TEMPE, Ariz - The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) -- recognized by FINA, the international governing body for the Olympic aquatic sports -- announced their 2016 Hall of Fame Class on Thursday, Nov. 19 and Sun Devil head coach Bob Bowman headlines the 16 inductees.
"Bob is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in the sport and we could not be more proud to have him lead our men’s and women’s swimming programs,” Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson said. “However, to headline the International Swimming Hall of Fame class and to be recognized as one of the world's elite swimming coaches by the sport’s international governing body is one of the greatest honors one can receive. I could not think of a more qualified recipient, as Coach Bowman exemplifies and imparts upon our student-athletes all the championship, character-defining qualities on which the foundation of Sun Devil Athletics is built."
Bowman was the only coach named to the 2016 Hall of Fame class, and thus joins a select group with some of the best coaches in the world.
“This is an exceptional class of honorees,” said Camillo Cametti, of Verona, Italy, Chairman of ISHOF’s International Selection Committee. "And one of the largest classes in recent years."
Bob Bowman is probably best known as the long-time coach of Michael Phelps, however, he has done much more than that. He has been the assistant coach of the USA swim team for three Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012) and has just been named the Head Men’s Coach for the 2016 USA Olympic Team. He has been a three-time World Championship Head Coach (2007, 2009, 2013) and four time Assistant World Championship Coach (2001, 2003, 2005, 2011). Bob is an ASCA Hall of Fame Inductee, a five-time ASCA Coach of the Year, and the most honored Coach in the 40+ years of the award. He is a six-time USA Swimming Coach of the Year, four-time USA Swimming Foundation’s Golden Google Award Recipient and the 2002 USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year.
His nomination comes six years after being inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Associatoin (ASCA) Hall of Fame in 2010.
“This is truly a great class and I want to personally congratulate all Honorees and thank Mr. Cametti and the selection committee for their commitment to honor the best in our sports,” said Donna de Varona, ISHOF’s Chairman of the Board. “We recognize that this was a difficult task, particularly this year, as the committee started with over 175 nominees from all over the world and many exceptional candidates did not make the final list.”
Recent ASU Sports Hall of Fame inductee Agnes Kovacs is scheduled to be a co-host for the ceremonies on June 3-5, 2016 in Santa Clara, Calif.
The rest of the ISHOF Class of 2016 includes Swimmers Aaron Peirsol (USA), Camille Muffat (FRA) and Dara Torres (USA); Open Water Swimmer Larisa Ilchenko (RUS); Divers Dmitry Sautin (RUS) and Guo Jingjing (CHN); Synchronized Swimmer Yelena Azarova (RUS); Water Polo Players: Seven members of the 2000-2008 Hungarian Olympic water polo team (HUN); Marathon Swimmers Desmond Robert “Des”Renford (AUS) and Monique Wildschut (NED); Contributor Sir Peter Heatly (GBR); Pioneers Simeon Boychenko (RUS), Horst Gorlitz (GRD/ITA/FRG), Frank Gorman (USA), Hilda James (GBR) and Leonid Meshkov (RUS).