Rich Abrahams- Masters Swimming Hall of Fame

Rich and Jeff ... both amazing talents and always a pleasure to see on the pool deck. Congrats

I'm sure somewhere there is a Masters swimmer who might be more deserving but I can't come up with one. A great swimmer and a very, very, very classy guy. Congratulations, Rich!!!!!! The International Masters Hall of Fame have very excellent selection criteria for honoree selection. www.ishof.org/.../INTLMASTERS.html www.ishof.org/masterscriteria.html With that being said, I think that both Jeff and Rich are very deserving for there induction into the IMSOF. Rich is one of those swimmers that I just knew would get inducted after seeing him swim all these years. Jeff has already been inducted into the ISHOF for his accomplishments in Swimming and to be inducted again as a Masters Swimmer is a very impressive honor. I always wonder if these two swimmers ever competed against each other back in the day? With 8 years separating them it might be unlikely. Steve Clark bridges the gap between these two swimmers because he swam against both of them back in the day. I am very appreciative of the ISHOF for making the banquet ceremony free of charge to all USMS delegates at the Convention in Jacksonville. A very proud USMS masters swimmer made a very generous donation for this to be possible and for this I thank him. Last year I attended the ISHOF banquet ceremony for the first time and it was definitely one of the high points for me at the convention. To me it is easily the equal to the Saturday evening USAS Awards banquet. The thing that interested me is the video highlight of the life in swimming of the award nominees. I look forward to seeing this of Rich, Jeff, and all of the other award recipients when I attend this year.

I am very appreciative of the ISHOF for making the banquet ceremony free of charge to all USMS delegates at the Convention in Jacksonville. A very proud USMS masters swimmer made a very generous donation for this to be possible and for this I thank him. Last year I attended the ISHOF banquet ceremony for the first time and it was definitely one of the high points for me at the convention. To me it is easily the equal to the Saturday evening USAS Awards banquet. The thing that interested me is the video highlight of the life in swimming of the award nominees. I look forward to seeing this of Rich, Jeff, and all of the other award recipients when I attend this year. I couldn't agree more with you Skip. Last year's ceremony was FABULOUS! Each athlete's career presentation and acceptance speech brought forward so many thrilling moments and pride in our sport. And, it is an International Awards Ceremony. The athletes were present from all over the world! So cool - really a very special evening. (this is a photo I took last year when Richard Burns was inducted joined following by his buddies & coach)

Maybe Rich has some other swimmers in mind that he feels are close to his level to be honored.