IMSHoF

Congratulation Class of 2025 Inductee: Jorge “Coco” Villegas Pérez, Honor Swimmer, México

Announced to make his son's birthday today - even more special!

Jorge “Coco” Villegas Pérez coached open water swimmers starting in 1986 and pool swimmers since 1982. He was the Mexican National Coach for the Olympics, Pan Pacific Games, Latin Cup, Central American Games and FINA World Championships (1991 Perth, Australia - as both a pool and open water coach).

Congratulations Class pf 2025: Aurélie Muller, Honor Swimmer, France

Aurélie Muller won two Majors: FINA World Championship 10 km: in 2015 and 2017. She bested 6 other IMSHOF Honorees in these races. She raced at the elite level for over 15 years in more than 20 countries and took a podium position in 33% of the 27 top races she entered.

Welcome to Honor Swimmer Stève Stievenart from France. He, and his family, will have a short trip to Jersey (Channel Islands) for his May 20245 Induction.

The first (and only) to complete a 3-way Catalina Channel.

Congratulations Inductee Class of 2025: Dina Levačić, Honor Swimmer, Croatia

Announcement on her proud father's birthday!

Dina Levačić set the female speed record for the Fastnet swim in 2023 (still holds in 2024). She swam her first marathon swim, Faros, at age 13, competed on the FINA Grand Prix series for 6 years and placed 3rd overall in 2016, her final season.

Forrest Nelson, Honor Swimmer, United States of America will receive from the International Swimming Hall of Fame the 2025 Irving Davids/Captain Roger W. Wheeler Memorial Award for his contribution to the administration of open water swimming.

Welcome to Class of 2025: Eddie Spelling, Honor Pilot, Great Britain

He piloted for more than 20 years across the English Channel. His success include 174 one-way solo swimmers, 1 two-way solo swimmer, and 1 four-way solo swimmer (as of 2024).

The first of the IMSHOF Class of 2025

Inductees:

Grace “Gracie” van der Byl, Honor Swimmer, United States of America

She set the overall speed crossing record for Catalina (Catalina to Mainland) in and also set overall speed

records in S.C.A.R., 8 Bridges, and Cape May plus the female speed record in Lake Memphremagog in 2014.

Welcome IMSHOF Class of 2025 Inductee:

Simone Ercoli, Honor Swimmer, Italy

He raced at the top level for 10 years in 12 countries – 6 years as the captain of the successful Italian Open Water National Team. He won a silver medal at the 2002 FINA World Championship in Sharm El Sheikh at 10 km.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is proud to announce Nora Toledano Cadena,

of México, as this year’s recipient of the 2025 Poseidon Award.

The Poseidon Award, presented annually by the International Swimming Hall of Fame, recognizes

outstanding contributions to marathon swimming.

As thousands of swimmers get ready to take part in the popular "Festive Dip” over Christmas and New Year, St John Ambulance shares its first aid advice for swimmers braving the icy and, in some cases, polluted waters.   

Over recent years, wild swimming in winter has seen a surge in popularity, with people of all ages enjoying the physical and mental health benefits. A survey by Outdoor Swimmer found over 65 per cent of its readers chose to exercise at local beaches and lakes during the colder months.  

Over the course of history since 1872, several thousands of solo attempts have been made to swim across the 33.5 km English Channel between England and France.

Of those thousands of soloists, 68 different swimmers from 17 countries (Great Britain, Italy, USA, Germany, France, Egypt, Denmark, Canada, Bulgaria, Australia, Syria, Turkey, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Brazil, and Argentina) set or broke a speed record swimming across the English Channel over the last 148 years.

The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame announced 13 Inductees - Class of 2024 - see https://www.imshof.org/news. Four are English Channel swimmers: Dan Simonelli, Courtney Moates Paulk, Suzanne Heim-Bowen, and Lynton Mortensen.

Re-rublished with permission of IMSHOF/Author Ned Denison (original >>> here <<< - with the pictures!):

Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus said, “The only constant in life is change.”

Article originally published on SW - Used with permission of IMSHOF

All Halls of Fame and Honor Organizations wish to create and maintain the highest possible reputation. As a result, all face a similar question: What are the correct and appropriate actions, as well as reasons, which justify an individual (or organization) to be prevented from induction or removed if previously inducted? There are no right answers. Every organization must find its own way.

By Ned Denison of IMSHOF and ISHOF (retired)

One might think that a big wide-open lake or ocean could accommodate thousands of swimmers and, therefore, entry into a race or arranging a solo swim would be easy. The explosion of interest in open water swimming has resulted in the same kind of entry issues you read about in the New York (running) Marathon and Ironman (triathlon) in Hawaii. Excessive demand imposes real constraints on swimmer numbers.