{"id":473774,"date":"2021-05-25T12:01:15","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T19:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=473774"},"modified":"2021-05-25T18:21:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T01:21:56","slug":"hall-of-fame-honoree-jesse-vassallo-joins-ishofs-one-in-a-thousand-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/hall-of-fame-honoree-jesse-vassallo-joins-ishofs-one-in-a-thousand-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Hall of Fame Honoree Jesse Vassallo Joins ISHOF’s One in a Thousand Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

1978 World Champ and 1997 Hall of Fame Inductee\u00a0Jesse Vassallo\u00a0<\/strong>has joined the One in a Thousand campaign, which is designed to help the Hall of Fame prosper during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

“I believe in keeping history,” Vassallo said. “To me it is a huge honor to be a part of it and I wouldn’t want that to ever go away. I want it to grow and it’s really nice to see it being rebuilt and recharged.”<\/p>\n

Vassallo, who grew up in Puerto Rico and moved to Miami when he was 11, has a rich history with the facility.<\/p>\n

“For my big meet, we would drive up here to the Hall of Fame. It was always to come up here. I used to look through the cracks because it seemed like every time we came up, it was closed! We would look through the long windows and read as much as I could. I remember getting the chance to go inside and looking at the wall with all the cartoons and drawings on it. It was very inspiring and I wondered what it would be like to be in there. To me, it was a great surprise when I got inducted. Being part of the boycott and not making the 1980 team…the ultimate goal for everybody is a gold medal, and to not be there I thought (getting in the hall of fame) wasn’t going to happen. I was very happy when I did.”<\/p>\n

\"groundbreaking-ceremony\"

Jesse Vassallo (far right) at the Hall of Fame Aquatic Complex groundbreaking ceremony. Photo Courtesy: International Swimming Hall of Fame<\/p><\/div>\n

Vassallo, who still lives in nearby Pompano Beach, coaching the Pompano Piranhas, still keeps in touch with the Hall of Fame facility updates, and was even a guest of honor for the groundbreaking ceremony<\/a> in April 2019.<\/p>\n

“It’s super exciting. I always try to keep informed with what was happening and for so many years, we didn’t know whether it was going to leave or stay or were they going to tear it apart or rebuild? It was very exciting to see the city committed to rebuild that pool and the rest of it. It’s great to see it’s going to have a second life. South Florida brings a lot of people because of swimming and all the 50m pools get packed in the winter time. I think with the Hall of Fame making some noise, it’s going to bring even more good swimmers.<\/p>\n

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

\"ONE<\/a><\/p>\n