A new chapter in Swimming History was written last week at the NCAA Women’s D1 Championships when Simone Manuel, Lia Neal and Natalie Hinds swept the 100 yard freestyle. (Photo courtesy Trevor Freeland)
ISHOF’s Chair of the Board, Donna de Varona, was recently recognized by Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal, as a Champion whose Drive, Determination and Political dexterity has made a difference for millions of athletes. A great honor for a great lady.
The Paragon Awards are part of ISHOF’s 51st Annual Hall of Fame Honoree Weekend,June 19-21, which will be held in Santa Clara, Calif. for the first time. Buy tickets here:
This year’s Paragon Award recipients and their categories are:
COMPETITIVE SWIMMING – JULIE O’NEILL
COMPETITIVE DIVING – JIM STILLSON
COMPETITIVE SYNCHRO SW. – MARY ANN REEVES
COMPETITVE WATER POLO – DAN SHARADIN
RECREATIONAL SWIMMING – LORI THOMPSON
WATER SAFETY – DR PETER WERNICKI
ISHOF ANNOUNCES THE 2015
John K. Williams, Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award, Presented by S.R.Smith
Fort Lauderdale -The Adapted Aquatics Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is pleased to announce that Dr. Sam Britten, will receive the 2015 the John K.
Williams Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award. The Award, presented by S.R. Smith, a world-leading manufacturer of commercial and residential swimming pool deck equipment
headquartered in Canby, Oregon, will be given to Dr. Britten in conjunction with ISHOF’s 51st Annual Honoree Weekend, on Friday, June 19th, in Santa Clara, California.
Fort Lauderdale – The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Buck Dawson Author’s
Awards: For Non-Fiction category – Jeff Farrell, My Olympic Story: Rome 1960. For Technical works – Sheila Taormina, Swim Speed Strokes for Swimmers and Triathletes. In the Children’s
category – Barb Rosenstock, Ben Franklin’s Big Splash – the mostly true story of his first invention. This award is presented by ISISHOF in the name of William “Buck” Dawson, ISHOF’s founding Executive Director, to authors of works that positively promote and educate people about swimming.
Fort Lauderdale – The Awards and Recognition Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame is pleased to announce thatJohnny and Cindy Johnson, of Tustin, Calif., are the recipients of the 2015 G. Harold Martin Award, for long and exceptional leadership, insight and dedication to the water safety of children and the cause of making Every Child A Swimmer.
The Award will be presented to the Johnsons in conjunction with ISHOF’s 51st Annual Honoree Weekend, on Friday, June 19th, in Santa Clara, California. Read full release:
At 87 years of age Hall of Famer Greta Andersen is still teaching swimming at her Swim School in Southern California. Hear her tell her story and watch her in action.
Greta Swim School
Andy Coan’s Road To Recovery
Imagine waking up one day with a little tingling in your toes and the tips of your fingers. You might wonder a little about it, but shrug it off. But if a few days later you began noticing a weakness and a bit of klutziness in your limbs, you would definitely be concerned. Fast-forward a few days, and you’re lying in a hospital bed unable to move any muscle below your neck, and the doctors tell you there’s a chance your lungs will shut down too, and you would be terrified. That’s what happened to Andy Coan a few months ago. Before that, he was a tremendously fit man in his mid-fifties, who looked like he could still swim a 100 freestyle in world-record time, just as he did as a high-schooler in 1976. His body had totally failed him, and he had absolutely no idea what to expect from this strange and savage disease called Guillain-Barre, which attacked his nervous system. Fortunately, he remembered that another swimmer, Rowdy Gaines, had gone through the same ordeal years before. We were able to track him down, and Rowdy gave Andy two things: useful information about what to expect, and-more importantly-hope. Andy is planning on attending the 1975 National Team Reunion that will be part of ISHOF’s Enshrinement Weekend, June 19 – 21 in Santa Clara.
Swim Across America is very proud to announce a collaborative project in conjunction with the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF) to benefit the City of Hope Cancer Hospital and Research Center. Please join us for the inaugural Catalina Relay Challenge and help us “Make Waves to Fight Cancer” in the process! Click here to register or donate:
Passings
Kim Welshons
of Carlsbad California passed away March 5, 2015 in her home surrounded by her family and friends after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Kim is survived by her Mother, Kathryn Achelis and her sister, Kris Bennett. She is preceded in death by her father and her brother, Robert Welshons and Kip Welshons.
Kim was born in California to Kathryn and Robert Welshons. She grew up in Santa Clara with her sister, where they were both active in gymnastics and swimming. Synchronized swimming became the sisters’ passion and they spent their youth in the pool, practicing, competing and achieving world class championship status. More:
Kim got inducted into ISHOF in 1988 and returned to ISHOF regularly for the annual induction cermonies. She will be missed by everyone here!
Kathie Luecker
Kathie Luecker, a principal in Lincoln Aquatics of Concord, California (lincolnaquatics.com) passed away January 27, after a year-long battle with cancer. A family owned business, Lincoln has been a long-time supporter of ISHOF. To make a donation the the Kathie Luecker Memorial Association of Aquatic Professionals Scholarship Fund, Click here:
Chuck Hines Passes AwayChuck served on the AAU Water Polo Committee for the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games and was responsible for recruiting Bob Helmick, who rose to President of FINA, into the AAU. Chuck was the recipient of the 2014 Paragon Award for water polo. Read more:
Dear Friends of ISHOF!
I hope that you will consider joining us for the 51st Annual ISHOF Enshrinement Weekend – and our first in Santa Clara. It promises to be one of the best in our history, with many Olympians and Sports Stars from our sports glorious past and and present, some of whom will be competing in the ARENA/USA Swimming Pro series. We will also be presenting our plans for the new ISHOF Museum and Hall of Fame within Santa Clara’s new aquatic center. It is an event not to be missed – so order your tickets now and ensure your attendance at this history making event.
I am sad that the ISHOF is no longer in ft lauderdale