{"id":121104,"date":"2015-01-26T13:04:10","date_gmt":"2015-01-26T20:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=121104"},"modified":"2015-01-26T15:52:35","modified_gmt":"2015-01-26T22:52:35","slug":"polar-bear-swim-classic-honors-memory-masters-swimmings-max-von-isser-photo-gallery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/polar-bear-swim-classic-honors-memory-masters-swimmings-max-von-isser-photo-gallery\/","title":{"rendered":"Polar Bear Swim Classic Honors Memory Of Masters Swimming’s Max Von Isser (Photo Gallery)"},"content":{"rendered":"

TUCSON \u2013 Max Von Isser was one of the most beloved figures in Arizona Masters Swimming. For many decades, his artwork graced not only T-shirts designed for the state championships, but for the monthly newsletters that showed a talent that was overshadowed by his many accomplishments in the pool.<\/p>\n

Von Isser passed away November 23 at 95 years old in Green Valley, Ariz., and on Sunday, Ford Aquatics Masters paid tribute to his memory at the 25th annual Polar Bear Swim Classic. Von Isser had submitted designs for the T-shirts given to participants at the meet for many years, and this year\u2019s T-shirt featured a Von Isser design from 2007.<\/p>\n

\"Masters<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Jeff Commings<\/p><\/div>\n

Von Isser was more than just a talented artist. He set several U.S. Masters Swimming national records in his career, and his name still graces six of them. Five of them are in the 80-84 age group: 100 SCY breast (1:31.10), 50 LCM breast (46.37), 100 LCM breast (1:45.99), 50 SCM breast (45.40) and 100 SCM breast (1:43.54). He also holds the 50 SCM butterfly national record in the 85-89 age group with a 43.35.<\/p>\n

Besides being a national champion at four USMS nationals, he was also the world champion in the 50-meter butterfly at the 2006 world championships with a 58.00. Von Isser had competed in a few Polar Bear Swim Classics. His final one came in 2008, where he swam the 50 and 100 breaststrokes at 88 years old.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s swim meet was highlighted by the appearance of two NCAA breaststroke national champions. Eetu Karvonen, who won the 100 and 200 breast twice at the NCAA Division II level, is now training for a spot on Finland\u2019s Olympic team. He posted times of 25.32 in the 50 breast and 55.22 in the 100 breast. Annie Grevers, who won the 100 breast as Annie Chandler at the 2010 NCAAs, posted a respectable 1:02.90 in the 100 breast and 29.13 in the 50 breast.<\/p>\n

Polar Bear Swim Classic Masters Swimming Photo Gallery<\/h2>\n