Hall of Fame Spotlight: International Swimming Hall of Fame

 

WHO WE ARE

• The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1965. Its museum is the “Official Repository for Aquatic History” as deemed by Fédération Internationale
  de Natation (FINA) – the governing body for Olympic aquatic sports.
• Swimming World Magazine, established in 1960, merged its multi-media platforms with ISHOF in 2018 to expand its reach and impact.
• Mission – To collaborate with aquatic organizations worldwide to preserve, educate and celebrate the history of aquatic sports while promoting Every Child A Swimmer.
• Vision – To be the global focal point for sharing cultures, showcasing events, increasing participation in aquatic sports and developing educational and lesson programs that promote swimming as an essential life-skill.

Learn more at the ISHOF Home page HERE

ISHOF PAST

Ft. Lauderdale’s swimming heritage dates back to the Civitan raft off Las Olas Beach and the Olympic-sized Casino Pool which opened in 1928. In the early 1960’s, the city created the Swimming Hall of Fame non-profit organization. In 1965, a 50M pool and a 25Y diving well, as well as the original Hall of Fame museum were completed. Soon after, the City and the ISHOF organization joined together to build the West ISHOF museum building that opened in December of 1968. That same year, the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) – the governing body for Olympic aquatic sports – designated the ISHOF museum as the “Official Repository for Aquatic History”. By 1985, it was estimated that the ISHOF brought $20M annual economic impact to the City which encouraged an expansion of the museum. This coupled with the prestige of the aquatic facilities brought world class swim events and athletes to compete at the aquatic complex whereby increasing ISHOF’s worldwide visibility.

ISHOF PRESENT

In 2020, the City committed $46 Million to the renovation of the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center. The City also approved the replacement of the south administration building and locker rooms, along with the construction of a 27-meter high dive tower. This will be the only tower of its kind in the western hemisphere. This renovation of the aquatic center will undoubtedly bring the facility back to its world class competition status and reestablish Fort Lauderdale as the premier location for competitive aquatic sports, not just in the United States but around the world.

ISHOF FUTURE

Our vision includes: an architecturally stunning building that will house a fully updated and modern display of aquatics sports history; two event spaces with 360° views of the intracoastal, aquatic center and Atlantic Ocean; a café; a restaurant; a library; teaching pool; welcome center; meeting rooms and office space; and on-site parking. In addition, ISHOF’s vision is to launch a brand-new website that will include a virtual museum that will showcase the hundreds of thousands of artifacts to viewers worldwide.Hall

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Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers  from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach or difference maker we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE

Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, adminstration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE

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