Class of 2013 Announced For The International Masters Swimming Hall Of Fame

FORT LAUDERDALE – The International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF) is proud to announce its class of inductees for 2013.  The group of eight outstanding individuals will be inducted at the annual ceremony to be held Friday evening, September 13th, at the Hyatt Regency, Orange County, in Garden Grove (Anaheim), California, in conjunction with the United States Aquatic Sports Convention.

The prestigious IMSHOF class of 2013 includes four swimmers, one diver, one synchronized swimmer, one water polo player and one contributor from four different countries:  the USA, Japan, Australia and Canada   

JUDIE OLIVER, of Canada, began competing in Masters Swimming in 1979 and has been in the Top Ten for 26 years. She set 25 FINA Masters World Records, five in long course meters in the butterfly and 20 in short course meters in the butterfly, individual medley and breaststroke. JENNY WHITELEY, of Australia, has been in the Top Ten for 18 years and has set 39 FINA Masters World Records, ten long course meters in breaststroke and one individual medley, and 29 short course meters in the breaststroke, freestyle, butterfly and individual medley. EDWARD CAZALET of the USA has set 18 FINA Masters World Records in the freestyle, I.M. and backstroke - eight long course and ten short course.  He began competing in 1987 and was ranked in the Top Ten for the next 18 years, until 2006.   HIROMU YOSHIMOTO, of Japan,has been in the Top Ten rankings 20 times. He set all of his 33 FINA Masters World Records in the breaststroke, for a total of 17 long course and 16 short course. 

USA Diver, FELIX GROSSMAN, has been competing in Masters Diving for five decades. He has competed in five World Masters Games: 1985, 1989, 2001, 2005 and 2009.  He has competed in 52 U.S. National Masters Championships. During this time, he has won 33 USA Masters Diving titles in eight age groups: 40-44 to 75-79 through 2012
USA Synchronized Swimmer, Holly Kyle has competed in Masters Synchronized Swimming since 1992.  She has earned 12 medals at the 2000 - 2006 FINA Masters World Championships: 11 gold and one bronze and has 44 medals from the U.S. Masters National Championships, 36 are gold.  

Honor Water Polo Player, MICHAEL “MIKE” HALEY of the USA has competed in every FINA Masters World Championship since 1996.  His record at the FINA Masters World Championships are six gold, two silver and two bronze, and has 20 UNITED STATES Masters National Water Polo Championships.

F.H. “TED” HAARTZ, Contributor of the USA, has participated in eight age groups since 1971 and has competed at every short course Masters National Championship since 1971 and every Masters Long Course National Championship since 1973. He has attended 33 USMS Conventions, beginning in 1974 and in 1976, he received the prestigious Ransom Arthur M.D. Award. As a Masters Swimmer, Haartz has set 16 world records, 12 of them in the breaststroke, three in the individual medley and one in the freestyle, but Ted is far better known for his volunteer service to Masters swimming in the U.S. and internationally

About IMSHOF
The purpose of the IMSHOF is to promote a healthy lifestyle, lifelong fitness and participation in adult aquatic programs by recognizing the achievements of individuals who serve as an example for others and who have participated in Masters programs through at least four different masters age groups.  The IMSHOF is a division of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please visit:  www.ishof.org

About ISHOF
The International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inc. (ISHOF), established in 1965, is a not-for-profit educational organization located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Recognized by FINA, the International Olympic Committee’s recognized governing body for the aquatic sports in 1968, its mission is to promote the benefits and importance of swimming as a key to fitness, good health, quality of life, and the water safety of all children and adults. For more information please visithttp://www.ishof.org

ISHOF ANNOUNCES Beatriz Esesarte Pesqueira as 2013 VIRGINA HUNT NEWMAN AWARD RECIPIENT

FORT LAUDERDALE - The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) today announced that Beatriz Esesarte Pesqueira will be the 2013 recipient of the Virginia Hunt Newman International Award.  Sponsored by Kiefer, a company that has been devoted to teaching swimmers of all skill levels since its founding in 1947 by Hall of Fame swimming great, Adolph Kiefer, this award annually recognizes outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions in the field of infant and young child swimming instruction in the name of the “Mother of Infant Swimming,” Virginia Hunt Newman.  The award will be presented on Friday evening, May 10th during the Paragon Awards Night at the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

“Adolph Kiefer and Associates is extremely proud to support the International Swimming Hall of Fame and this award,” said Al Irzyk, Kiefer’s President. “Associating our founder’s name with Virginia Hunt Newman, is another way for our company to support swimming and share our company’s legacy with future generations.”

In 1997 Beatriz was the lead organizer of the 4th World Congress of Baby Aquatic Education attended by 450 professionals from 23 countries, with presentations by 26 leaders in the field of baby and child psychomotor development in aquatics. Since then, she has focused on studying    and sharing information and knowledge with other professionals as a featured speaker at many conferences and workshops in numerous countries through the reach of the World Aquatic Babies & Children Network including bringing that knowledge to her beloved country and her city of Oaxaca.

Beatriz Esesarte Pesqueira is a Mexican educator who specializes in the role of aquatics in psychomotor development.  She is the founder and general director of Acuarela Natación Formativa in Oaxaca, México (Acuarela). Acuarela first gained attention as a result of Beatriz’s social work, in which she invited some of Oaxaca’s homeless and abandoned children – street children -- to experience water and take swim lessons. In just one year, these children reduced by 75% their use of prescription and non-prescription medications to treat various ailments.   She presented her findings at the 2nd World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC) in Los Angeles, California in 1993, and about her social commitment to providing access to swim lessons to children from all economic backgrounds, and not only to the privileged members of society. 

For tickets or more information, call 954-462-6536 or visit www.ishof.org/induction2013

About Virginia Hunt Newman

Virginia Hunt Newman has been called “The Mother of Infant Swimming.” She pioneered and focused worldwide attention on the non-forceful, non-traumatic method of teaching infants and preschool-age children to swim, earning great respect as an innovator in the field. Her first book, Teaching an Infant to Swim, published in 1967 was a bestseller published in England, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Japan. Her method of teaching swimming by distracting children from normal fears associated with learning has been emulated by thousands of instructors around the world.

 

About Adolph Kiefer & Associates

Gold medalist Olympic swimmer Adolph Kiefer founded Adolph Kiefer & Associates in 1947. As the official aquatics supplier to the 1948 U.S. Olympic Swim Team, the company introduced the first nylon swimsuit as a lightweight alternative to wool and cotton suits and a cost alternative to the silk suits of the time. Since then, Kiefer has provided the swim community with many innovative aquatic performance and safety products including the original Wave Eater racing lane, fully customizable starting blocks, lifeguard equipment and apparel, and a complete line of competitive swimsuits and swim goggles. Although now retired, Mr. Kiefer continues to dedicate his life to helping swimmers of all ages and abilities.

 

About ISHOF

The International Hall of Fame, established in 1965, is a not-for-profit educational organization located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Its mission is to promote the benefits and importance of swimming as a key to fitness, good health, quality of life, and the water safety of all adults and children.  It accomplishes this through operation of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, a dynamic shrine dedicated to the history, memory, and recognition of the famous swimmers, divers, water polo players, synchronized swimmers and people involved in life saving activities and education whose lives and accomplishments inspire, educate, and provide role models for people around the world.