International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees By Year (2008)

At the tender age of eight, this youngster started swimming at the Roeselare Swim Club. He was coached by his father for the first eight years of his life. Once he reached a certain level, his father thought he needed a more experienced coach and they found a Dutchman by the name of Ronald Gaastra. But even when he was competing at the elite levels, he did not have ideal training conditions.

Anita Nall joined the swim team at the age of five following, in the footsteps of her two older sisters. By age 12, she set age group records and at 14 years old notched an American record. Swimming for Coach Murray Stephens at the legendary North Baltimore Aquatic Club, she developed a technically-perfect breaststroke using the new-style stroke of the time.

Jill Savery grew up in Concord, California, as an all-around athlete in gymnastics, swimming, diving, baseball and ballet. But, by the age of 10, she decided where to put her energy: synchronized swimming.

Born in Perth, Australia, in 1961, Shelley Taylor-Smith was so passionate about swimming that she would sneak off to bed each night in her bathers. Not overly talented and diagnosed with crippling scoliosis, her determination overruled what her doctors predicted and her swimming took off to heights which no one but herself anticipated.

Wherever Jon Urbanchek goes, honors follow him.

Australia has produced one of the greatest female water polo players to ever play the game. If not for injuries incurred while playing her beloved netball, the world may have never known what a talent Debbie Watson was in the pool.

There are marathon swimmers, long distance racers and open water swimmers, but Herman Willemse was all of these.