{"id":505463,"date":"2022-05-19T00:03:33","date_gmt":"2022-05-19T07:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=505463"},"modified":"2022-07-01T13:28:20","modified_gmt":"2022-07-01T20:28:20","slug":"2022-ishof-paragon-award-winners-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/2022-ishof-paragon-award-winners-announced\/","title":{"rendered":"Paragon Awards Ceremony For 2022 Will Be Celebrated Friday, October 14th In Fort Lauderdale"},"content":{"rendered":"

The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is proud to announce the recipients of the 25th Annual Paragon Awards, sponsored by\u00a0Pentair Aquatic Systems<\/span><\/a>. \u00a0The Paragon Awards are presented annually to individuals or organizations for outstanding contributions to aquatics.\u00a0 This year\u2019s recipients are\u00a0Ellaine Cox<\/b>\u00a0for Competitive Swimming;\u00a0Al Beaird<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0for Water Polo; \u00a0Julie Ahlering<\/b>\u00a0for Diving;\u00a0Margaret MacLennan<\/b>\u00a0for Artistic\/Synchronized Swimming;\u00a0 <\/span>J. Arturo Abraldes, Ph.D<\/b>. for Aquatic Safety and Kent Williams, PPOA<\/b>, for Recreational Swimming. This year\u2019s awards will be held Friday evening October 14, 2022\u00a0 <\/span>during the ISHOF and Masters (MISHOF) Honoree Induction weekend, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.<\/p>\n

Make your plans now to attend October 15, 2022!\u00a0\u00a0Purchase your tickets TODAY!!!<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFor more than 20 years now,\u00a0Pentair\u00a0<\/span><\/a>has been honored to be associated with the International Swimming Hall of Fame in recognizing leaders in the aquatic industry who play a prominent role in the promotion of aquatics with the Paragon Awards\u201d, said\u00a0Jim\u00a0Drozdowski<\/b>, Institutional Aquatics Sales Manager for\u00a0Pentair Aquatic Systems<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe annual Paragon Awards is a spectacular event that celebrates the unsung heroes who make competitive and recreational aquatics possible.\u00a0 These are the people who save lives, promote water safety and further aquatic education around the world.\u00a0 We are so proud to recognize these important people at the International Swimming Hall of Fame through the sponsorship of Pentair every year,\u201d said ISHOF President\/CEO\u00a0Brent Rutemiller.<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About This Year\u2019s Paragon Award Recipients:<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
\"ahlering,

Photo Courtesy: Julie Ahlering<\/p><\/div>\n

Julie Ahlering \u2013 <\/b>Diving<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

St. Louis native, Julie (Capps) Ahlering was a four-time All-American Diver and Scholar Athlete for the University of Miami, coached by ISHOF Honoree, Tom Gompf and ISHOF Paragon Award winner, Steve McFarland.\u00a0 She was a finalist in over 25 national diving events including the Olympic Diving Trials.<\/p>\n

After college she returned to St. Louis and raised four sons, but diving was not at all forgotten.\u00a0 She was asked to become a FINA Certified Diving Judge and help provide needed expertise in the sport.\u00a0 In 2010 she became FINA certified and immediately became known as one of the best diving officials in the United States.\u00a0 She judged ten NCAA, ACC, PAC-12 Championships as well as three Olympic Diving Trials.\u00a0 <\/span>Ahlering soon became among the most respected international Diving judges in the World, judging FINA World Cups, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and she represented the United States as their Olympic Judge in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.<\/p>\n

Julie\u2019s love for diving and her dedication to Judging found a partner in arms with former Paragon winner, Cokey Huffman (2016).\u00a0 Together they, and other like-minded colleagues, established the United States Diving Judge Education and Certification Program.\u00a0 Today it is one of the top programs of its kind in the world.\u00a0 Ahlering\u2019s contribution to the sport of Diving and her commitment to fair play will continue to live on through this program and her example of giving back to the sport she loves!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"MacLennan-marge\"

Photo Courtesy: Canada Artistic Swimming<\/p><\/div>\n

Margaret MacLennan \u2013 <\/b><\/span>Artistic (Synchronized) Swimming<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Margaret MacLennan was the first female to be named as a member to the FINA Bureau (now FINA TSSC) in 1988 after she decided that synchronized swimming needed a presence.\u00a0 <\/span>It was her passion and her valuable skills that not only earned her a seat on the Bureau but allowed her to influence the advancement of FINA rules for synchronized swimming. Her political astuteness and diplomacy elevated the credibility and interest of synchronized swimming in a field of male-dominated aquatic sports. She worked tirelessly and consistently with the Bureau during her tenure and was well respected by her peers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span>She began as a long-time judge and volunteer in BC Synchro before she\u00a0 <\/span>became involved in the sport at the international level as a member of the formerly named FINA TSSC (Technical Synchronized Swimming Committee), from 1984 to 1988. Margaret lobbied long and strong with her cohorts to bring Synchronized Swimming to the world stage as part of the Olympic Games, as well as working with FINA to elevate the sport.\u00a0 <\/span>She served as the Technical Delegate for Synchro at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia and officiated at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Games as well.<\/p>\n

She began her involvement in synchronized swimming as a competitor with the Vancouver Amateur Swim Club and the Vancouver Synchronized Swim Clubs in the 1960s and finished second\u00a0in duet at the Canadian National Synchronized Championships. She went on to make her mark on the sport with her involvement first as a coach, students included, ISHOF Honorees, Michelle Caulkins and Helen Vandenburg, as an official and then serving on the boards of Synchro Canada and the Aquatic Federation of Canada.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Beaird\"

Photo Courtesy: MPSports.org<\/p><\/div>\n

Al Beaird \u2013 <\/b>Water Polo<\/em><\/p>\n

For 24 years, Al Beaird served as Executive Director for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). He was the first Executive Director chosen in 1992, when the MPSF was created and established to<\/span> serve the competitive needs of member institutions from the Big West, Pacific-10 (now the Pac-12) and Western Athletic Conferences, as well as other selected universities in the western United States; and to provide championships competition for Division I intercollegiate Olympic sports in a conference setting. The founding principles on which the MPSF was originally formed were to provide enhanced competition and championship opportunities for sports without conference affiliation; to contain the costs of competition; and to ensure the survival of endangered sports.<\/p>\n

The MPSF sports portfolio included, among other sports,\u00a0 <\/span>men’s and women’s water polo, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and women’s water polo. Currently the MPSF provides a conference home 85-100 teams from 35+ universities in nine states competing in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics. Since the inception of the Federation, MPSF teams have won 81 NCAA team titles…<\/p>\n

In addition to his position as Executive Director at the MPSF, Al was a member of NCAA Men’s Water Polo Committee 2000-2004 (committee chair 2001-2004) and chair of inaugural NCAA Men’s and Women’s Joint Water Polo Rules Committee 2004. Member National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and National Association of Sports Officials (NASO).\u00a0 <\/span>Al retired from MPSF in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"WilliamsK\"

Photo Courtesy: Aquatics International<\/p><\/div>\n

Kent Williams, PPOA \u2013 <\/b>Recreational Swimming<\/em><\/p>\n

Kent Williams literally wrote the book on swimming pool operations.\u00a0 He personally developed he program and wrote the textbook for the National Recreational Pool Association\u2019s Aquatic facility Operator’s program, starting in 1991 and he went on to continue to help shape the educational pool operational process. In addition, he founded and operated the PPOA, the Professional Pool Operators of America, to promote professionalism and recognition of swimming pool operators.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams goal was to bring professionalism to his industry. In fact, to be part of his 1,500-member organization, you had to be a graduate of a recognized pool-operator curriculum, an instructor or a pool-assigned environmental health specialist. \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re truly professional because they are fully certified,\u201d he would say. His PPOA membership stretched to Canada, Europe, Australia, Central America, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. His group aimed to recognize, acknowledge, train and refine the operators of institutional and public aquatics facilities throughout the Americas (and now the developed world).<\/p>\n

Now retired, due to health issues, Williams is proud of what he did for his industry and hopes what he began continues to grow.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Arturo\"

Photo Courtesy: Dr. Arturo Abraldes<\/p><\/div>\n

J. Arturo Abraldes, Ph. D. – <\/b>Aquatic Safety<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Arturo Abraldes is a fine example of a person that successfully mixes theory and practice in water safety, both national and internationally.\u00a0 <\/span>He has served in the field of lifesaving as an academic, author, researcher, lifeguard, instructor, sport coach, journal editor and conference facilitator for the last 25 years.\u00a0 His qualifications are both academic and vocational.\u00a0 <\/span>He received a Masters degree on Physical Education, Sport and Health Education and a Phd in Physical Education with a thesis on lifesaving.\u00a0 He holds 14 certifications in swimming, lifesaving, first aid, lifeguarding, instructor, coach, referee, and national assessor from seven organizations (Spanish Lifesaving Federation,\u00a0 <\/span>Galicia Lifesaving Federation, Rescue 3 International, Spanish Association Emergency, Spanish Swimming Federation, Spanish Lifesaving Referee Committee and Spanish Association Club Lifesaving), having practiced all these subjects.<\/p>\n

Like his studies, his work has always been related to lifesaving professionally.\u00a0 <\/span>After working for many years as a lifeguard and then sport lifesaving coach, he was instrumental in the formation of sports lifesaving of the Lifesaving Federation of Galicia, as the Secretary, Manager and Vice President at different times.\u00a0 <\/span>He also acts as a board member of the Lifesaving Federation of Galicia and Spanish Association of Lifesaving Clubs. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And with over 180 publications, Arturo is one of the most prolific water safety authors in the world.\u00a0 <\/span>He has co-authored over 20 lifesaving related books, numerous educational DVDs, and has been a speaker at national and international conferences.\u00a0 <\/span>For his contributions to the field of water safety he has been honored several times as well both locally and nationally.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Paragon Awards are part of ISHOF\u2019s 56th Annual International Swimming Hall of Fame and Masters Honoree Induction Weekend, October 14-15, 2022.\u00a0 For ticket information visit www.ishof.org or call 570 594-4367. \u00a0For more information about the Paragon Awards, https:\/\/www.ishof.org\/awards\/paragon-awards\/<\/a><\/p>\n

About the International Swimming Hall of Fame & Masters (MISHOF) Induction Weekend<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees include:<\/p>\n

International Swimming Hall of Fame 2022 Honorees<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Craig Beardsley (USA)<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Honor Swimmer<\/i><\/p>\n

Natalie Coughlin (USA)<\/a> –\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b> Honor Swimmer<\/i><\/p>\n

Marilyn Bell (CAN)<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013 Honor Open Water Swimmer<\/i><\/p>\n

Michael Klim (AUS)<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0 <\/span>Honor Swimmer<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Jon\u00a0Sieben (AUS)<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0 <\/span>Honor Swimmer<\/i><\/p>\n

Daichi Suzuki (JPN)<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u2013 Honor Swimmer\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew Mitcham (AUS)<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Honor Diver<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Ursula Carlisle (AUS)<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Honor Coach<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Peter\u00a0Huerzeler\u00a0(SUI)<\/i><\/b><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Honor Contributor<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Mirko Vicevic (YUG\/MON)<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0Honor Water Polo Player<\/i><\/p>\n

Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame Honorees<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Doris Steadman* (USA)<\/i><\/b> Masters Swimmer<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Jane Katz (USA) <\/i><\/b>Masters Contributor<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Edith Bohm (GER)\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Masters Swimmer<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Olga Kokorina (RUS)\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Masters Swimmer<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Shigehisha Sekikawa (JPN)\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Masters Swimmer<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Birte Hohlstein<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i>(GER)<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u00a0Masters Artistic Swimmer<\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Guenther Wolf (GER)\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Masters Water Polo Player\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n


\n<\/b><\/span>ISHOF Specialty Award<\/i><\/b><\/span>s – TBA<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n


\nThe Induction Weekend Schedule<\/b><\/h2>\n

Friday, October 14, 2022<\/b><\/p>\n

ISHOF Specialty and Paragon Awards Ceremony<\/p>\n