2010 Honor Open Water swimmer Paul Asmuth has joined ISHOF’s “One in a Thousand campaign,” designed to help the hall prosper during the difficult financial times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As an honoree it wasn’t so much about me, it was about the people who helped me be the athlete that I was,” Paul Asmuth said. “I think that’s what is really special about the Hall of Fame, it is recognizing all those people that made all those special athletic achievements but the real specialness to me is all the people that help you get there. Seeing the joy of my parents and coaches faces – I think they were happier than me. That is a real contribution that the Hall of Fame makes is that it not only honors the athletes or coaches or administrators, it is really honoring all the people that helped them achieve whatever they gave to make aquatics sports special.
“That is why I contributed. I want to see the Hall of Fame continue to do that.”
Join the One in a Thousand Club by helping ISHOF on a monthly or one-time basis.
For larger corporate sponsorships and estate-planning donations, please contact us at customerservice@ishof.org.
Paul Asmuth – 2010 Honor Open Water Swimmer
Paul Asmuth ascended on the world scene in the 1980’s becoming the most dominant racer on the professional circuit and one of the world’s greatest professional marathon swimmers.
Growing up in the sunshine state of Florida, he swam his way through school as an age-group swimmer with the Fort Myers Swimming Association and continuing in college at Auburn and Arizona State with career stops at Mission Viejo, Bolles Sharks and Santa Barbara Swim Club. Along the way, he had some of the world’s greatest coaches: Ginny Duenkel, Gregg Troy, Eddie Reese, Ron Johnson, Mark Schubert, Larry Leibowitz and Charles “Red” Silvia. With his own mental toughness, he grew to become one of the world’s greatest professional marathon swimmers.
One of the first to utilize speed techniques from the pool into open water, Asmuth became the marathon swimmer to beat on the professional circuit during the 1980’s. He won the 23 mile Around the Island Swim in Atlantic City an unprecedented eight times in water temperatures ranging from the low 60’s F to the 80’s F.
He has a record six wins in the 27 mile Traversee Memphremagog, in Canada, holding the record from 1980 to 1994. He won the granddaddy of marathon swims, the Lac St. Jean crossing in Roberval, Quebec two times at 21 miles and once at 40 miles setting a record of 17h 6m in 50 degree water. He won the 20 mile Capri-Napoli Swim three times and holds the record at 6h 35m. He won four times and set the course record for the 50 degree F 14 mile Les Quatorze Mille de Paspe-biac Swim at 5h 35m. All totaled he has seven World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation Titles.
Paul Asmuth’s solo swims include three English Channel crossings including the men’s record (8h 12m), the only swimmer to complete the 31 mile Nantucket to Cape Cod Massachusetts and the first person under seven hours around 28 mile Manhattan Island.
The International Swimming Hall of Fame wants to know if you are one in a thousand? We think you are! Show how special you are and become a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s “One In A Thousand” Club. Help keep the International Swimming Hall of Fame moving forward toward a new vision and museum by joining now!
During these unprecedented times, the ISHOF Board is calling on every member in the aquatic community to make a small monthly commitment of support to show how special you are and how special the International Swimming Hall of Fame is to everyone.
“Our goal is simple. If we get 1,000 people to simply commit $10, $25 or $50 per month, we will generate enough revenue to go beyond this Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis.” – Bill Kent – Chairman of the ISHOF Board
“Those that believe in our vision, mission, and goals can join us in taking ISHOF into the future and be a part of aquatic history.” – Brent Rutemiller – CEO and President of ISHOF
Since 1965, ISHOF has been the global focal point for recording and sharing the history of aquatics, promoting swimming as an essential life-skill, and developing educational programs and events related to water sports. ISHOF’s vision for the future is to build a new museum and expand its reach by offering its museum artifacts digitally through a redesigned website.
The ISHOF Board of Directors is calling on all members of the aquatics community to make a small monthly commitment to show their dedication to aquatics and how special the International Swimming Hall of Fame is to everyone.
