Frenchman Stéphane Lecat enters the International Swimming Hall of Fame as only the 26th Open Water Swimmer in ISHOF’s 58-year history, with 19 FINA World Cup professional race victories to his credit. His three world championships came in the 1997, 1999 and 2000 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series. Lecat raced at the highest level for 14 years, starting in 1994 at the FINA World Championships in Rome.
Lecat was one of the few racers of his generation to beat ISHOF Hall of Famer, Bulgarian Petar Stoychev, in the big races. He set the speed record in the 32km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean at 6 hours 22 minutes and 45 seconds. This remains the record more than 20 years later – in one of the most storied marathon races in the sport.
ISHOF Ceremony and Ticketing Information
He swam the English Channel in 8 hours and 19 minutes in 2003, the ninth fastest crossing of the Channel for a male swimmer in the direction of England to France.Lecat returned in 2022 to the Maratón Acuatíco Río Coronda, an annual 57km professional marathon swim, now part of the FINA Grand Prix Series down the Coronda River in Santa Fe, Argentina. Lecat was a four-time winner in front of crowds exceeding 100,000. In 2022, on his return trip, he coached a physically disabled swimmer to the finish in 8 hours and 52 minutes – a first ever.
Lecat has coached and managed in France since 2002. His pool swimmers have achieved Olympic medals in Athens 2004 and Rio 2016. He was the French National Team Open Water Program Director, and led the French Open Water team to many World Championships and Olympic medals. The French Open Water Team placed consistently in the top five globally over several years – winning in 2019.
Lecat was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2007 and received The Irving Davids/Captain Roger W. Wheeler Memorial Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2018 for his contribution to the administration of open water swimming.
Come join Lecat and this year’s spectacular class of 2023 in Ft. Lauderdale. If you cannot join us, consider making a donation. To make a donation, click here: https://www.ishof.org/donate/
This year’s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:
International Swimming Hall of Fame 2023 Honorees
Bob Bowman (USA)……………..…….…….….….…Honor Coach
Chris Carver (USA)………..……………..…….………Honor Coach
Cesar Cielo (BRA)…………..….…….…..….……Honor Swimmer
Kirsty Coventry (ZMB)…………..…….……..….Honor Swimmer
Missy Franklin (USA)…………..…..……..……… Honor Swimmer
Nalalia Ischenko (RUS)…….…Honor Synchronized Swimmer
Kosuke Kitajima (JPN)……….……………….……Honor Swimmer
Heather Petri (USA)……..………..…… Honor Water Polo Player
Michael Phelps (USA)………………..….…………Honor Swimmer
Wu Minxia (CHN)……………………..…….………..……Honor Diver
Sam Ramsamy (RSA)…………….………….…..Honor Contributor
Stephane LeCat (FRA).……………Honor Open Water Swimmer
Trischa Zorn (USA).………..………..Honor Paralympic Swimmer
ISHOF 58th Annual Honoree Induction weekend
Friday, September 29, 2023
5:00 – 6:00 PM – ISHOF Awards and Welcome Cocktail Reception – Outside Veranda
Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 / 954.525.4000
6:30 – 8:30 PM – ISHOF Aquatic Awards presented by AquaCal and the ISHOF Specialty Awards Presentation – Caribbean Ballroom
Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 / 954.525.4000
Tickets: $100.00
Saturday, September 30, 2023
5:00 – 6:00 PM Cocktails at the 58th Annual ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies
The Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 / 954.462-02
6:30 – 8:30 PM – the 58th Annual ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremonies Presentation
The Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. 8th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 / 954.462-0222
Tickets: $275.00 / $375.00 / $475.00 – Will be available through Ticketmaster beginning in mid July
HOTEL INFORMATION
Host Hotel: Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
To make reservations click here: https://book.passkey.com/e/50527236
Upscale retreat with private beach access, two pools, four restaurants, full-service spa and oceanside bar. Location of the Friday evening awards ceremony. ¼ mile south of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
3030 Holiday Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 525-4000
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $229 per night,
($39 Resort fee – Guests can opt out if not interested in resort amenities)
Additional Hotel Option:
Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach
Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony
440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 (954) 524-8733
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 – $189 per night
Honoree Ceremony September 29-30, 2023: Last Day to Book: Friday, August 31, 2023
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE AND TICKETS
or Call 570.594.4367
