International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum (ISHOF) is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests and serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around the world. Exhibits include ancient art and both reproductions and original art depicting famous moments in swimming history (from ancient times to modern), swimwear, and civil rights, as well as memorabilia and artifacts belonging to persons who have promoted or excelled in aquatics. It is recognized by FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) as the official hall for the aquatics sports.
The ISHOF museum building | |
Location within Florida | |
Established | November 23, 1964 |
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Location | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
Coordinates | 26.116281°N 80.107569°W |
Type | Hall of fame |
Website | www |
History
In 1965, Johnny Weissmuller became the president of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, that with this charge in 1970 was present at the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica and was introduced to Queen Elizabeth. ISHOF was incorporated in Florida as a non-profit educational corporation on November 23, 1964, with Buck Dawson, as its first executive director.[1] Nine months later—in August 1965—a 50-meter pool, 25-yard diving well, and warm-up pool were completed. This initial part of the Swimming Hall of Fame complex was dedicated on December 27, 1965, witnessed by 4,500 swimmers and other spectators from all fifty states and eleven foreign countries. In 1968, the then-Swimming Hall of Fame became the first world-recognized hall of fame in any sport, when the 105-nation FINA Congress met at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City and endorsed the hall of fame as an "International Swimming Hall of Fame". On June 16, 1969, the organization's Articles of Incorporation were amended to reflect that the name was changed to "International Swimming Hall of Fame".[2] The first members of the hall of fame—a class of twenty-one—were inducted in 1965. See the full list of all honorees since 1965
In 2017, the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) merged its operations with Swimming World Magazine. The combination provided the International Swimming Hall of Fame with an outreach arm, that Swimming World can provide, to the athletes, coaches and volunteers around the world in aquatics. Brent Rutemiller will become the Chief Executive Officer overseeing the merger.
Mission
The Hall of Fame is dedicated to promoting the benefits of swimming as both an essential life skill and sport, through the operation of the ISHOF museum and by immortalizing the achievements and contributions of those who have distinguished themselves in the following six branches of aquatic sports:
- competitive swimming
- water polo
- diving
- open water swimming (a.k.a. marathon swimming)
- synchronised (artistic) swimming
- masters
ISHOF inducts outstanding practitioners of these sports into the Hall of Fame as honorees in one of several categories:
- Swimmer
- Diver
- Water Polo Player
- Synchronized (Artistic) Swimmer
- Open Water/Marathon Swimmer
- Masters (adult) athlete
- Coach
- Contributor (to aquatics)
- Pioneer
Members
See also
- Aquatic Hall of Fame and Museum of Canada
- List of Swimming World Swimmers of the Year
- List of FINA Athletes of the Year
References
- Litsky, Frank (April 21, 2008). "Buck Dawson, 87, Promoter of swimming, is dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
- "History of Swimming in Fort Lauderdale and the International Swimming Hall of Fame". International Swimming Hall of Fame. Retrieved 23 October 2017.