International Swimming Hall of Fame Announces Induction Class of 2011-Prince Albert of Monaco , Ian Thorpe and Lenny Krayzelburg Top List of Aquatic Legends, Lewis Pugh To Receive Presidential Award

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, December 15, 2010 (Press-News.org) The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) announces the names of the Honoree Induction Class of 2011, consisting of 9 legends from the world of Aquatics. The Induction Ceremony, on Friday May 6th, will be the feature of the 46th Annual ISHOF Honors Weekend in Fort Lauderdale , Florida , along with the AT&T USA Diving Grand Prix, a Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) event featuring the world's greatest Olympic divers, which will be held May 5 - 8, 2011 at the Hall of Fame Pool. Reservations for the Class of 2011 Honors Weekend are available now at http://www.ishof.org or by calling 954-462-6536.

"The 2011 Induction Ceremony will recognize an internationally diverse and remarkable group aquatic personalities," said Mike Snyder, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ISHOF. "Every one of these individuals have left and continue to leave a positive impact the aquatic sports and we are pleased to recognize their successes and contributions to the World of Aquatics."

This year's honorees come from seven different nations: Australia , Great Britain , Hungary , Japan , Monaco , Serbia and the USA . Heading the list is this year's Gold Medallion recipient, HSH Albert II, of Monaco . A competitive swimmer in his youth, Prince Albert has family ties to ISHOF through his maternal uncle, John B. Kelly, Jr., who served as President of ISHOF from 1981 - 1984. An Olympian as a bobsledder, he has been member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985. In addition to his official duties, he is active in numerous charitable causes. Honor Swimmers include Ian Thorpe of Australia and Lenny Krayzelburg of the USA . Nicknamed the "Thorpedo", Ian won a total of nine Olympic medals - five gold, three silver and one bronze in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games - while Lenny swept the backstroke events at the 2000 Games and won a total of four Olympic gold medals, including relays. Synchronized swimmer Miya Tachibana competed in three Olympic Games for Japan , winning medals in each for a total of five medals. In the decade of the 1990's, Aleksandar Sostar guarded the water polo goal for Yugoslavia and later Serbia's Olympic, World Cup and European Championship gold medal winning teams. Open Water swimmer Michael Read, of Great Britain , held the title of King of the English Channel for 26 years. Honor Coach Denes Kemeny brought Hungarian water polo back to world prominence after missing the podium for over twenty years, winning gold in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Pioneer Re Calcaterra dedicated much of her life to the advancement of the sport of synchronized swimming in the USA and around the world. In the Honor Contributor category is Australian Thomas Hoad, a legendary figure in Australian Water Polo as a player and coach, Hoad has played a major role in attracting and managing major international competitions in all aquatic sports in his home nation. Other notables who will be recognized during the weekend include: Lewis Gordon Pugh, a British environmental activist, swimmer, maritime lawyer and motivational speaker will receive ISHOF's Presidential Award; and, Pedro Adrega, of Portugal , the communication director for the FINA and Editor-in-chief of FINA Aquatics World Magazine, of Portugal , will be honored with the Al Schoenfield Media Award.



Hall of Fame Voting

An international panel of aquatic experts, under the chairmanship of Camillo Cametti (ITA), annually screens candidates who have been submitted from individuals, organizations or federations from around the world. A final list is then submitted to a larger panel of over 100 international experts, whose votes determine those to be honored in each category.

About the International Swimming Hall of Fame & Museum


Established in 1965, the International Swimming Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of swimming, inspiring and encouraging swimming for heath, fitness, water safety and enshrining the heroes and heroines of the aquatic sports. The International Swimming Hall of Fame & Museum was recognized as the official Hall of Fame and Museum for the Olympic aquatic sports in 1968 by FINA, the international governing body of Swimming. The International Swimming Hall of Fame & Museum, is also the home of the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and FINA Archive is supported primarily by the generosity of swimming enthusiasts, both individual and corporate throughout the world. For information on the International Swimming Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 954-462-6536 or visit us online at http://www.ishof.org

For More Information contact:

Bob Duenkel: Phone: 954-462-6536

Email: bduenkel@ishof.org