b86ddc
After the Applause – April 2026 – Michelle Calkins (CAN) Honor Synchronized Swimmer 2001
You were inducted in 2001, tell us what you have been up to since then?
The induction was very special, and to happened 23 years after winning gold at the World Aquatic Championships in Berlin. It flooded me with so many wonderful moments. We were living in London at the time, out of coaching and out of touch with sport. The induction was so much more than the recognition of my success, it was a huge nod to our sport and all the athletes, coaches and officials involved in Synchronized Swimming. Thank you so much for the Honor.
What do you do for work / as a profession?
After retiring, I coached and trained as a professional coach under Debbie Muir and the Coaching Association of Canada. Working with Junior athletes, including future Olympians, Michelle Cameron, Cari Read, Karen Fonteyne and Karen Clark. Towards the end of my coaching career I successfully coached/lead the Canadian National team to a silver medal at World Aquatic Championships in Rome 1994. Coming full circle.
Are you still involved in artistic swimming in any capacity?
With a focus now on family and marriage I retired, and we moved first to London and later to Houston Texas. We have two grown children, both with Master degrees, one a clinical psychologist and one initially an environmental scientist, but now a director/scientist for an Agricultural company, both in the US. Happily both are swimmers, skiers and tennis players!
Do you still stay in touch with any synchro swimming friends from your competition days, if so, who?
I do keep in touch with fellow Hall of Famer, Debbie Muir, Paragon Award winners Mary Ann Reeves and Margaret McLennan. We try to do an annual trip as friends and fellow synchro enthusiasts. There is a bit of banter about the changes and evolution of synchro to artistic swimming, but it is all positive! The artistic component to the sport has always held a special place for me and the collaboration with the swimmers, the music, the water, always was a key love of the sport. There are so many memories , probably the first time, nobody forgets, like when I swam my first mile, recorded my first 9 score, my first duet partner, and the first time they played the National anthem. I think it is the totality of the experience as swimmer and coach that stays with me today.
Michelle attending ISHOF’s 2022 Honoree Induction Ceremonies with fellow synchronized swimmer Judy McGowan
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.)
When we lived in London I started tennis lessons, another incredibly technical sport, which is the aspect I love and of course I am still extremely competitive. I play doubles and love the chance to work with another player to be the best we can be. I play in numerous leagues in Houston TX and love the social interaction and celebration of a new sport.
What is best memory of your days in swimming? (You can have more than one)
The summers I spend in Canada on my farm, growing vegetables, another important part of my life.
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 would love to go to LA Olympics and attend the artistic swimming, to celebrate and cheer the next champions.
Any advice to all the future want-to-be Olympic artistic swimmers out there?
Words for future,” have courage, use your imagination and remember. “
To read Michelle’s 2001 ISHOF biography, click here: https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-michelle-calkins/
French Paralympic Swimmer Beatrice Hess to be inducted as only second Paralympian to enter ISHOF following Trischa Zorn in 2023
BEATRICE HESS (FRA) is a five-time Paralympian, winning a total of 25 medals, 20 of them gold. She has cerebral palsy and competed in the S5 disability classification. In addition, she has seven (7) world titles and 18 European titles and is the most decorated French Paralympic swimmer. Hess shot to stardom on her Paralympic debut at the New York 1984 Paralympic Games, earning four gold medals in as many events. From there, she was unstoppable, topping the podium 16 more times before closing the curtain on her career after Athens 2004. Hess was the flag bearer at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Learn more about Beatrice Hess 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: War Memorial Auditorium, 800 Northeast 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33304
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
Use QR Code to make your Hotel Reservations
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
ASCA/ISHOF Coaches Clinic Featuring Honoree Gregg Troy:
https://web.cvent.com/event/95f72cfc-f855-4e4d-bfb4-856f4b86ddc
Texas, Again: Longhorn Men Prevail at NCAA Championships for Second Straight Year, 17th Overall Title
Texas celebrates another national championship — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick]
by David Rieder – Senior Writer
28 March 2026
Throughout the four days of the NCAA Men’s Championships, the Texas Longhorns were not exactly showing peak form. Hubert Kos delivered a performance best described as legendary, pushing Josh Liendo to the limit in the 100 butterfly before swimming the fastest time ever in both backstroke events, but results for Rex Maurer, Will Modglin, and Nate Germonprez, top seeds entering the competition, were mixed. Several members of the team’s supporting cast could not replicate their sensational midseason times, particularly after the team dealt with multiple bouts of illness following the SEC Championships.
Meanwhile, the Florida Gators were making a run, enough to make head coach Bob Bowman nervous. Liendo won three sprint titles while distance aces Ahmed Jaouadi and Ahmed Hafnaoui each came through with dramatic victories. Florida briefly took the lead over Texas during Friday’s finals, and although the Longhorns would quickly restore order, the margin was just 9.5 points at the end of the night.
But simply, by meet’s end, Texas had too much. The team set the tone with an opening-night win in the 800 free relay with Rafael Fente-Damers, Camden Taylor, Maurer and Baylor Nelson. Maurer set an American record in his winning effort in the 400 IM with Nelson taking second. Maurer and Nelson each added another top-three finish, Maurer in the 500 free and Nelson in the 200 IM. Campbell McKean and Germonprez picked up a 2-3 finish in the 100 breaststroke, and Germonprez came in fifth in the 200 breast.
Modglin swam in three championship finals, finishing fourth in the 100 back and 200 IM, and Cooper Lucas came in sixth in the 400 IM. Sprint freestyle has been a weakness all season, but the relays came through, all finishing in the top six. Diving did its part, as per usual under longtime diving coach Matt Scoggin, with Nick Harris and Luke Forester placing sixth and seventh, respectively, in 3-meter.
The last day was especially critical, with Texas putting three swimmers and one diver into championship finals and getting five more scoring points between ninth and 16th place.
Bob Bowman rooting on his team at the NCAA Championships — Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
“With the challenge Florida gave us, I wasn’t confident that we might be able to win until after this morning session,” Bowman said. “I never once thought we would win until maybe after the prelims this morning. They were swimming very well. They improved quite a bit off of their seeds. We did not. We didn’t swim particularly well in a number of places here. I just thought we showed great resilience and toughness and just stayed with the task until we got it to a point where it was manageable.”
The Longhorns finished the meet with 445.5 points, 29 ahead of second-place Florida, to secure their second consecutive NCAA title and 17th all-time. Bowman has now guided his teams to three consecutive national titles after previously winning with Arizona State in 2024. Eddie Reese, who guided the program for more than 40 seasons, was responsible for the first 15 titles.
“It’s a lot of fun, actually,” Bowman said. “It’s pretty gratifying because for me as a coach, all of my real success in the first half of my career was in long course meters. I was the coach at Michigan for four years in there, but I had no idea what I was doing. Sorry, boys. I figured it out later. We had some kind of success there with long course, not really in the college system.
“When I got to ASU, I had nine years to kind of figure this thing out, and it’s just fun now to understand the game, even as it changes week to week, and just try to learn how to put together a roster and then develop that. Gratifying, but really just fun.”
Florida scored 416 points to capture second place, the team’s highest finish since 1985. Indiana’s impressive final day lifted the Hoosiers to third place with 351 while Arizona State rode four relay wins to 328 points and a fourth-place finish. Tennessee claimed fifth with 272 points, just ahead of NC State (258.5). A rebuilding campaign for California put the Bears in seventh (231), followed by Michigan (220), Virginia (192) and Stanford (136).
This latest title-winning team fully embraced their head coach’s motivational tactics that have previously directed some of the greatest swimmers in history. Bowman knew his team was heavily favored entering this meet, expecting a different scenario than the knockout fight with Cal last season that was decided by just 19 points. Still, he steered the team toward daily incremental improvement, assuming that every point would count at the end.
“I think we try to keep the same mindset either way,” Maurer said. “We don’t really focus on external projections or external expectations on what we need to do. Our goal is to win by as many points as possible, no matter if we are expected to or if we’re expected to win by one point. I think just keeping our foot on the pedal for this entire meet until that last relay finishes is our goal no matter what.”
Each day when Bowman gives his swimmers their workouts, the sheet includes his favorite catchphrase: “Do your work.” Those three words perfectly capture the level-headed intensity he expects from his athletes, and the results, evident for decades, continue to show up. His rapid rebuilding of Texas into the country’s premier program ranks among his greatest accomplishments, even in a career that has included years mentoring Michael Phelps and Leon Marchand.
“Just do your work because that’s the only thing you can control,” Kos said. “You do your work, then everything else will fall into place, and there’s nothing else you can really control.”
Sprinter Nathan Adrian (USA) to be inducted into ISHOF as one of three swimmers of the Class of 2026
Nathan Adrian (USA) is a three-time Olympian, and five-time Olympic gold medalist who specializes in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events. He has won thirty-two medals in major international competitions, twenty gold, seven silver, and five bronze in such competitions as the Olympic Games, the FINA World Championships, and the Pan Pac Championships. A graduate of Cal Berkeley, Adrian is an 11-time individual NCAA Champion, competing for the Bears and was part of the 2010 men’s team championship.
Learn more about Nathan Adrian 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: War Memorial Auditorium, 800 Northeast 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33304
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
Use QR Code to make your Hotel Reservations
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
ASCA/ISHOF Coaches Clinic Featuring Honoree Gregg Troy:
https://web.cvent.com/event/95f72cfc-f855-4e4d-bfb4-856f4b86ddc
Cesar Cielo’s World Record finally falls after 16 1/2 years
After 16 1/2 years, the final World Record of 2023 ISHOF Honoree Cesar Cielo’s Sprint career fell on opening day of the China Open in Shenzhen, China.
Australian, Cam McEvoy broke Cielo’s long standing 50 free world record as he swam to 20.88 blistering Cesar Cielo’s 2009 record to the history books at the China Open.
The brazilian’s record of 20.91 had stood since December 2009 as the supersuit era creeped towards its end. Cielo had surpassed Frenchman Fred Bousquet’s 20.94 WR that had been set in April of that same year with the Cielo and Bousquet being the only two to ever break the 21 second mark.
31 year old McEvoy made history by becoming the first person to finally break Cielo’s long standing world record, doing so with wife Madeline and son Hartley in the stands cheering him on.
Until today, American Caeleb Dressel was the fastest man in textile, swimming a time of 21.04 twice in 2019 and in 2021, with the third fastest time in history, 0.02 ahead of McEvoy who swam 21.06 in Japan at Fukuoka in 2023, at the World Championships.
The beauty of these records falling is the support the athletes get from the former record holders themselves. We at ISHOF know what a stand up human Cesar Cielo is and he just went on to prove it again.
When McEvoy breaks the record and posted to social media, saying:
“WORLD RECORD!! 20.88s
Cielo posted a personal message, saying: “Congrats, Cam! Lightning fast swim! Incredible! I saw a phrase a while ago that perfectly captures what you’ve been doing. You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Congratulations!”
To which McEvoy replied: “Thank you @cesarcielof – “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” and you my friend are a giant in this sport 🤝 full respect for your 17 years. I will do my best to uphold your example!”
Cielo congratulated McEvoy as “The sprint king!!! Congrats, Cam!!! 👑⚡️🏊🏻♂️” after World Aquatics posted on social media.
Adam Peaty, Ariarne Titmus, Bruno Fratus and James Guy were among those to offer their congratulations on top of Cielo’s sprint king message. Fellow Australian Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers – who was third in the world record race – described his teammate’s swim as “insane” while Tom Dean and Yohann Ndoye Brouard also offered their praise.
Swimming Australia posted to social media, saying:
All-Time Performers
1] 20.88: Cam McEvoy, China Open, march 2026
2] 20.91: Cesar Cielo, Brazilian Championships, December 2009
3] 20.94: Fred Bousquet, French Championships, April 2009
4] 21.04: Caeleb Dressel, World Championships, July 2019
4] 21.04: Caeleb Dressel, US Olympic Team Trials, June 2021
6] 21.11: Ben Proud, European Championships, August 2018
Big congratulations to Cam McEvoy on his new World Record and to 2023 ISHOF Honor Swimmer Cesar Cielo for holding the World Record for 16+ years!
Simone Fountain (AUS) to be inducted as eighth female water polo player inducted into ISHOF
Simone Fountain (AUS) was lucky to prolong her career long enough to participate in the inaugural women’s Olympic Games for water polo in Sydney, winning gold at a time when she was regarded as one of the pre-eminent center forwards of her era. Her assist to Yvette Higgins in Sydney 2000 to score the winning goal 1.3 seconds from time against the United States of America (4-3) is legendary in Australian sport. It was the women’s first Olympic tournament.
Learn more about Simone Fountain 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: War Memorial Auditorium, 800 Northeast 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33304
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
Use QR Code to make your Hotel Reservations
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
ASCA/ISHOF Coaches Clinic Featuring Honoree Gregg Troy:
https://web.cvent.com/event/95f72cfc-f855-4e4d-bfb4-856f4b86ddcf/summary
Team ISHOF celebrated Hungarian Honorees at Fort Lauderdale’s Tower Club Internationals featuring Hungary last week
Last week, Team ISHOF attended Fort Lauderdale’s Tower Club Internationals, Featuring Hungary, and celebrated the great history of our numerous Hungarian Honorees. Of the over 800 Honorees that have been inducted into ISHOF since 1965, 44 of them come from the small land-locked country of Hungary. It’s rather amazing if you think about it. Most other European countries approximately the same size have less than ten, but nor Hungary. And for those that know little about it, Hungary is a water polo powerhouse.
So, last Wednesday night, our good friend and President of Sister Cities International, Russell Weaver, invited us to attend the event and talk a little bit about Hungary and its aquatic success. Bruce Wigo, our resident Historian, made a fascinating presentation that really resonated with the crowd, talking about the history of Hungary and how aquatics fit into their story, history and culture.
To make the evening even more exciting, this year Laszlo Cseh, one of Hungary’s greatest swimmers in the history of sport, is being inducted into ISHOF this May as part of the Class of 2026. Then next Summer, Hungary will host the 2027 World Aquatic World Championships in Budapest. On the same weekend Cseh is being inducted, Mr. David Szanto, Chief Operating Officer of the LOC, World Aquatics Swimming Championships, Budapest is being awarded the ISHOF Aquatic Award / Competitive Swimming for his work in running the World Championship events and more.
ISHOF was proud to be a part of this great event and we look forward to welcoming South Florida’s Hungarian community to ISHOF’s 61st Honoree Induction weekend, May 15-16, 2026.
To join in the celebration and buy tickets for the Honoree weekend, to see Laszlo Cseh (Sat. 5/16)
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2026
WHERE: War Memorial Auditorium, 800 Northeast 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33304
Tickets are NOW ON SALE ~ PURCHASE THEM HERE!
Use QR Code to buy tickets to Saturday night, May 16th ISHOF Honoree Induction HERE!
and David Szanto (Fri. 5/15) receive their awards, click here:
WHEN: Friday, May 15, 2026
WHERE: Embassy Suites, 1100 S.E. 17th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
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 to see all award winners
Hungary and the Water
From Aquincum to Olympic Gold
A Story of Culture Character and Champions
Presented by the International Swimming Hall of Fame
(c) 2026
Hungary: A Nation of Water Champions
For a nation of fewer than ten million people, Hungary has produced an astonishing number of Olympic champions, world champions, and Hall of Fame athletes in swimming and water polo. At the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Hungary ranks among the most honored nations in the world. Today there are 43 Hungarian swimmers, water polo players, contributors, and coaches enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Hungarian water polo teams alone have won nine Olympic gold medals, along with three silver and four bronze.
But the real question is this:
Why Hungary?
Why has this landlocked nation, far from the sea, become one of the great aquatic powers in the history of sport?
To answer that question, we must go back nearly two thousand years.
Aquincum and the Roman Origins
Just north of modern Budapest lie the ruins of the Roman city of Aquincum. In the second century, this city was a major outpost of the Roman Empire along the Danube frontier.
Among the Roman soldiers stationed there was a Batavian legionary named Soranus. According to the writings of the Roman emperor Hadrian, Soranus demonstrated his physical prowess by swimming across the Danube River wearing full armor.
Hadrian reportedly wrote with admiration of the feat, praising the courage and physical endurance of the soldier who crossed the great river under such conditions.
It is a small anecdote in the long history of the Roman Empire—but it reminds us that even in antiquity, the Danube was not merely a river.
It was a proving ground.
And from the very beginning, swimming was associated with strength, endurance, and courage in this part of the world.
The Culture of Water
If you travel to Budapest today, you will discover that the relationship between Hungarians and water runs far deeper than competitive sport.
Hungary is blessed with extraordinary natural resources beneath its soil.
The country contains more than 1,300 thermal springs, with over 120 located in Budapest alone, making it one of the great spa capitals of the world.
The Romans built baths here. The Ottomans built baths here. And modern Hungarians continue to gather daily in these pools.
In Budapest, bathing is not a luxury. It is part of everyday life.
Children grow up learning to swim in these waters. Families gather there. Friends play chess while immersed in steaming outdoor pools during the winter months.
Water is woven into the cultural fabric of Hungary.
So when organized sport arrived in the late nineteenth century, Hungarians were already a nation comfortable in the water.
Hungary’s First Olympic Champion
The first great symbol of Hungarian aquatic excellence came in 1896. At the first modern Olympic Games in Athens, a young Hungarian swimmer named Alfréd Hajós entered the open-water races in the Mediterranean Sea. The water was freezing. Competitors were taken by boat far offshore and told simply to swim back to land.
Hajós later said he swam not for victory, but to survive.
Yet he won both the 100-meter and 1200-meter races, becoming Hungary’s first Olympic champion. Later in life, Hajós became an architect and designed one of the great aquatic facilities of the world: the Alfréd Hajós National Swimming Stadium on Margaret Island in Budapest. When it was built in the 1930s, Margaret Island became known as the “Wimbledon of Swimming.”
The Turning Point: The Treaty of Trianon
But the story of Hungary’s dominance in water polo cannot be understood without understanding one of the great tragedies of Hungarian history.
After World War I, the Treaty of Trianon reduced Hungary’s territory by two-thirds and its population by millions. The nation was humiliated. Military training was prohibited. And Hungary faced the enormous challenge of rebuilding its national identity.
At this moment, sport became something far more important than recreation. Because the army was restricted, sport became a substitute for national training.
Under the leadership of Regent Miklós Horthy and Minister of Education Kuno von Klebelsberg, Hungary invested heavily in physical education and sport, and Olympic competition became a way to demonstrate the resilience and vitality of the Hungarian people.
The Rise of Hungarian Water Polo
Water polo had not been played in Hungary at a high level before the war. It was a sport dominated by Great Britain, France, Belgium Sweden and Netherlands – the same nations that had defeated the Central Powers on the battlefield and humiliated Hungary at Trianon. This fact provided the Hungarians – and Germans – with a powerful political symbol if they could beat them in the pool Water polo was not simply a game. It was became a demonstration of national character.
After having been barred from competiting in the 1920 Olympic Games, the Hungarians took up the sport in earnest when Béla Komjádi, whose scientific approach to tactics and training revolutionized the sport. Under his leadership, Hungary developed a faster, more tactical style of play—emphasizing mobility, speed, and strategic passing. Hungarian teams trained systematically, studied opponents, and developed complex tactical systems.
This approach held and Hungary began to dominate the sport of water polo beginning for decades. Hungarian players and coaches would traveled widely, exporting their knowledge of the sportm developing water polo programs in many other countries across Europe.
Noting this success, Horthy would declare:
“The essence of this game is that within a very short period the team must face the keenest struggle possible! And we can struggle! This is ascertained by the result which are at the same time proofs what we are determined to live. Watching the play of the Hungarian water polo team, the spectator will gain an idea of the character of the Hungarian nation.”
It was not simply a game. It was a demonstration of national character.
The Cold War and the “Blood in the Water” Game
One of the most dramatic chapters in this history occurred in 1956. That year, Hungary erupted in revolution against Soviet control. Soviet tanks entered Budapest to suppress the uprising.At the same time, the Hungarian Olympic team was preparing to compete at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. Among the events was a water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union. The teams knew each other well. Hungarian coaches had helped teach the the sport to the Soviets. But the political circumstances transformed the match into something far larger than sport. The Hungarian players entered the pool carrying the emotional weight of their nation.During the match, tensions boiled over. Late in the game, Hungarian player Ervin Zádor was struck in the face by a Soviet opponent, leaving blood streaming down his face.Photographs of the incident spread around the world.The match became known forever as the “Blood in the Water Game.”Hungary won the match—and ultimately the Olympic gold medal.
Budapest: The World Capital of Aquatics
Budapest remains one of the great capitals of aquatic sport. Historic venues such as the Alfréd Hajós Aquatic Complex, the Komjádi Pool, and the modern Duna Arena continue to host international competitions.
In 2027 Budapest will again host the World Aquatics Championships, continuing Hungary’s extraordinary legacy in the water.
For a nation surrounded by land rather than ocean, Hungary has truly become one of the global capitals of aquatic health and aquatic sport. And this May, László Cseh will become the 44th Hungarian to be honored in Fort Lauderdale, by the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Hungarian Honorees in the International Swimming Hall of Fame — Chronology of Induction
1966 — Alfréd Hajós
1968 — Zoltán Halmay
1969 — János Németh
1971 — Márton Homonnay
1973 — Eva Novak / Ilona Novak
1976 — Eva Szekely / Dezső Gyarmati
1978 — Olivér Halassy / Valeria Gyenge / István Bárány
1981 — Imre Sárósi
1982 — György Kárpáti
1983 — Ferenc Csík
1985 — Katalin Szőke Dómján
1987 — Mihály Mayer
1988 — Leo Donath
1993 — Tamás Faragó
1994 — Kálmán Markovits
1995 — Andrea Gyarmati / Béla Komjádi
1996 — István Szívós Jr / István Szívós Sr / Béla Rajki
1998 — Dezső Lemhényi
2000 — Tamás Darnyi
2001 — Krisztina Egerszegi
2005 — Norbert Rózsa
2008 — András Hargitay
2010 — Tamás Széchy
2011 — Dénes Kemény
2012 — József Szabó / László Kiss
2014 — Ágnes Kovács
2016 — 3 x Olympic gold medal winning Hungarian Olympic Water Polo Team members: Tamás Molnár, Tamás Kásás, Tibor Benedeck, Gergely Kiss, Péter Biros, Zoltán Szécsi
2017 — András Bodnár
2019 — Ferenc Salamon
2024 — Daniel Gyurta
2025 — Endre Molnár
2026 — László Cseh