Happy Heavenly Birthday to 1965 Honoree Adolph Kiefer!!
Country: USA
Honoree Type: Swimmer
FOR THE RECORD: OLYMPIC GAMES: 1936 gold (100m backstroke); WORLD RECORDS: every backstroke event; U.S. NATIONAL RECORDS: every backstroke event, 3-stroke individual medley; Officer in charge of swimming for U.S. Navy during WWII; Advisor to President’s Council on Physical Fitness.
Adolph Kiefer was the first man in the world to swim 100 yds. backstroke under 1 minute. His backstroke records stood for 15 years, which is why swimming people universally acclaim him the greatest backstroker ever. It was in 1936, while a 17-year-old schoolboy, he first earned huzzahs from the athletic fraternity by establishing a backstroke swimming record to win an Olympic gold medal in Berlin. If wider acclaim eluded him then, the oversight can be attributed to the presence of Jesse Owens and the absence of “Life” magazine.
Many major headlines blared his name in the decade to follow because Kiefer went on to set world records in every backstroke event in the books and won national championships in the 3 stroke individual medley as well. None of his backstroke records were broken until 1950, four years after his retirement from competitive swimming.
Although World War II pre-empted his chances to further distinguish himself in Olympic competition, the Kiefer name continued to be news. He conducted a global survey of shipwrecks and documented the enormous and unnecessary toll of GI deaths resulting from inadequate swimming instruction. A shocked corps elevated a young Lt. Kiefer to officer in charge of swimming for the entire U.S. Navy. He revamped the entire instruction program, trained or retrained 11,000 Navy swimming instructors.
Today Adolph Kiefer, at 46, is a few pounds heavier than his best swimming weight and the hair has thinned a bit. But the enthusiasm and zeal with which he assaults the developments of daily business seem greater, if this is possible.
“I sometimes believe industry stamps a man physically fit if his handshake is firm, his head steady enough to do battle with a three-martini lunch, and his bottom hard enough to sit long hours behind a desk,” says Adolph Kiefer.
“The key to physical fitness in this country is the woman of the house. It is she who motivates the children to forsake the TV set and empty the garbage, and it is she who convinces her husband to clean out the garage and repaint the living room ceiling. And it is she, through her own trim example, who can effect a family fit for a good life.”
“Americans are generally very conscientious and attentive when it comes to business and religious responsibilities, but is there not such a thing as physical morality?” Kiefer attaches great importance to home exercise, but even more to prospective industrial fitness programs. He has flown more than 60,000 miles in the last ten months to acquaint business leaders with his ideas for industry-sponsored fitness development.
He has been a prominent figure in the swimming industry since World War II and a liaison between the industry and competitive swimming. His activities pursuant to the promotion of physical fitness have earned him the role of advisor to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.
The information on this page was written the year of their induction
ISHOF Seeking nominations for the 2027 Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal in all categories
ISHOF seeks nominations for the 2027 ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal
The International Swimming Hall of Fame announces the call for nominations for the 2027 ISHOF Aquatic Awards to be presented at the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Honoree Induction weekend, which will be held in Fort Lauderdale, date TBD. Sponsored by AquaCal, the awards are presented each year for outstanding contributions and leadership in several swimming and aquatic-related categories.
Candidates may be nominated for the Aquatic Awards in the following categories:
Competitive Swimming
Competitive Diving
Competitive Synchronized Swimming
Competitive Water Polo
Aquatic Safety
Recreational Swimming
Kindly submit your nominees by August 30, 2026. Please include any relevant data to support your nomination, the aquatic category for nomination, as well as a brief biography of each individual, a high-resolution image and their current contact information.
Get more information about the event and see the 2026 winners: https://ishof.org/ishof-to-celebrate-aquatic-awards-presented-by-aquacal-as-kickoff-to-honoree-weekend/
Nominations may be sent to:
Meg Keller-Marvin
International Swimming Hall of Fame
e-mail: meg@ishof.org
(570) 594.4367
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
ISHOF calling for nominations for the Class of 2027 ~ DUE: August 1, 2026
It is that time of year, when we at ISHOF, ask for nominations from all disciplines and from all around the globe. Each individual should have achieved tremendous success in their aquatic discipline(s) and/or made a significant impact on the sport of aquatics through their lifelong efforts. Nominations must be submitted along with supporting materials by August 1, 2026.
You may submit your nomination online by visiting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdbWjNJq9cc0r3Jj5RePDhMmc8ToA1HX9fyjqFnNupU2FIAjQ/viewform
Or you may send your nomination to meg@ishof.org
Generally, athletes shall not be chosen unless retired from international competition at least four years or at least one Olympic quadrennial. “Athletes” refers to swimmers, open water swimmers (World Aquatics), divers, water polo players and artistic (synchronized) swimmers.
A coach must have a significant international record and have been coaching at least 25 years.
A contributor must have been in aquatics at least 20 years and have had a significant international impact. Athletic achievement should NOT be considered, contributions are to the overall improvement or development of “international” sport through leadership, journalism, invention or other area of great, outstanding impact
Remember the key word – “international”. Emphasis should be placed on the international impact made by the nominee, not just within his or her own country. Voting for athletes should be based on the items in the following order of importance: • Olympic gold medals • World Records • Number of Olympic medals won, Olympic Games attended and Olympic finals achieved.
• World Championship gold medals, Numbers of total World Championship medals won • World Cup, Grand Prix gold medals • Regional Championships won (European Championships, Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, Asian Games, Pan Pacific, South American Games, etc.)
Happy Birthday Dennis Pursley!!
Country: USA
Honoree Type: Coach
FOR THE RECORD: Five-time Olympic Coach: 1980 OLYMPIC GAMES: USA Assistant Coach who placed six of his Cincinnati Marlin swimmers on the USA Olympic team, including two world record holders (Mary T. Meagher & Bill Barrett); 1984 OLYMPIC GAMES: Head Coach Australia Institute of Sport, credited with leading a resurgence in Australian swimming after placing six swimmers on the Australian Olympic Team who won half of Australia’s medals, finishing second behind the USA; 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: British Swimming Head Coach; 1992, 1996 & 2000 OLYMPIC GAMES: USA Swimming National Team Director, USA Men’s and Women’s teams finished first in total medal count in all three Olympiads (1992, 1996, 2000), culminating with 33 medals (14 gold) in the 2000 Olympics, heralded as the “greatest team performance of all time”; 1991, 1994, 1998, & 2001 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS; USA Swimming National Team Director; Selected as the First Ever USA Swimming National Team Director: performed coaching and administrative duties; 1979 PAN AMERICAN GAMES: Assistant Swimming Coach, as Head Coach of Lakeside Swim Club in Louisville, KY(1974-79) was named to the USA coaching staff for the 1979 Pan Am Games where one of his swimmers, Mary T. Meagher, broke her first of several world records; UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: Head Coach(2012-2019), his men’s team qualified only one swimmer for the NCAA Championships in the first year, then went on to achieve six consecutive top 15 finishes, including four in the top 10; American Swimming Coaches Association “Coach of the Year”(1980); U.S. Olympic Committee Chair’s Coaching Award (2000); One of the “25 Most Influential People in the History of USA Swimming”(2003) ASCA Coaches Hall of Fame(2006);
Whether at the club level, in the collegiate ranks or as the head of a national program, Dennis Pursley has excelled on the coaching front. His influence has been felt directly by the swimmers he developed into some of the best in the world. His impact is also measurable in the coaches he educated while overseeing a country’s operations.
Pursley started to make his mark as the head coach of the Lakeside Swim Club, located in Louisville, Kentucky. While at Lakeside (1974-79), Pursley was selected as a staff member for Team USA at the 1979 Pan American Games. At that edition of the Pan Am Games, Pursley’s protégé, future Hall of Famer Mary T. Meagher, set the first of her several world records by winning the 200-meter butterfly in 2:09.77. Following his success at Lakeside, Pursley took the reins at of the Cincinnati Marlins, which he guided to women’s and combined national championships
during his stint. Although politics led the United States to boycott the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Pursley guided six swimmers onto the 1980 Olympic team, including Meagher and Bill Barrett, a world-record holder in the 200 individual medley. From 1981 through 1984, Pursley took on the first international challenge of his career. As the head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport, Pursley played a significant role in Australia’s resurgence. Pursley placed six athletes on the 1984 Australian Olympic squad, as the country finished second to the United States in the medal’s standings with a 12-medal haul.
In 1989, Pursley was named the National Team Director for USA Swimming, a position he held until 2003. During his tenure, the United States topped the medals chart at three consecutive Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000). The squad at the 2000 Games in Sydney collected 33 medals, including 14 gold. The overall medal total is the most (along with 2016) since the 1984 Games, when the U.S. won 34 medals.
After leaving the National Team job, Pursley coached the Brophy East Swim Team(Phoenix Swim Club) from 2003-2006 and he returned to international duty from2008-2012 as the head coach of the British National Team. In 2012, Pursley returned to his alma mater, the University of Alabama, and he led the men’s squad to six top 15 finishes in the team standings, including four in the top-10.
Pursley has also spent time coaching in Canada and was named the American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1980 and inducted into the ASCA Hall of Fame in 2006.
The information on this page was written the year of their induction
USA Swimming, ASCA Announce Partnership to Strengthen Coaching Profession
by John Lohn – Editor-in-Chief
11 June 2026
USA Swimming, ASCA Announce Partnership to Strengthen Coaching Profession
In a landmark move for the American swimming community, USA Swimming and the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) today announced an agreement that brings together two of the sport’s most influential organizations in support of a shared commitment to strengthen the coaching profession and grow swimming from the grassroots level to the Olympic podium.
The new alliance comes at a pivotal moment for both organizations. Following the arrival of Kevin Ring as USA Swimming Chief Executive Officer in September 2025, USA Swimming has continued to advance its strategic priorities related to coach development while ASCA has embarked on a comprehensive organizational transformation over the past five years led by CEO Jennifer LaMont and forward-thinking board of directors.
The agreement provides momentum as ASCA prepares to launch the next stage of its evolution involving significant upgrades to its technology platforms, member experience, and coach education. ASCA’s redesigned certification program starting in November 2026 will feature updated course content, modernized delivery systems, and more flexible certification pathways to better serve.
Photo Courtesy: ASCA
Today’s coaches and elevate the value of ASCA certification throughout the swimming community.
The partnership establishes a collaborative framework centered on strengthening the coaching profession, retaining and developing coaches, and providing resources that help coaches, clubs, and athletes succeed.
USA Swimming and ASCA will work together to:
Expand and improve coach education opportunities
Support the recruitment and retention of coaches
Promote consistency and quality across competitive swimming programs
Increase participation and long-term engagement in the sport
A key initiative within the agreement will be the launch of the “ASCA New Coach Initiative, a collaborative program designed to support coaches entering the profession. As part of the initiative, new USA Swimming coach members will receive cohort-based educational programming designed to help coaches build foundational skills, professional connections, and long-term career pathways.
“Coaches are critical to athlete’s journey and fundamental to our success as an organization,” said Kevin Ring, Chief Executive Officer of USA Swimming. “This alliance represents an important step forward in our commitment to supporting coaches throughout their careers and creating a more connected pathway for development. Together with ASCA, we are investing in the people who shape the future of swimming every day, helping ensure our sport continues to grow and thrive from the grassroots level to international excellence.”
“Coaches are the backbone of our sport,” said Jennifer LaMont, Chief Executive Officer of ASCA. “This collaboration creates meaningful opportunities to elevate coach education, improve retention, and provide stronger support systems for both new and experienced coaches nationwide. We have spent several years building toward this moment, and we are excited about what our organizations can accomplish together for coaches and the athletes they serve.”
Additional components of the agreement include:
USA Swimming participation and engagement at ASCA clinics and events, including the ASCA World Clinic
Expanded collaboration on coach recognition and development
Joint marketing and communication efforts promoting coach education and professionalism
Enhanced support for emerging swim clubs and coaching programs
Shared resources, research opportunities, and coach engagement initiatives
The agreement represents a renewed commitment by both organizations to invest in coaches as leaders, educators, and essential drivers of athlete success and lifelong participation in swimming.
The above press release was provided to Swimming World by ASCA and USA Swimming.
Every Child a Swimmer: Creating a Generation of Swimmers
As the mission-driven initiative of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), Every Child a Swimmer (ECAS) continues to expand its impact nationwide through swim lesson scholarships, water safety education, strategic partnerships, and legislative advocacy, all with one goal in mind: preventing childhood drowning and creating a generation of swimmers.
Today, ECAS has grown to include more than 400 swim school locations across 46 states, creating one of the nation’s largest collaborative networks dedicated to water safety and learn-to-swim access. Through these partnerships, ECAS awarded more than $800,000 in swim lesson scholarships in 2025, helping nearly 3,000 children gain access to life-saving swim lessons nationwide. A key component of the ECAS model is accountability and measurable outcomes. The program works closely with partner swim schools to track student progress and ensure children develop critical water competency skills, including the ability to safely exit the pool independently and/or float on their backs.
Beyond scholarships, ECAS continues to lead efforts to bring water safety education directly to families through legislation. To date, water safety initiatives championed by ECAS have been passed in nine states, helping provide parents with critical drowning prevention education through schools and healthcare systems. Together, ISHOF and ECAS represent both the legacy and future of aquatics, honoring the history of swimming while helping ensure more children have the opportunity to safely participate in it.
Winning gold is ‘way less important than having a chance to save a life’: Michael Phelps on finding purpose beyond the pool
Shared from CNN
By Emile Nuh Coy Wire
Updated May 25, 2026
Michael Phelps discusses importance of mental health
Almost a decade has passed since Michael Phelps set the world alight on the Olympic stage at Rio 2016, when he took home the most medals of any athlete with five golds and one silver.
And when he called time on his legendary career after those Games as the most decorated Olympian of all time – with an astounding 28 medals across four Olympics – it seemed unthinkable that his name would ever be synonymous with anything other than swimming.
But the 40-year-old has found a new calling since stepping out of the pool, becoming one of the most prominent and outspoken advocates for mental health and well-being in sports and beyond.
“Water safety but also mental health – those two things are who I am,” Phelps told CNN Sports’ Coy Wire.
Those are also the key focuses of the Michael Phelps Foundation.
The organization, which launched in 2008, was initially set up to help young people by promoting healthy living and water safety – as the retired swimmer was himself scared of the water when he first took up the sport at seven years old.
However, as Phelps evolved, so did the purpose of his foundation. And in 2020, it formally expanded its mission to include mental wellness and emotional resilience support for children.
“Being able to implement mental health into my foundation along with swimming, it kind of gives me that purpose again I had when I was competing,” the 23-time Olympic gold medalist said.
Finding purpose beyond the pool
Phelps’ foundation is just one of the many ways in which he’s now diving into his newfound mission.
In 2023, he partnered with online therapy company Talkspace and fronted its “Start from the Top” campaign, an initiative focused on building sustainable mental wellness habits through five key pillars.
He’s also delivered several keynote speeches around the world in recent years, detailing his struggles with depression and the lessons he’s learned through his many trials and tribulations.
Since his swimming career ended, Michael Phelps has been open about his struggles with depression and made mental health a key part of his foundation. Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Phelps is acknowledged by NASCAR drivers before serving as the honorary pace car driver before a Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway in 2024. Sean Gardner/Getty Images
The man who spent nearly two decades relentlessly chasing perfection in the pool has now made it his life mission to help others by openly speaking about the treacherous journey it took to achieve it.
And for Phelps, there was one defining, lightbulb moment that changed everything.
“I honestly think it’s really when I got to that point of not wanting to be alive,” he explained. “Once I got to that point, I was like, ‘OK, something is wrong. I need to ask for help.’
“That was the first time that I ever asked for help because I just didn’t know what to do, (and) I’m very thankful that I got the help that I needed because I wanted change.
“And then, at that point, (it was about) just being able to find that ground to stand on and be OK sharing the stories that I talk about.”
Saving lives trumps everything
For many athletes, especially those who have reached the absolute pinnacle of their sport like Phelps did, retirement normally signals the end of an arduous journey and a time for nostalgic reflection.
But for Phelps, when he jumped out of the pool professionally for the final time in Rio 2016, his work was far from finished.
There was still another race to run. One that, according to the Olympic icon himself, has a far greater reach than any of his sporting achievements.
“I remember after the 2016 Olympics, I was at Microsoft and this kid … I say ‘kid,’ he was probably 25 years old, stood up and he was like, ‘I have my dream job. Everything I’ve ever wanted to do has happened. And I don’t want to be alive anymore.’
“And I was like, ‘Bro, I hear you. I’ve had those thoughts before.’ So we had that moment where he was like, ‘You sharing that gave me the power or the confidence to open up and share.’”
In sports, vulnerability can often be misinterpreted as a sign of weakness – especially in elite athletes who are idolized by millions.
By continuing to speak so candidly about the importance of mental health, Phelps is helping to shift the narrative.
The motivation is no longer gold medals, but something far more important: “For me, winning a gold medal is way less important than having a chance to save a life.”
Felipe Perrone, one of the greatest water polo players, comes to ISHOF and South Florida
World Aquatics athlete, Felipe Perrone, is a Spanish/Brazilian water polo player, with a resume of two gold, two silver and three bronze medals in World Championship play. In total, he has 16 World Aquatic international medals.
Perrone recently travelled to South Florida to attend ISHOF’s 61st Annual Honoree Induction weekend, to present Honor Water Polo Player, Simone Fountain at her induction and to give water polo clinics around South Florida to renew interest in the sport and to give a special treat to those kids already playing it.
Felipe graciously went to different clubs around South Florida and all the kids loved him!
Perrone and his family were hosted by ISHOF Historian, Bruce Wigo, who knows a little something about water polo. Wigo took Felipe to the different pools and clinics and set up the schedule so the kids in South Florida could experience his expertise and greatness in the sport. It was a once in a lifetime experience for some of these kids.
A note from Bruce Wigo regarding Felipe coming to South Florida….
“Thank you very much for making the arrangements for Felipe to come to Fort Lauderdale and the Hall of Fame ceremony. It was great to get to know him and he helped Waterpolo immensely with clinics at five different club locations. As you may know, the state association almost dropped water polo last year because of diminishing numbers. This helped invigorate and motivate the coaches and referees to work harder. We also had an evening social in his honor with area coaches and referees. He’s really a great guy with a wonderful family and a pleasure to get to know. So thanks for making this happen.”
A special THANK YOU TO FELIPE PERRONE!!!
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inducts newest Class in San Diego
The annual induction ceremony is the physical highlight of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. Thirty honorees (the largest number ever) gathered to induct 11 new honorees and applaud three award winners in San Diego. For the rest of the year, IMSHOF operates as an online virtual shrine dedicated to the history, memory, and recognition of the accomplished swimmers and contributors involved in marathon swimming around the world.
Through a constantly evolving website, daily Facebook posts, Instagram, newsletters, YouTube channel and public electronic library, IMSHOF inspires, educates, and promotes role models for all those who participate in the sport.
The most recent induction ceremony anchored a full weekend of activities including:
Friday: Several swimmers completed six-hour qualification swims at La Jolla; Three (including one of Wednesday) honorees completed the 18.6 km “Around Coronado Island” marathon swim. Others at the hotel enjoyed breakfast, a dip in the sea and lunch. Some joined the reception on a boat outside the Bahia Resort. Smaller groups met for casual dinners.
Saturday: Many joined the Mission Beach morning swim and drinks hosted by the local swimmers. The Executive Committee met for lunch. Others at the hotel enjoyed lunch and afternoon chats. Those outings were followed by the ceremony dinner and presentations.
Sunday: Many joined the morning swim at the resort. Some attended the Congress (issue discussions). Other attendees had smaller lunches and dinners.
The ceremony dinner sold out (the first time ever) with 130 individuals in attendance (the largest in the past 10 years). Five of the seven living inductees were present to accept on the stage: Bárbara Hernández Huerta, Chile; Alexander “Alex” Meyer, United States of America; Cliff Golding, Great Britain; Jacqueline McClelland, Ireland; and John Graeme West, New Zealand. Also present to accept: Carol Sing to receive the Dale Petranech Award for services to IMSHOF and Paul Asmuth to receive the Poseidon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
IMSHOF proudly welcomed three inductees from countries not previously represented: Chile, Paraguay, and Syria.
The 353 individuals and organizational Honorees represent the best of the marathon swimmers and conttributors – going back nearly 300 years
See the Ceremony booklet, videos and weekend pictures will soon be available at:
Class of 2026 San Diego | IMSHOF
Notes and Ceremony Attendees | IMSHOF
The ceremony for the Class of 2027 will be held in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, May 8, 2027.
ISHOF Chairman Bill Kent’s well-deserved star on Fort Lauderdale’s Walk of Fame is a day of fun, family, friends and celebration!
On Saturday, May 23, 2026, Our wonderful Leader, Dr. Bill Kent, Chairman of the Board of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, was celebrated in Fort Lauderdale as one of the newest Honorees on the Beach’s Walk of Fame. Pictures tell the story much better than we could. Everyone came out to celebrate Bill and then later his wife extraordinaire, Kim, put on an after party. Hats off to Bill AND Kim Kent! Thank you for all you do for ISHOF, Every Child and Swimmer, Horner and Fort Lauderdale!
To read more about Bill Kent, click here: https://ishof.org/ishof-board-creates-new-prestigious-award-to-honor-chairman-bill-kent/
or here: https://ishof.org/ishof-chairman-bill-kent-makes-aquatics-magazine-2025-power-issue/
Chief of Police, City Manager, Commission Glassman, Bill Kent, Vice Mayor Sorenson
Commissioner Glassman, Bill Kent, Vice-Mayor Sorenson
Commissioner Glassman with the Honorees, Bill Kent, Linda Carter, Jack Seiler, and Stacy Ritter with Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen
Honorees
ISHOF Board Members celebrating Bill Kent
Kim Kent and Commissioner Glassman
Commissioner Glassman and Bill Kent unveil the newest “Walk of Fame Honoree” Dr. Bill Kent!
“Let’s hear it for Dr. Bill Kent!”
Friends and family celebrating Bill Kent
Mike Dooley, Bill Kent, Eddy Sua, Mario Caprini, Casey McGovern
Bill Kent and Mike Dooley
The after Hall of Fame Celebration for Dr. Bill Kent
Celebrating the MAN! Dr. Bill Kent!