Cyndi Gallagher was inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the 2021 ASCA World Clinic last Thursday. This year, the annual clinic was hosted in Orlando, Florida from September 15th-18th, 2021.
After being with the UCLA Bruins Women’s Swim Team for thirty-one seasons, Gallagher recently decided to retire from her head coaching position. In those seasons, Gallagher led the Bruins to fifteen Top 15 appearances, and her swimmers acquired over two hundred All-American honors. Many great swimmers have emerged under Gallagher’s coaching including NCAA and USA National Champions, National Team members, and Olympians such as Kim Vandenberg.
Gallagher herself was also a Bruins star. Before she graduated from UCLA in 1983, Gallagher broke multiple school records.
Megan Oesting, who remembers seeing Gallagher’s name on the high school record boards, introduced the honoree. Oesting called Gallagher a trailblazer in the sport and a role model for what a strong woman should be.
Gallagher couldn’t be honored in person, however, because of her commitment to coaching the DC Trident in the International Swim League. Coach Gallagher gave her acceptance speech from her hotel in Naples, Italy. The 2021 honoree made a point to thank many- including the past women inducted into the ASCA Hall of Fame. Gallagher also reflected on what she has learned as a coach, including the important role of being a mentor.
Watch Cyndi Gallagher’s full induction here:
