Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame inducted 18 new members last week. The list of inducted members included seven swimmers, three water polo players, two divers, two coaches, two open water swimmers, one synchro swimmer and one photographer.

The athletes and contributors were inducted into the hall on August 25 in Fort Lauderdale. The inductees are listed below.

Swimmers:
Alain Bernard, France

France’s first male Olympic swimming champion since 1952 with his 100 free win in 2008
most decorated Olympic swimmer in France
Ian Crocker, USA

swam in three Olympic Games
held the 100 butterfly world record from 2003 until 2009
Leisel Jones, Australia

one of the most decorated breaststrokers in history
made four Olympic teams and swam in the 100 breast Olympic final four times
Laure Manaudou, France

first French swimmer to win Olympic gold medal since 1952 when she won 400 free in 2004
first swimmer to break world record held by Janet Evans in 2006
Takashi “Halo” Hirose, Japan, pioneer

fought in World War II
became first American Japanese Asian to set a world record
Georges Vallerey, France, pioneer

1948 Olympic medalist
decorated with the War Cross with Bronze Star
Wu Chuanyu, China, pioneer

first athlete to represent the People’s Republic of China at the Olympics in 1952
first athlete to win a gold medal at any major international meet with a gold in 1953 World Festival of Youth and Students (now the World University Games)
Water Polo Players:
Andras Bodnar, Hungary

competed in four Olympic Games from 1960-1972
known as one of the greatest water polo players of all-time
Bridgette Gusterson, Australia

was a part of the inaugural open water Olympic gold medal winning team in Sydney in 2000
Osvaldo Codaro, Argentina, Pioneer

competed in three Olympic Games
contributed to the sport during the golden age of water polo in South America
Divers:
Zhang Xiuwei, China, Pioneer

Was a national champion before her coaching career
Was one of the first diving coaches in China and also coached other coaches
Laura Wilkinson, USA

2000 Olympic gold medallist in platform diving and participated in three Olympics
First 10m American gold medallist since Leslie Bush in 1964
Coaches:
Dick Jochums, USA

placed swimmers on every major USA team from 1968-2006
Laurie Lawrence, Australia, Gold Medal Medallion

inducted into International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1996 as honor coach
started numerous drowning prevention programs around Australia
Open Water Swimmers:
Walter Poenisch, USA, Pioneer

first to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys
Maarten van der Weijden, Netherlands

Inaugural Olympic champion in 2008 in 10K after defeating Leukemia in 2003
Synchro Swimmers:
Anastasia Davydova, Russia

owner of 5 Olympic gold medals
Contributors:
Heinz Kluetmeier, USA, photographer

shot some of the most iconic photographs in swimming history, including “the touch” with Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic.
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