{"id":449195,"date":"2020-10-13T13:54:33","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T20:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=449195"},"modified":"2020-10-13T15:55:13","modified_gmt":"2020-10-13T22:55:13","slug":"craig-beardsley-joins-one-in-a-thousand-campaign-the-hall-of-fame-connects-all-of-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/craig-beardsley-joins-one-in-a-thousand-campaign-the-hall-of-fame-connects-all-of-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Craig Beardsley Joins ‘One in a Thousand’ Campaign, “The Hall of Fame Connects All Of Us”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pan American Games gold medalist and former 200 butterfly world record holder\u00a0Craig Beardsley\u00a0<\/strong>has joined the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s “One in a Thousand” campaign, which is designed to help the Hall of Fame thrive during the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

“I donate because when I was a kid, we would go to Fort Lauderdale and the Hall of Fame was there,” Craig Beardsley said. “As a young athlete, it was burned into my brain the importance of something like this! The importance of having an international swimming hall of fame to acknowledge not only the athletes but everyone in aquatic sports.<\/p>\n

“People should know of our sport and the people that came before them and what they did to get the sport to where it is today. We all are on the shoulders of giants. For me, it was the 72 and 76 Olympic teams<\/a> that kicked it off for me.<\/p>\n

“Swimmers are a unique group of people and we are a family and whenever you meet a competitive swimmer, there is an instant connection and bond. You meet someone and go, ‘hey you’re a swimmer?’ and next thing you know there are a million things you’re talking about. It makes the world a better place to have similarities and the same things we experience. It’s a bond that lasts through your lifetime. I think the Hall of Fame is a big part of that – it is part of the glue that actually holds us all together. I love the fact that even though I can’t make every banquet, I can read the newsletters and hearing who is getting inducted and who gets an award. It keeps us engaged at a different level, to see what our friends are doing.<\/p>\n

“The Hall of Fame for me always goes beyond just swimming. It means a lot more to me. That’s why I donate all the time because I’ve developed friendships within the organization and it means a great deal to me. I don’t swim Masters but I am involved with Swim Across America so I stay engaged. That’s what the hall of fame does! It keeps us connected around the world which I think is really important. The swimming bond lasts a lifetime.”<\/p>\n

Join the One in a Thousand Club by helping ISHOF on a monthly or one-time basis.<\/p>\n

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