{"id":231531,"date":"2016-12-04T08:10:11","date_gmt":"2016-12-04T15:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=231531"},"modified":"2017-09-28T10:02:02","modified_gmt":"2017-09-28T17:02:02","slug":"swimming-world-presents-the-10-most-impactful-people-of-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/swimming-world-presents-the-10-most-impactful-people-of-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimming World Presents The 10 Most Impactful People of 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

10 Most Impactful People of 2016:<\/h2>\n

“Our sport is graced with great people. As appropriate for this time of year, I want to recognize 10 people who are making an impact in our sport. Thanks to the following for their contributions and inspiration.” —\u00a0Brent Rutemiller<\/strong>, publisher of\u00a0Swimming World Magazine.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. Richard McLaren sent ripples through the entire Olympic movement just weeks before the opening ceremonies of the Rio Olympic\u00a0Games when he issued his independent report on systematic doping in Russia. His findings proclaimed that it was \u201cbeyond a reasonable doubt\u201d that there was systematic doping going on in Russia and that it went to the highest levels of government.<\/p>\n

\"Canadian<\/p>\n

2. Lilly King captured world attention when she wagged her finger at the image of Yulia Efimova on a television monitor. Efimova had\u00a0just won her semifinal race and started to shake her index finger in the air. King responded by doing the same at the television. The world interpreted it as calling out Efimova on her doping history, setting a showdown between the two in the finals. King went on to win and said, \u201cIt just proves that you can compete clean and still come out on top.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"lily-king\"<\/p>\n

3. Simone Manuel became the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in swimming after tying Canada\u2019s Penny Oleksiak\u00a0in the 100 freestyle. She accepted the mantel of being a role model, but put it into perspective when she said, \u201cI want to be an inspiration, but I would like there to be a day when it is not \u2018Simone, the black simmer.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Swimmer<\/p>\n

4. Shirley Babashoff was back in the news as a spokesperson for clean athletes. Her Olympic story from 1976 took on new life when\u00a0USA Swimming featured her and her teammates in a documentary called The Last Gold this summer. Her call for change in the sport gained national attention when the California Senate passed a resolution urging the IOC to address the 1976 Olympic wrongs. Babashoff continues to remind us all that justice in sport should have no limitations.<\/p>\n

\"Shirley-Babashoff-2016\"<\/p>\n

5. Chris Lundie, founder and producer of TakeItLive.com, continues to be the pioneering backbone to streaming swimming events over\u00a0the internet. He was the main force behind streaming major competitions for USA Swimming, USA Diving, USA Masters and USA Synchronized Swimming.<\/p>\n

\"Chris-Lundie\"<\/p>\n

6. Dave Durden continues to show outstanding leadership on an NCAA level as head coach at Cal, and on the Olympic level as an\u00a0assistant coach for the USA Men\u2019s Olympic team. His athletes at Rio brought home nine medals, including four by Nathan Adrian and three from Ryan Murphy, who set a world record in the 100 back leading off the medley relay.<\/p>\n

\"Durden-head-medium-484949\"<\/p>\n

7. Bess and Joe Auer from Florida Swim Network took a giant leap into the world of mainstream media by starting an AppleTV channel called \u201cYour Swim Channel.\u201d The media model opens a new category in the swimming industry.<\/p>\n

\"bess-auer\"\"Joe-Auer\"<\/p>\n

8. Eric and Carrie Snell are founders of a family-run business called SwimmersBest.com. It is a unique training and equipment\u00a0company in which every level of the company is run by their offspring. All aspects\u2014from product development to engineering, production, sales, marketing, pat- ent, trademark and graphic design\u2014are accomplished \u201cin-house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Carrie-and-Eric\"<\/p>\n

9. Josh Davis continues to influence parents and athletes around the country as a motivational speaker\u00a0and instructor for his camps and day clinics. The five-time Olympic medal- ist is a master clinician and motivator. His message through Joshdavis.com is always\u00a0positive and educational.<\/p>\n

\"josh-davis\"<\/p>\n

10. Mike Unger has been a major force behind almost everything that has USA Swimming\u2019s name attached to it for the past 23 years.\u00a0Unger successfully oversaw the U.S. Olympic Trials and worked closely with NBC during the Rio Olympics this past summer. Stepping outside of his comfort zone, Unger\u2019s crowning achievement was being the co-producer of The Last Gold documentary.<\/p>\n

\"mike-unger-2\"<\/p>\n

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\"dec-16-cover\"<\/p>\n

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