30 Most Influential People in Swimming

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

orca1946 — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 02:03:24 GMT

He's not on any list, but my HS swim coach Dave Walery, of Reavis in Burbank,il. was my mentor that taught me confidence to try harder and to try going to college. I have thanked him to many others as he is now gone. Thanks coach!

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Rob Copeland — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 02:03:06 GMT

I don't think that even the most decorated of individual para-swimmers are well-known enough to belong on the list on the basis of their swimming achievements. Sadly.I don’t know about that. I agree the even the greatest para-swimmers aren’t well known. But swimmers like Trischa Zorn belong on the list based on her swimming achievements. From her wiki page “She is the most successful athlete in the history of the Paralympic Games, having won 55 medals (41 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze), and was inducted into the Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2012… She competed in the 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games”

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Sportygeek — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 06:39:48 GMT

Any/All Paralympic swimmers Just watch their swimming on the internet since the US Media does not like to cover the Paralympics. US Media does not like to cover the Paralympics = para-swimmers do not have much influence outside the bubble that is para-sport (and I say that as a para-swimmer!). Case could be made for eg Dave Denniston or Jimi Flowers to be added to the list. I don't think that even the most decorated of individual para-swimmers are well-known enough to belong on the list on the basis of their swimming achievements. Sadly.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

smontanaro — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 12:33:19 GMT

Thanks for jogging my failing memory, Anna Lea... More on the Vassallo/Suzuki/Berkoff connection: swimswam.com/.../ The longevity of Berkoff's career (finishing out at Harvard after the '88 Olympics), and the NCAA's delay in instituting a 15m rule, perhaps explains why the underwater dolphin technique is associated with him.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Former Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 16:20:37 GMT

No Ian Thorpe?

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

aquageek — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:35:01 GMT

I think what annoys me most about the list is what annoys me about sport in general recently. The executives and bureaucrats seem to think they are just as--if not more--important than those actually playing the sport. That's the damn truth!

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Former Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:30:23 GMT

For better or worse, it was known as the Berkhoff Breakout, wasn't it? Sometimes a catchy name makes all the difference. :) It was known as the "Berkoff Blastoff."

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

knelson — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:15:35 GMT

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

knelson — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 12:01:25 GMT

how does Mark Spitz not make this list? It covers only the last 30 years.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

sunruh — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 11:42:24 GMT

how does Mark Spitz not make this list? just sayin

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Allen Stark — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 11:34:36 GMT

Wow. You're right. Berkoff absolutely belongs on this list. I'm surprised he isn't on the list. He definitely should be.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

knelson — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:33:37 GMT

Agree. Along those lines, Dave Berkhoff. Wow. You're right. Berkoff absolutely belongs on this list.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

knelson — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 10:30:00 GMT

No Ian Thorpe? No. To quote from the page I linked in the first port: "The decorated athletes, coaches, media and governance leaders are honored for their direct and significant influence in the growth of American swimming"

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Chris Stevenson — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 08:18:59 GMT

I'd have included Jose Nagy,developer of the "wave" breaststroke. Agree. Along those lines, Dave Berkhoff.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

smontanaro — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 07:44:42 GMT

For better or worse, it was known as the Berkhoff Breakout, wasn't it? Sometimes a catchy name makes all the difference. :)

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Bill Sive — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 05:06:50 GMT

Diana Nyad Say what you will about Diana Nyad, and/or her swim from Cuba, but her swimming has inspired me very much; Craig Deitz & Hank Wise read this if you are unfamiliar with this particular swim; dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/.../instabros-is-how-it-goes.html Any/All Paralympic swimmers Just watch their swimming on the internet since the US Media does not like to cover the Paralympics.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Rob Copeland — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 03:12:16 GMT

but why should he get credit for what the japanese guy (pretty sure it was Daichi Suzuki) was doing 4 years earlier in '84 games?Or Jesse Vassallo in 1976?

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

sunruh — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 02:20:19 GMT

Agree. Along those lines, Dave Berkhoff. but why should he get credit for what the japanese guy (pretty sure it was Daichi Suzuki) was doing 4 years earlier in '84 games? almost 50m underwater on the 100m back and 40m on the start of the 200m back.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Allen Stark — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:11:53 GMT

I'd have included Jose Nagy,developer of the "wave" breaststroke.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Former Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:03:06 GMT

I expected to see Natalie Coughlin on the list, though, I suppose a good argument can be made for a dozen or more swimmers who should've been on the list in each of our opinions.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

knelson — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 06:14:03 GMT

I wonder if they considered folks like Peter Carlisle and Evan Morgenstein? Both have had a significant impact over the past 15-20 years. You're right. They should have!

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

Rob Copeland — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 05:44:24 GMT

I agree controversial but I think if you measure it by the number of people affected by what he has proposed it's likely a lot. Maybe in 5-10 years he will be on the list or forgotten. Time will tell.While he’s definitely having a current impact, I’m not sure if it fit the description of “30 Most Influential People in Swimming over the Past 30 Years” to recognize those who have made a significant impact to propel swimming into the pre-eminent Olympic sport. I wonder if they considered folks like Peter Carlisle and Evan Morgenstein? Both have had a significant impact over the past 15-20 years.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

StewartACarroll — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 05:13:50 GMT

Way too controversial and--I would say--very premature at this point. You want a "sciency" person on the list I'd go with Genadijus Sokolovas. I agree controversial but I think if you measure it by the number of people affected by what he has proposed it's likely a lot. Maybe in 5-10 years he will be on the list or forgotten. Time will tell.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

knelson — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 04:19:08 GMT

this one is likely to stoke some fires but for influential perhaps Dr Rushall and his USRPT would be a good candidate for the list. Way too controversial and--I would say--very premature at this point. You want a "sciency" person on the list I'd go with Genadijus Sokolovas.

RE: 30 Most Influential People in Swimming

StewartACarroll — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 03:57:15 GMT

USA Swimming announced their list of the "30 most influential" people in swimming over the past 30 years. www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx OK, any list like this is going to be controversial, but one of the things I found somewhat bizarre is that of the 30 people honored only seven of them were active in the pool in the last 30 years. Also there are only 5 women. Lastly the list is a little heavy on USA Swimming executive types. Chuck Wielgus? Please...:shakeshead: Anyone else have any comments? Who's missing that should be on the list? I agree a list like this is always going to miss a few really significant names. It's hard to believe however that Missy Franklin, Katie Ledecky and Natalie Coughlin are not on the list. Missy and Katie have changed the face of women's swimming and Natalie continues to write her name in the record books. Could it be the fact that they are all still actively swimming? Another women who jumps out as missing from the list is Jenny Thompson, who I believe owns the most Olympic golds of any U.S. Women. There are a lot of males on the list but again it's hard to see why Ryan Lochte would not make the list. If it were not for Michael he would the most successful US Male swimmer since Mark Spitz. Also I believe the first swimmer to have a talk show. I almost said a successful TV show....then I remembered it was pretty crappy! this one is likely to stoke some fires but for influential perhaps Dr Rushall and his USRPT would be a good candidate for the list.