The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame has inducted husband-and-wife duos throughout its history:

• Damian Blaum of Argentina and Esther Nunez Morera of Spain, both in the Class of 2020
• Christopher Guesdon in its Class of 2009 and Susanne Guesdon in ithe Class of 2019, both of Australia
• Roger Parsons in the Class of 1997 and Val Parsons in the Class of 1990, both of Great Britain
• Audrey Scott and Ray Scott, both of Great Britain in the Class of 1983
• David Yudovin in the Class of 1999 and Beth Yudovin in the Class of 2022, both of the USA
• Sally Anne Minty-Gravett, MBE in the Class of 2005 and Charlie Gravett in the Class of 2016, both of Great Britain

The International Swimming Hall of Fame (@ishof_museum) held its 61st Annual Honoree Induction Ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on May 16th, over the same weekend as the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame held its own induction ceremonies in San Diego, California. 

Among the International Swimming Hall of Fame inductees in its Class of 2026 were two Olympic gold medalists and world champions who are a husband-and-wife duo: Ferry Weertman (MSF bio here, World Aquatics bio here, @veryferryfast) was inducted as an Honor Open Water Swimmer and his wife Ranomi Kromowidjojo (World Aquatics bio here, @ranomikromo) was inducted as an Honor Swimmer, both of the Netherlands.

Kromowidjojo won an Olympic gold medal in the 400m freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and won two additional gold medals in the 50m and 100m freestyles and a silver medal in the 400m free relay. She set world records primarily in the short course 50m freestyle and on Dutch relays, and won 178 FINA or World Aquatics medals in international competition during her career: 70 gold, 62 silver and 46 bronze medals.

Her husband currently serves as the Vice Chairperson of the World Aquatics Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and won the gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics 10 km open water swim in dramatic fashion, outreaching over Spyridon Gianniotis of Greece on the last stroke of the race. Among his many accolades, he won the 2017 FINA World Championship in the 10 km and a silver medal in the 2015 FINA World Championship in the 10 km.  He is a two-time FINA Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 2016 and 2018, winning 13 international medals over his career.

Ferry Weertman Career Highlights

• 2016 Olympic Games 10 km gold medal
• 2017 FINA World Championships 10 km gold medal
• 2015 FINA World Championships mixed 5 km team relay silver medal
• 2015 FINA World Championships 10 km silver medal
• 2018 European Championships mixed team relay gold medal
• 2018 European Championships 10 km gold medal
• 2014 European Championships 10 km gold medal
• 2014 European Championships mixed team relay gold
• 2018 LEN Open Water Cup France 10 km silver medal
• 2015 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix Mexico 15 km gold medal
• 2014 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix 15 km gold medal
• He became the first man to win both the Olympic and world titles in open water swimming.
• He is a two-time FINA Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 2016 and 2018
• In 2013, he finished 6th at the World Championships, setting a Dutch record in the 400m freestyle short course
• In 2014 in France, he became champion in the 5 km and 10 km at the French Open Championships
• He finished 7th in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games 10 km

Weertman serves on the World Aquatics Technical Open Water Swimming Committee alongside another ISHOF honoree, Sid Cassidy, who was inducted as an Honor Contributor for helping bring open water swimming to the Olympic Games and being one of the open water swimming’s most influential administrators and experienced officials.

Photo above shows the ISHOF Class of 2026 including Honor Swimmers Nathan Adrian and Ryan Lochte of the USA, László Cseh of Hungary, Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands; Honor Open Water Swimmer Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands; Honor Diver Tania Cagnotto of Italy; Honor Artistic Swimmer Heather Simmons-Carrasco of the United States; Honor Water Polo Player Simone Fountain of Australia; Honor Paralympic Swimmer Beatrice Hess of France; Honor Masters Swimmer Rich Burns of the United States; Honor Contributor Sid Cassidy of the USA; Honor Coaches Jane Figueiredo of Zimbabwe/Russia/Great Britain and Gregg Troy of the USA.

© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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