IMSHoF

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

The International Swimming Hall of Fame (@ishof_museum) will hold its 61st Annual Honoree Induction Ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on May 16th 2026, the same date of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in San Diego, California. 

August 6, 1926. The English Channel—one of the most treacherous bodies of water in the world. Twenty-one miles of frigid water, brutal currents, and jellyfish that could paralyze a swimmer with their sting.
Gertrude Ederle was about to attempt what no woman had ever accomplished.
She was 20 years old. And everyone told her she would fail.
Five men had successfully swum the Channel since 1875. Dozens of others had tried and been pulled from the water, defeated by hypothermia, exhaustion, or the relentless currents that could push swimmers miles off course.

Interview with Honoree Judith de Nijs who won 12 Majors: 1964 Canadian National Exhibition; 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1970 Capri to Naples; 1964 Lac St. Jean and 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1970 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation.

Bericht van IISA - We’re proud to celebrate Lynton Mortensen (Australia): The first person in history to complete both the Oceans Seven and the Ice Sevens challenges!

Oceans Seven: Seven of the most iconic and difficult open water channel swims across the globe

Ice Sevens: Seven Ice Miles (1.61 km in ≤5°C water), one on each continent, which one must be in the polar region North or South and one mile must be a Zero Ice Mile.

His Ice Sevens journey:

2025-07-25 - Sandycove (IRE) - Discussion with Honoree Dr. Chris Stockdale, MBE, former Medical Officer of the CSA on the next safety innovations coming – and review of the previous 100 years.

24 mei 2025 - Jersey

IMSHOF Induction & Awards Ceremony in Jersey - Class of 2025

Inducted in the first Class (1963) into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of

Fame in 1963, won his last major race in 1996, retired having won 11 Majors, and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2008.

It was then pretty quiet for a decade.

International athletes described as the "creme de la creme" of long distance swimming have visited Jersey.

Swimmers from the USA, Mexico and Croatia were among those in the island on Saturday to be inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

The awards ceremony takes place in a different location each year when athletes gather to receive their honours, attend a conference and swim.

Swim coach Sally Minty-Gravett MBE, who hosted the event, said the top class athletes wanted to return to the island for more swimming.

Het was tijdens de Olympische Spelen in Parijs met grote regelmaat het gesprek van de dag: het water van de Seine waarin de triatleten en openwaterzwemmers hun prestaties moesten gaan leveren. De rivier was ernstig vervuild en er zouden zelfs drollen in drijven. Gouden medaillewinnares Sharon van Rouwendaal blikt  maanden na dato terug.

Sharon van Rouwendaal pakte afgelopen zomer in Parijs haar tweede olympische titel, maar toch was het een zwaar jaar voor de zwemster. De tegenslag die ze enkele maanden voor de Spelen te verwerken kreeg had een heel grote impact op Van Rouwendaal.

"Ik dacht in eerste instantie: waarom moet ik nog naar de Spelen, waarom wil ik nog een medaille?", vertelt een goudeerlijke Van Rouwendaal tegen Helden Magazine over het overlijden van haar hondje Rio. Het dwergkeeshondje overleed begin mei toen hij complicaties kreeg na een operatie.

MEPPEL/STEENWIJK - Doeke Veld, een oud-zwemkampioen, is deze week vijftig jaar geworden. Zijn zus Janke de Haan en leden van zwemvereniging Steenwijk ‘34 hebben hem voor zijn verjaardag verrast met een wel heel bijzonder cadeau. Olympisch kampioen open water zwemmen, Sharon van Rouwendaal, heeft hem en zijn 36 oudclubgenoten afgelopen zondag een zwemclinic gegeven in Zwembad Hesselingen in Meppel. 

Ned Denison, chairperson of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, interviewed Olympic and world champion Ferry Weertman (@veryferryfast).

Weertman is an Honor Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Class of 2022) and won 13 career medals during his Olympic and World Aquatics career including gold medals in the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2017 World Championships. He was later awarded Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau.

2024 loopt ten einde. Tijd om in onze traditionele eindejaarsserie terug te kijken op een bewogen jaar. Vandaag: Sharon van Rouwendaal.

Laatst zat ze, samen met haar ouders, aan de koffie in haar nieuwbouwhuis even buiten het centrum van het Brabantse Gemert. Aan de eettafel kwam bij Sharon van Rouwendaal, olympisch zwemkampioene in het open water, spontaan een vraag opborrelen die geen antwoord behoefde.

"Hoe kan ik gelukkiger zijn dan ik nu ben?"

Congratulations

Honoree Richard Broer of the Netherlands has been selected as the ninth recipient of the Dale Petranech Award for Services to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF). Since 2012 Richard has been a major contributor to the IMSHOF as a member of the Executive Committee and for several years before that as a member of the Board of Directors.

Congratulation Class of 2025 Inductee: Jorge “Coco” Villegas Pérez, Honor Swimmer, México

Announced to make his son's birthday today - even more special!

Jorge “Coco” Villegas Pérez coached open water swimmers starting in 1986 and pool swimmers since 1982. He was the Mexican National Coach for the Olympics, Pan Pacific Games, Latin Cup, Central American Games and FINA World Championships (1991 Perth, Australia - as both a pool and open water coach).