International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatics Show Hosted by Santa Clara Aquamaids

Alice in Waterland themed exhibition to include Gold Medalist Swimmer, Cirque Du Soleil performers and Top Aquatics Professionals from Around the World

WHAT:         AS part of this year’s ISHOF Induction Weekend, and the celebration of aquatics, ISHOF and the Santa Clara Aquamaids will bring back the the Water Shows so popular in years gone by with “Alice in Waterline”.  Performed to honor this year’s class of inductees, which includes US Swimming Greats Dara Torres and Aaron Peirsol, the Hungarian Men’s National Water Polo Team, and Russian Synchronized swimmer Elena Azarova, the show will feature performances by  the Aquamaids, Cirque Du Soleil (including World synchro champions Bill May and Christina Jones) and internationally known comedy diving team of Dana Kunze’s Watershow productions. Other aquatics professionals from around the world, including a secret guest gold medalist swimmer, will be in attendance to promote water sports. Organized by the Aquamaid’s award-winning head coach Chris Carver, the exhibition will feature intricate and exquisite routines that incorporate plots and themes from Lewis Carroll's famous children’s novel Alice in Wonderland.

WHEN:         Saturday, October 29, 2016
11:45 a.m.

WHERE:       Santa Clara International Swim Center

2625 Patricia Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95051

WHY:            Currently located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the International Swimming Hall of Fame is planning to relocate its world-renown museum to the proposed Santa Clara International Swim Center. One of the features of the new facility will be an aquatic stadium capable of serving as an ideal venue for bringing back the water shows popular in the era of Esther Williams. Alice in Waterland will provide a glimpse of what is envisioned for the Santa Clara International Swim Center.

Media:         Swimmers and coaches will be available for media interviews after the show.

                        For more information or if you are interested in covering this exhibition please contact Tina Walker at Tina@singersf.com or (415) 227-9700.

Tickets:        Contact Meg Keller Marvin at meg@ishof.org or 570-730-2546.

INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME Featured on Travel Channel’s “Mysteries at the Museum”

Fort Lauderdale - Host Don Wildman examines the Host Don Wildman learns about a woman's quest for athletic glory in an episode filmed at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, in Fort Lauderdale. The story features the famous two-piece swim-suit on display at the Hall. Entitled “Swimming the Channel,” the episode is about Gertrude Ederle’s two-year quest to prove that a woman was capable of swimming the English Channel.  Check your local TV guide for time and channel.

Series Synopsis: Host Don Wildman scours the world’s greatest institutions, unearthing extraordinary relics that reveal the secrets from the past. From preeminent museums to unexplored archives, Wildman delves into extraordinary tales of intrigue, daring and wonder.

About the ISHOF

The International Swimming Hall of Fame & Museum was established in 1965 as a not-for-profit educational organization in the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was recognized by FINA, the international governing body for the Olympic aquatic sports, in 1968. The Mission of ISHOF is to PRESERVE and CELEBRATE aquatic history, to EDUCATE the general public about the importance of swimming as the key to water safety, drowning prevention, better health and a better quality of life, and to INSPIRE everyone to swim. ISHOF’s collection of swimming memorabilia, art, photos and films, along with archival documents and rare books in the Henning Library, make ISHOF the premier repository and academic research resource for swimming and aquatic history in the world.

For more information contact Bruce Wigo at 954-462-6536 ext. 201, or email bwigo@ishof.org

ISHOF ANNOUNCES LULU CISNEROS AS 2016 VIRGINIA HUNT NEWMAN INTERNATIONAL AWARD RECIPIENT

FORT LAUDERDALE - The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) today announced that Lulu Cisneros will be the 2016 recipient of the Virginia Hunt Newman International Award.  The award will be presented on Friday evening, October 28th during the Paragon Awards Night during the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s 52nd Annual Enshrinement weekend. Sponsored by Kiefer, the “Keep em Swimming” Company founded 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 career of Monterrey Mexico’s Lulu Cisneros has flowed from competitive swimmer, to teacher, to coach, to model swim school owner/director, to spokesperson around the world for joyful aquatic programs for babies and young children. 

Lulu began teaching at 13, was a state and national champion in 100 and 200 butterfly and as an exchange student swam for  Clearwater High School in Florida USA.

While working toward her degree in business administration she was became the first swim coach at University of Monterrey and lead her team to a national championship among private universities. There she met her husband to be, Mauricio Hernandez, during this time and together they founded Lulu Cisneros Educación Acuática in 1989.

A life changing trip to San Francisco for the 1991 National Swim School Association (NSSA) Conference made a big difference in her professional life. With much excitement she began making friends and exchanging teaching-learning strategies with other owners including Beatriz Esesarte from Oaxaca Mexico and Robert Strauss in Miami – all became her teachers. More travels to conferences, and exchanges followed.

In 1997, Lulu brought the World Aquatic Babies Congress conference to her home country which sparked much interest and growth in baby swimming. She followed that by hosting the 2002 Annual NSSA Conference to Monterrey – the only time it has been held outside the United States to date.

Lulu has conducted teacher training and certification courses as well as being a featured speaker at conferences in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Guatemala and Costa Rica.  In  1996, her swim school received the Nuevo Leon Quality Award (Mexico), being the first swim school to receive this honor. This gave Lulu the opportunity to meet with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. In 2002 Lulu received the Guiding Light Award from the USSSA, and in 2011 she received the Kelly Ogle Memorial Safety Award from the World Waterpark Association (WWA).

She still finds time to train as a masters competitive swimmer and is a state, national and world champion. Recently she participated in her first triathlon.

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

About the Kiefer Company

Gold medalist Olympic swimmer Adolph Kiefer founded Kiefer 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 low 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 national brand and Kiefer brand competitive swimsuits, swim goggles and training aids.   Although now retired, Adolph Kiefer continues to dedicate his life to helping swimmers of all ages and abilities. Visit www.kiefer.com for more information.

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.For more information contact Bruce Wigo at 954-462-6536 ext. 201, or by email bwigo@ishof.org

INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME TO RECOGNIZE HUNGARIAN MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 3-PEAT OLYMPIC WATER POLO CHAMPIONS

Santa Clara, Calif. - The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), recognized by FINA, the international governing body for the Olympic aquatic sports as its official Hall of Fame, has announced that TEAM HUNGARY will become the first team in the history of the Hall to be recognized as an Honoree, and that the seven members of the team will join 14 other athletes, coaches, contributors and pioneers - representing five aquatic disciplines (swimming, marathon swimming, synchronized swimming, diving and water polo) from ten different nations – as the CLASS of 2016, at ISHOF’s 52nd Annual Honors Weekend, October 28 - 30, 2016, in Santa Clara, California.  Masters of the ceremonies will be Olympic greats John Naber and Agnes Kovacs.

During a ten year period, from 1998 to 2008 the Hungarian men’s water polo team dominated international water polo like no other team in history, winning back-to-back-to-back Olympic titles - eating an Olympic “three-peat at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. The teams will be represented by three-time gold medalists Tamas Molnar, Tamas Kasas, Tibor Benedeck, Gergely Kiss, Peter Biros, Zoltan Szecsi, and Coach Denes Kemeny (already a member of the Hall of Fame) - and will be honored as the greatest team in water polo history.

The ISHOF Class of 2016 also includes American swimming greats Aaron Peirsol and Dara Torres, swimmer Camille Muffat (FRA); Diver Dmitry Sautin (RUS); Synchronized Swimmer Elena Azarova (RUS); Marathon Swimmers Desmond Robert “Des” Renford (AUS) and Monique Wildschut (NED); Contributor Sir Peter Heatly (GBR); Pioneers, Simeon Boychenko (RUS), Horst Gorlitz (GDR/ITA/FRG), Frank Gorman (USA), Hilda James (GBR), and Leonid Meshkov (RUS) and Gold Medalion recipient, Tod Spieker, (USA).

For tickets and event information, please visit www.ishof.org or call 954-462-6536.

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 preserve the history of swimming, celebrate the heroes, 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, and connect older generations of swimmers to youth.  For more information please visit http://www.ishof.org

HENRY POWELL TO RECEIVE ISHOF’S 2016 John K. Williams, Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award; Presented by S.R.Smith

Fort Lauderdale – The Adapted Aquatics Committee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is pleased to announce that Mr. Henry Powell, will receive the 2016 the John K. Williams Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award. The Award, presented annually by S.R. Smith, a world-leading manufacturer of commercial and residential swimming pool deck equipment headquartered in Canby, Oregon, will be given to Mr. Powell in conjunction with ISHOF’s 52nd Annual Honoree Weekend, on Friday, October 28^th, in Santa Clara, Calif.

“S.R.Smith has been a leader in making the water accessible to everyone for more than 80 years,” said Bruce Wigo, ISHOF President/CEO,” and we are grateful for the support of S.R.Smith in making this award possible.”

 “S.R.Smith is honored to recognize the lifelong contributions of Henry Powell, for his outstanding work and commitment to the aquatic health of people with disabilities,” said Dan Jorgensen, Olympic gold medal winning swimmer and S.R.Smith V.P. of Sales.

 Mr. Powell has been a leader and advocate for “Adapted Aquatic Programs” and physical activity programs for individuals with disabilities for close to 40 years. He is a graduate of San Diego State University with a Master Degree in Special Education from Cal State, Northridge.   A special education teacher for the San Diego Public Schools for more than 20 years, Mr. Powell has been active in a variety of programs for individuals with disabilities throughout his career. Armed with a WSI from the American Red Cross and an Adapted Aquatics Certification he served as a swim coach for the deaf in 1979 and was the United Cerebral Palsy Swim Coach from 1980-1998. He is a certified Adapted Aquatics Instructor with the Red Cross, and a certified Master Adapted Aquatics Instructor through the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education.  For the past ten years he has served as a ski and swim instructor for Adapted Sports Partners of North Country & Bretton Woods in New Hampshire.

About S.R.Smith: Since 1932, S.R.Smith has been a world leading manufacturer of commercial and residential swimming pool deck equipment. The company’s products are featured on some of the finest pools in the world. S.R.Smith’s comprehensive line of ADA compliant pool lifts provides mobility challenged people safe access to aquatic activities.  S.R.Smith is headquartered in Canby, OR with additional manufacturing in Portland, TN. For more information, visit: www.srsmith.com.

About the John K. Williams, Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award: Established in 1994 by ISHOF’s Adaptive Aquatics Committee, this award honors an individual who has made significant and substantial contributions to the field of adaptive aquatics (aquatics for persons with physical disabilities) as a participant, athlete, teacher, instructor, coach, organizer, administrator or media representative. For more information about the award:  ISHOF.org | John K. Williams, Jr. International Adapted Aquatics Award