International Swimming Hall of Fame Ceremonies Postponed

Photo Courtesy: ISHOF

The International Swimming Hall of Fame announced today that it will postpone its 2016 Induction Weekend, originally scheduled to take place in Santa Clara, Calif., June 3-5, to a date still to be determined in either October or November.

The cause of the change is necessitated by a conflict with the Copa America Soccer tournament, says ISHOF CEO Bruce Wigo.

“Subsequent to our announcement last year,” says Wigo, ”the City of Santa Clara and Levi Stadium were selected by CONCACAF, the continental governing body for association football (soccer) in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, to host the Copa America. We have tried to work things out, but realize that the impact of these games and the crowds they will attract will just be too disruptive for our attendees as the events were scheduled to take place in the same general area as Levi Stadium.”

The ISHOF considered other options in San Jose and other nearby cities, but as Santa Clara is the new home of the organization, it remains committed to host its events in the City and now must wait until after the Olympics. ISHOF expects to make an announcement confirming a new date once the NFL schedule is published in April – so the organization won’t face the same situation in the fall.

The Class of 2016 to be honored includes Swimmers Aaron Peirsol (USA), Camille Muffat (FRA) and Dara Torres (USA); Divers Dmitry Sautin (RUS), and Guo Jingjing (CHN); Synchronized Swimmer Elena Azarova (RUS); Water Polo Team: The 3 X (2000, 2004 & 2008) Olympic gold medal winning Hungarian team (HUN); Open Water Swimmer Larisa Ilchenko (RUS); Marathon Swimmers: Desmond Robert “Dez” Renford (AUS) and Monique Wildschut (NED) Coach Bob Bowman (USA); Contributor Sir Peter Heatly (GBR); Pioneers, Simeon Boychenko (RUS), Horst Gorlitz (GRD/ITA/FRG), Frank Gorman (USA), Hilda James (GBR), and Leonid Meshkov (RUS).

ISHOF contributed this report.

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