Heather Simmons Carrasaco first synchronized swimmer from USA to be inducted into ISHOF in 13 years
Heather Simmons-Carrasco (USA) was a vital member of the first Olympic gold medal awarded for the team event in synchronized swimming. Follow those Atlanta Games, a majority of the USA team stayed together and were undefeated in international team competition. Prior to 1996, Heather and team USA won a total of seven gold medals in major international competitions, including the Olympics, FINA World Championships and FINA World Cups. Heather began and ended her 18-year artistic swimming career under the auspices of Chris Carver and the Santa Clara Aquamaids. Her USA team golds also included the Pan American Games, French Open, Swiss Open and the Pan Pacs. With the Aquamaids, Heather also won four USA National Team championships as well as the team event at the French and Mallorca Opens.
Learn more about Heather Simmons Carassco 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
WHAT: 2026 ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremony
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.
City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis praises ISHOF in his monthly newsletter
Photo credit City of Fort Lauderdale
March 2026
Mayor Dean Trantalis, City of Fort Lauderdale
The transformation of the International Swimming Hall of Fame is set to be built alongside the redeveloped Aquatic Center, while the new THRIVE Arts District has begun bringing fresh life to Progresso Village through art, commerce and adaptive reuse. Both projects point to the same commitment. Fort Lauderdale is investing in places that strengthen identity, expand opportunity and create lasting value.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame has long held an important place in Fort Lauderdale’s story. It is part of our beachfront and part of our history and connects Fort Lauderdale to the global swimming community.
Now, the second phase of its modernization will soon get underway. The museum portion of the complex is expected to begin its $220 million transformation this summer following the City Commission’s unanimous approval of its design. The reimagined destination is targeted to open in late 2028.
Plans call for a larger and more elegant International Swimming Hall of Fame museum, a family-friendly aquarium, a rooftop restaurant with panoramic waterfront views as well as space for events and exhibits. An elevated promenade will strengthen the public experience from the beach toward the Intracoastal.
We accomplish this update while maintaining a sense of place at the complex. The approved concept was scaled to a more intimate structure, preserving the skyline and protecting the visual prominence of the Aquatic Center and its iconic dive tower. After all, progress should not compete with identity, but reinforce it.
What a great way to bookend the accomplishments we have already completed on this historic peninsula. It was only a few short years ago that we undertook a massive overhaul of the aquatic center. We upgraded pools, built new grandstands, improved spectator amenities and added the now-famous 27-meter dive tower.
The renovated aquatic center and the new ISHOF will be a great combination. We are restoring the city’s standing as an international venue for swimming and diving and enhancing the opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
A revitalized Hall of Fame can do more than celebrate elite achievement. It can introduce young people to aquatic history. It creates more reasons for residents to return and for visitors to stay longer. This is the kind of investment in community that makes sense.
While the Swimming Hall of Fame represents Fort Lauderdale rebuilding one of its most significant public assets, the THRIVE Arts District reflects investment in a different but equally important kind of strength: neighborhood energy, local enterprise and adaptive reuse.
Ferry Weertman to be inducted as Open Water Swimmer as part of ISHOF Class of 2026
Ferry Weertman (NED) is a two-time Olympian, winning the gold medal in the 10km open water swimming event at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. He claimed his World title in the 10k FINA World Championships in Budapest (Lake Balaton), Hungary in 2017, after taking silver in 2015 in Kazan. Weertman became the first man to win both the Olympic and World titles in Open Water Swimming. He is a two-time FINA Open Water Swimmer of the Year (2016 & 2018).
For the first time in ISHOF’s history, a husband and wife team will be inducted together into ISHOF. Ferry Weertman and Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Honor Swimmer) were married in 2022 and will both be inducted as part of the Class of 2026.
Learn more about Ferry Weertman 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
WHAT: 2026 ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremony
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.
ISHOF Board Member Merle Liivand selected to Schwarzenegger Climate Institute
ISHOF Board Member Merle Liivand has just shared that she has been chosen by the Mr. Schwarzenegger climate institute as one of the most Impactful Women in Climate Space !
“It is not everyday we can have a Swimmer getting attention of he and he’s team ! I can also share that with his team we are working on to inspire people to move more and wellness but thanks to my background we want to bring in the wellness through the water ! ” said Merle.
ISHOF May 16, 2026 Honoree Induction ~ location changed to just a few miles north
The International Swimming Hall of Fame is very excited to host the Honoree Induction Ceremony back in Fort Lauderdale in 2026. Unfortunately, we have had to change the location of the Saturday, May 16th, Honoree Induction. It was originally slated to be held at the host hotel, the Embassy Suites, 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale. The space is not large enough to accommodate our needs so we are moving ONLY the Saturday, May 16, Honoree Ceremony to the War Memorial Auditorium, 800 Northeast 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304, PH: 954.835.7080. The War Memorial Auditorium is only three (3) miles north of the hotel and very easy to locate. For those of you who attended the 2023 Honoree Induction Ceremony at the Parker, the War Memorial is in the same location.
The Friday, May 15th Awards and Masters Induction will still be held at the Embassy Suites.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to meg@ishof.org or call 570.594.4367
Happy Birthday to 2026 Honor Diver Tania Cagnotto from Italy
Tania Cagnotto (ITA) competed in five Olympic Games, eight World Championships, eight World Cups, 31 World Series and 54 FINA Diving Grand Prix’s. Her performance was progressive, getting better each year beginning in 1999, gaining results in the European Junior Championships, and reaching the top in 2016 at the Rio Olympic Games with a silver and a bronze medal in the springboard events. Her 3-meter synchronized team was the best in Europe with eight synchro 3-meter gold medals together with teammate Francesca Dallapè and second in the world only to the Chinese teams.
Learn more about Tania Cagnotto of Italy 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
What U.S. Olympians won gold in the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics? There are a few Swimmers that made this list.
Barry Werner, List Wire
Wed, March 11, 2026 at 3:08 PM EDT·
1 min read
Fifty years ago, the United States was celebrating its bicentennial. North of the border, in Montreal, the 1976 Summer Olympics were held. Team USA won 34 gold medals, and some of those names resonate to this day. Overall, Team USA finished third in the medal count behind the Soviet Union and East Germany. Who were the USA Olympians in 1976 that came home with gold?
Mike Bruner: 200M butterfly
Interior of the magnificent swimming pool built in Montreal in preparation for the 1976 Olympic Games.
Bruce Furniss: Men’s 200M freestyle
British Royals Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II wave to crowds from the back of their car as they tour the Olympic Village.
Men’s 200M freestyle
John Naber: 100M and 200M backstroke
USA swimmers Peter Rocca and John Naber with their silver and gold medals for 100m backstroke, and Roland Matthes of East Germany with his bronze medal.
Jennifer Chandler: 3M springboard
The stadium scoreboard during the opening ceremony of the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Donald Haldeman: Shooting, Trap
Trap competition at an Olympic Games.
Brian Goodell: 1,500, 400M freestyle
Projections cover the pool ahead of the men’s 400-meter individual medley final.
1,500, 400M freestyle
John Hencken: 100M breaststroke
A look at the pool inside Lucas Oil Stadium which is set to host the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Lanny Basham: 50 meter rifle, three positions
General view during men’s 50m rifle three position final competition.
50 meter rifle, three positions
Matt Vogel: 100M Butterfly
100 meter butterfly swim.
Swimming relay: Men’s 4 X200M freestyle
John Naber stands in the pool and reacts to setting a world record.
Phil Boggs: 3M springboard
A general view as competitors warm up on the 10-meter platform and 3-meter springboard before U.S. Olympic Diving Team Trials.
Swimming relay: Men’s 4X100
American swimmer John Naber during the 1976 Montreal Olympics, at which he won four gold medals.
Edwin Moses: 400M hurdles
Edwin Moses running a lap of honor at the Montreal Olympics after winning the final of the 400 meters hurdles final. pi
Mac Wilkins: Discus
Mac Wilkins prepares to do the discus.
Edmund Coffin: Individual eventing
Eventing Jumping.
Equestrian: Team eventing
American actor and singer Telly Savalas (center) is amongst the spectators at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, July 1976.
Jim Montgomery: 100M freestyle
Americain swimmer Jim Montgomery.
Rod Strachan: 400M individual medley
Swimmers dive into the pool during prelims for the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials.
Swimming relay: Women’s 4X100M freestyle
A look at the pool set to host the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for USA Swimming.
Men’s basketball
Summer Olympics basketball final between USA and Yugoslavia in Montreal.
Arnie Robinson: Long jump
Andy Sythe waters the long jump pit prior to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field.
Darrell Pace: Archery, men’s individual
General view of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada.
Luann Ryon: Archery, women’s individual
A view of the living quarters designed for the athletes at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Bruce Jenner: Decathlon
Bruce Jenner of the USA celebrates during his record setting performance in the decathlon in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada.
Track and field: Men’s 4X100M relay
American athletes Steve Riddick, Harvey Glance, John ‘Lam’ Jones (partially obscured behind Glance), and Millard Hampton, the United States men’s 4×100 meters relay team.
Track and field: Men’s 4X400M relay
A runner holds a baton before starting a race.
Leon Randolph: Flyweight boxing
A detail image of the timekeeper ringing the bell to signal the beginning of a round.
Howard Davis: Lightweight boxing
Howard Davis of the USA in action during a bout against Tzvetan Tzvetkov of Bulgaria.
Ray Leonard: Light welterweight
American light welterweight boxer Sugar Tay Leonard jubilating after winning the final of his boxing tournament.
Michael Spinks: Middleweight boxing
Michael Spinks holds his hands up in victory after he retains his IBC heavyweight title by beating Larry Holmes.
Leon Spinks: Light heavyweight boxing
American Leon Spinks knocks down Sexto Soria of Cuba, winning the gold.
John Peterson: Freestyle wrestling, 82KG
USA wrestler John Peterson holds his opponent’s hands on the podium of the wrestling freestyle 82 kg competition.
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: USA Olympians who won gold medals in 1976 Summer Olympics
Ryan Lochte ~ Florida Gator ~ to be inducted with Class of 2026 as Honor Swimmer
photo courtesy: World Aquatics
by: John Lohn
From the moment Ryan Lochte made his Olympic debut for the United States at the 2004 Games in Athens, he became a critical cog of American success on the international stage. As a four-time Olympian (2004-2016), Lochte obviously possessed the talent necessary to flourish at the elite level.
But the Floridian also owned another key attribute: Belief. Package those traits together and it’s no wonder that Lochte is now an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
“I believe in myself,” Lochte said. “A lot of people look at Michael (Phelps) and think he can’t be beaten. That’s not me. I know I can beat him. That’s the competitive edge that I have. I never feel like I’m going to lose, no matter who I’m racing. I always feel like I can win.”
Lochte’s portfolio is stunning, thanks to 12 Olympic medals (six gold), 27 medals from the World Championships and 38 medals from the World Short Course Championships. He is one of the greatest collegiate swimmers in history and stood out in both the long-course and short-course pools.
While his pure talent and work ethic certainly elevated Lochte to the top of his sport, his mental toughness and belief in his abilities played equally critical roles on his road to Hall of Fame status.
Learn more about Ryan Lochte 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.
Throwback Thursday ~ When the Casino Pool and the New Hall of Fame Pool stood side by side
For a short time back in 1965 and early 1966, the beautiful Casino Pool and the Hall of Fame Pool, aka the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, stood side by side or back to back, depending on how you looked at it. There are not many of those amazing photos; to see the contrast of the two pools. The Casino built by famed Fort Lauderdale architect Francis Abreu, who built many of the homes in and around Fort Lauderdale, which if you grew up in town, its a style you can’t help but love.
The city’s original beach structure, built in about 1915, called “casino” was a story wooden structure which contained dressing rooms and a dance floor, but no pool. Promoted by a group of Fort Lauderdale businessmen led by local promoter Commodore A.H. Brook, the new Casino and pool was widely regarded as a means of lifting the city out of the depression which had followed the collapse of the land boom. It was designed by Abreu and constructed by building contractor John Obegon at a cost of $118,000 according to this 1930 account. A 1928 Ft. Lauderdale Daily News newspaper article which announced the building’s opening, however, placed the cost at $125,000.
The municipal complex included an Olympic-size pool 60 by 165 feet, and three to 12 feet in depth. A story in the Fort Lauderdale Daily News claimed “the pool is filled several times weekly with 420,000 gallons of filtered salt water pumped by three wells from more than 20 feet of rock and shell and sand. The chlorinating system is one of the best in the south.” The municipal building also included a wading pool for children and hundreds of lockers for visitors.
35,000 people attended the opening ceremonies and the accompanying swim meet, which was presided overby City Commissioner Will J. “Cap” Reed.
In the ensuing decades, the Casino lived up to its promise as the center of beachfront activities in Fort Lauderdale. Beginning in 1935, it hosted the annual Collegiate Aquatic Forum, a Christmastime college swim meet which introduced vacationing college students from around the country to the attraction of Fort Lauderdale. The Casino remained a popular location for competetive swim meets for visiting tourists and for local citizens until it closed in 1965. It was subsequently demolished to make room for the Swimming Hall of Fame complex which opened that same year.
Which one did you like better? The Casino Pool with the Spanish style architecture or the new modern Swimming Hall of Fame?
Rebecca Adlington and husband Andrew Parsons celebrate birth of daughter
Photo Credit: 2018 ISHOF Induction
One of our favorite people ever, Becky Adlington, who we inducted in 2019, recently gave birth to daughter, Thea Joy Parsons on February 28, 2026. Thea joins sister Summer, and brother Albie! Congratulations to the whole family.
Below is Becky’s Instagram post after the birth of her and husband Andrew’s daughter:
“What a rollercoaster this whole experience has been. Three years, two miscarriages, 39 weeks carrying our magical rainbow girl, and 87 hours in hospital. 💜
Thea Joy Parsons arrived on 28th February, the very same day my nana, Joyce, passed away. A true full circle moment of life. Joy is a nod to her, and we know Thea will bring us all so much joy.
We are so incredibly happy she is home and healthy. I know so many of you are still waiting for your rainbow, and we are thinking of you, sending so much love and support your way.”
All Photos Courtesy Rebecca Adlington
Congratulations to the Adlington/Parsons family from everyone at the International Swimming Hall of Fame! I think you’re due for another trip to South Florida.
Read Rebecca Adlington’s Honoree bio here: https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-rebecca-adlington/