Page 86 - Celebrating 50 Years of the International swimming Hall of Fame

Remembering the ISHOF Class of 1968

When the press release hit the national newspapers and wire came along. Kojac had a long
services on April 9, 1968, the BIG story was that Benjamin and distinguished career as
Franklin was to be enshrined in the new Swimming Hall an MD in New Jersey with
of Fame. But while Franklin was the headliner, there were no regrets.
14 other STARS and LEGENDS of swimming and diving
history. Besides the year of Franklin, it might also have been Right: George Kojac - The only
man to beat Weissmuller and he
dubbed the year of the backstrokers as the class included four beat him twice.
Olympic backstroke gold medalists, including two who won
the event in consecutive Olympic Games. Here’s a look back Dr. Sammy Lee
at the incredible class of fifty years ago. They are all well Honor Diver (USA)
worth remembering and emulating.
The inspirational true story
of Dr. Sammy Lee, the
Jeff Farrell - Honor Swimmer (USA) son of Korean-American
“In the long history of American Olympic swimming glory”, immigrants, who overcame
wrote the legendary Olympic filmmaker, Bud Greenspan, “ discrimination to realize
there is one little known story that stands out above the rest both his father’s desire that
for courage and the ability to endure.” That story belongs to he become a doctor and his
Jeff Farrell and you can read all about it in his wonderful own dream of becoming an Olympic champion diver is told
autobiography “My Olympic Story: Rome 1960.” In 1968, in wonderful children’s book by Paula Yoo - Sixteen Years
Jeff returned from working for a non-profit-NGO in Thailand in Sixteen Seconds. Dr.
to receive his honor in the Hall of Fame. After many years Sammy Lee stood just
away from the sport, Jeff joined Masters swimming and over five feet tall, but
earned a spot in the Masters Hall of Fame, a photo spread in he was one of the giants
Sports Illustrated and he is still competing today. of the aquatic sports
history. Growing up
Lee was just one of the
“colored” boys who
was allowed to use the
Dr. Lee was an ear nose and throat specialist. Brookside Plunge in
Pasadena, California on Wednesdays. That was “International
Day,” when Asian, black and Latino children were allowed
to swim. After they left, the pool was drained, bleached and
refilled so as not to contaminate the white families who were
entitled to use the pool the other six days of the week. His
L-R: Jeff receiving “Most Courageous Athlete of 1960”, Jeff incredible story of rising above
putting his hands and feet in cement with help from Buck Dawson. bigotry and discrimination to become
a two-time Olympic champion,
George Kojac - Honor Swimmer (USA) army captain, medical doctor, diving
In 1927, George Kojac was a 17 year coach of Greg Louganis and much
old Ukranian-American, high school more, is another story that will be
student at De Witt Clinton High forever told and remembered in
School, in New York City, when he the International Swimming Hall
became the first person to defeat the of Fame, and through buildings,
great Johnny Weissmuller. The next schools, programs and awards that
year, at the 1928 Olympic Games, have been named after him. Receiving the Sullivan Award
Kojac won two gold medals; one in
the 100 meter backstroke (1:08.2) and the other as a member Hendrika “Rie” Mastenbroek - Honor Swimmer (Holland/NED)
of the winning 800m freestyle relay. He was projected to At the 1936 Olympic Games there were only five women’s
be the successor to Weissmuller, but after graduating from events and Rie Mastenbroek won medals in four of them -
Rutgers in 1931, where Kojac never lost a collegiate race, three gold and a silver. One of her gold medals, in the 400m
he enrolled at Columbia Medical School, gave up swimming freestyle, she attributed to a snub by race favorite Ragnhild
and his chance to defend his Olympic and world records in Hveger of Denmark. Before the final, Hveger offered pieces
Los Angeles in 1932 for medicine. His Olympic and world of chocolates to her teammates and competitors, but not to
records held until another teenager named Adolph Kiefer Rie, who used the slight as motivation. Trailing until the
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