International Swimming Hall Of Fame Announces Induction Class Of 2010

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, May 6. LOCATED on Fort Lauderdale's magnificent beachfront since 1965, the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) announced the Honoree Induction Class of 2010. The 2010 Enshrinement will mark the organization's 46th year of honoring the greatest names in the history of the sports of swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo.

"With honorees from the USA, Australia, Germany, Russia, Hungary, the Philippines and Romania, the Class of 2010 is as impressive and as internationally diverse as any in the history of ISHOF," said Bob Duenkel, ISHOF's staff liaison to the selection committee consisting of over 150 international aquatic experts.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree Festival is a multi-day celebration of the enshrinement of the newest Hall of Fame Class. To be held in Fort Lauderdale, May 6 – 9, 2010 the festival includes a number of special public events featuring the Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday evening, May 8, 2010. Other major public events include the AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix (all day, May 6 – May 9), the Hall of Fame open water swim (Saturday morning, May 8) and the Paragon Awards (Friday evening, May 7).

Members of the Class of 2010 who will be inducted and enshrined in Fort Lauderdale, include Honor Swimmers Brooke Bennett (USA), Petria Thomas (Australia) and Franziska Van Almsick (Germany); Honor Synchronized Swimmer, Maria Kisseleva (Russia); Honor Open Water Swimmer, Paul Asmuth (USA); Honor Swimming Coaches, Murray Stephens (USA) and Tamas Szechy (Hungary); Honor Pioneer Diver, Larry Griswold (USA); Honor Pioneer Swimmer, Teofilo Yldefonso (Philippines); and, Honor Contributor, Cornel Marculescu (Romania).

Ticket information can be found on the Hall of Fame's website at ishof.org

About ISHOF
The International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. (ISHOF), established in 1965, is a not-for-profit educational organization located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its mission is to promote the benefits and importance of swimming as a key to fitness, good health, quality of life, and the water safety of all adults and children. It accomplishes this through operation of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, a dynamic museum and shrine dedicated to the history, memory, and recognition of the famous swimmers, divers, water polo players, synchronized swimmers and people involved in life saving activities and education whose lives and accomplishments inspire, educate, and provide role models for people around the world. For more information visit http://www.ishof.org

About the Class of 2010
Honor Swimmers:
Brooke Bennett (USA)

Three time Olympic gold medalist winning back-to-back 800m freestyle gold medals in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. 2000 Olympic gold medalist in 400m freestyle also winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the 1994 and 1998 World Championships.

Petria Thomas (AUS)
Australia's premier butterfly swimmer winning silver and bronze medals at the 2000 Olympic Games and gold medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in the 100m butterfly and as a member of both the 4 x 100m medley and freestyle relays. A seven times medal winner at the 1998 and 2001 World Championships, she also won five Commonwealth Games medals in 1994, 1998, and 2002.

Franziska Van Almsick (GER)
Four-time Olympic swimmer winning a total of 10 medals from the Games of 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004. One World Record in the 200m freestyle. 21 European Championship medals from 1993 to 2002. Three-time European Swimmer of the Year, German Sportswoman of the Year and 1993 World Swimmer of the Year.

Honor Synchronized Swimmer:
Maria Kisseleva (RUS)

Russia's first Olympic gold medalist in synchronized swimming with teammate Olga Brusnikina in duet and team competition in 2000 Sydney. 2004 Olympic gold in team event. Never lost a duet or team competition from 1996 to 2004. Three-time World Championship gold medalist. Six-time FINA World Cup medalist.

Honor Open Water Swimmer
Paul Asmuth (USA)

The most dominant marathon swimmer on the professional circuit during the 1980's. Seven World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation Titles. Competed in 59 International Marathon Swimming Races. First around Manhattan Island under seven hours. Most wins at La Traversee du Lac Memphremagog and Canada.

Honor Swimming Coaches
Murray Stephens (USA)

Coach of Olympic swimmers for over 36 years at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club where he is club founder and owner of one of the first successful private, coach-owned facilities in the nation. Personal coach to three swimmers winning 5 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze Olympic medals. As Head Coach, he has mentored NBAC coaches to develop 12 other Olympians who have won 19 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze medals, including medals won by Michael Phelps. Under his leadership, NBAC has become one of the finest Olympic development clubs of the modern era.

Tamas Szechy (HUN) (deceased)
Known as the "Swimming Pope". Coach of swimmers winning 15 Olympic, 21 World Championship and 30 European Championship medals, of which more than half were gold. Developed a three-macro cycle training program dividing the calendar into three segments adopted by other coaches world-wide.

Honor Pioneer Diver
Larry Griswold (USA) (deceased)

A world famous acrobat, diver, inventor, author, coach and teacher known as "The Diving Fool" who performed his slap-stick, comedy diving act everywhere from county fairs to the Moulin Rouge in Paris, two world fairs and command performances for royalty. Collaborated with George Nissen to invent the trampoline, used in his act, helping him to become known as the "World's Greatest Comedy Diver".

Honor Pioneer Swimmer
Teofilo Yldefonso (PHI) (deceased)

Competed in three Olympic Games winning bronze medals in the 200m breaststroke in 1928 and 1932, the first Philippine athlete to win an Olympic medal and the only one to win back-to-back medals. Trained with no coach in the river by his home. Died in World War II.

Honor Contributor
Cornel Marculescu (ROM)

Executive Director and chief administrator of FINA, the international governing body for the Olympic swimming sports, from 1986 to present, has developed the organization into one of the finest and most successful Administrative Sport Bodies in the world. Fluent in six languages. A former Romanian water polo player, coach, referee, Marculescu serves as FINA's representative at sports forums throughout the world.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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