In This Issue
ISHOF needs your help!
2014 Induction
2014 Paragon Awards
2014 Marathon Hall of Fame
FINA Water Polo Conference
New Aquisitions
New Books of Interest
Re-discovering Joan Brown
The 31 most exotic pools
ARRIVAL OF 2013 YEARBOOK
The 2013 Yearbook - Friendship through Sports arrived yesterday at ISHOF and will be sent to our membership shortly. 
To receive your hard copy in the mail, become a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Sign up here.
To read our online version of the yearbook, click here:
Boston Globe Review of the SaferSwimmer
Good equipment can make a big difference in your comfort level and performance, whether you are a new triathlete or a seasoned pro. 

 

Click here to order your SaferSwimmer.

VISITORS

 Jenny Thompson pictured in front of her own exhibit. Jenny was in town for a pediatric convention.

Bruce Wigo with Hungarian Water Polo star Rajmund Fodor,  who played on the gold medal team in the 2000 & 2004 Olympics.

Alexander Milliot, grandson of ISHOF Honoree Alex Jany.

ISHOF honoree Maureen O'Toole and her team from Northern California looking at Maureen's display at ISHOF. 

 

Umberto Zamora, recipient of the Trofeo Latinamericano Cabeza De Palenque. 

    
ISHOF Honoree Kay Curtis nephew Gaylord Whitney admires a painting of his famous aunt. 

Jeff Farrell's sister visits ISHOF with friends.
PASSINGS

 Wally Pryor 

Feb. 29, 1928 - March 1, 2014

An Austin native, Pryor is a pioneer of water polo in Texas. He was a standout swimmer and All-American water polo player for Tex Robertson's Longhorn teams from 1948-1950 and produced and directed the famous Aqua Carnivals of the '50s. After serving in the U.S. Army, he returned to Austin to coach the Austin Aquatic Club. As a genius at marketing, Pryor organized the Texas Open Swimming Championship and helped to establish TAGS. He served 35 years as president of the Working Exes for Texas Swimming - the organization that convinced UT to build the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Pryor was long known as the "Voice of the Longhorns" as announcer for all UT sports from 1953-2002 and he served the Austin community for many years as a television producer & popular emcee for charity events and fund raisers.

 

Gloria Thompson

If you start a sentence about diving in Richmond, it likely will end with the name of Gloria Pollard Thompson. Ms. Thompson, who died at age 90 on Feb. 1 in a Henrico County assisted-living facility, was the "mother" of age-group diving in the United States and a swimming and springboard diving coach for 72 years.  More:   
CARTOON
Issue: # 2
March/April 2014
  
 
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PLAN TO ATTEND ISHOF's
 2014 HONORS WEEKEND
 FORT LAUDERDALE - JUNE 13-15
Make plans to attend the 50th Annual ISHOF Honors Weekend, June 13 - 15th, 2014. As the entire complex is slated for demolition in the 4th quarter, this will be the last class to celebrate their enshrinement at the ISHOF Museum in Fort Lauderdale. Come to the ISHOF Museum as it has been for the past 50 years.  Along with an international celebration and reunion for Olympians who participated in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, this is an event not to be missed.
The Class of 2014 includes Swimmers Grant Hackett (AUS), Agnes Kovacs (HUN) and Tom Malchow (USA); Diver Peng Bo (CHN); Synchronized Swimmers Penny and Vicky Vilagos (CAN); Water Polo Players Carlo Silipo (ITA) and Karen Kuipers (NED); Coaches Charlotte Davis (USA) and Jozsef Nagy (HUN, USA, CAN, SPN); Open Water Swimmers Jon Erikson  (USA) and Sandra Bucha (USA) and Contributors Bruce Hopping (USA), Norman Sarsfield (GBR) and Chuck Wielgus (USA)  
2014 Paragon & ISHOF Awards
2014 Paragon Award recipients:  
COMPETITIVE SWIMMING - SID CASSIDY 
COMPETITIVE DIVING - CYNTHIA POTTER 
COMPETITIVE SYNCHRO. SW. - MIWAKO HOMMA 
COMPETITVE WATER POLO - OLGA PINCIROLI 
RECREATIONAL SWIMMING - WALLY JAMES 
WATER SAFETY - ROBERT "BOB" BURNSIDE 
For full release, click here:
 
Irving Davids-Capt. R. Wheeler Memorial Award
MELISSA CUNNINGHAM (AUS)
Lifetime Achievement Award
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN (USA)
G. Harold Martin Award
BARRY SHAW (USA)
2014 Special Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Induction in Scotland
During a twenty six period between 1970 and 1995, no open water swimmers were considered for inclusion in the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Since that date, the selection processes failed reduce the number of well qualified Open Water Swimmer from being so honored from the nomination lists.  To compensate those deserving athletes, the International Swimming Hall of Fame has authorized a special selection for the "truly great" Open Water Swimmers completing during this era. 

A special ceremony will be held on September 21 and 22, 2014 in Loch Lomond, Scotland to induct the following Open Water Swimmers: Judith van Njis (NED), Claudio Plit (ARG), David Yudovin (USA), Mercedes Gleitze (GBR) and George Young (CAN).
More information to follow shortly.
FINA Water Polo Conference in Mexico

 
At the conclusion of the FINA Water Polo Conference, in Cancun, Mexico, FINA president Dr. Julio Maglione presented Kiril Todorov, President of Mexican Swimming Federation, with a reproduction of a recently discovered image of a legendary Mayan swimmer, created for FINA by ISHOF artist in residence, Jean Ermann Desimot. 
New Aquisitions- The Henning Library

Treasurers From France

 

The Joy of Water, My Life-My secrets-My Style 

By Jean Taris

 

An original copy of the 1937 Autobiography of Jean Taris, perhaps the most successful French swimmer ever, with seven world records, 34 National Titles, and a very artistic feature film about him by famed director Jean Vigo to his credit.  Taris was France's "superman in the water".  To learn more, click here:

 

L'Art de Nager le Crawl
By Johnny Weissmuller

 

The French edition of the American classic, by Weissmuller and journalist Clarence Bush, is richly illustrated with photos of the author at the famous Piscine Molitor, a pool beautifully recreated for the Hollywood film, "Life of Pi".  





Early 20th century sheet music with songs about swimming.

 

 

 

New Books of Interest
Tex:The Father of Texas Swimming 
by Ross Lucksinger

  

An officer in the original Navy Seals, an Olympian, a national champion, the first swim coach at the University of Texas, and the founder of the nation's biggest summer camp, Tex Robertson was a rare individual who pushed the bounds of what one man can accomplish in a lifetime. From his creation of the now-ubiquitous flip turn technique as a swimmer at Michigan to his numerous inventions at Camp Longhorn (including the Frisbee), the effects are still felt today from the life of a man who grew up in frontier West Texas and became, by sheer force of will, an influential figure in state history.

To have a major impact in just one area of expertise would be impressive in itself, but Tex Robertson impacted swimming, the U.S. military, wildlife  conservation, coaching, youth camping, and - through his connections with multiple Presidents - politics. Read more:

The book is available on Amazon.

Re-discovering Joan Brown

San Francisco painter Joan Brown achieved international

recognition when she was scarcely out of her teens. A competitive swimmer who swam in the San Francisco Bay for most of her life, her body of work includes many with swimming themes. In 1972 Brown began training with Hall of Fame swimming coach Charlie Sava, who became a life-long friend and mentor, and a frequent subject of her paintings, including this portrait, which will soon be on display at the ISHOF museum.  Click here to learn more about the art of Joan Brown.
The 31 most exotic pools on earth 

LifeBuzz compiled a list of some of the most awesome swimming pools on earth . Which one is your favorite?  

 Infinity pool in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands resort
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Dear Friends of ISHOF,

 

We hope you enjoy our newsletters. To continue our work, we need your support more than ever. Please join us as a member and/or make a donation so we can continue to preserve the past, educate the present and be an inspiration for future swimmers.  Every dollar makes a difference. 

Please, click here to sign up online NOW!

 

Sincerely,

Bruce Wigo

President/ CEO 

The International Swimming Hall of Fame