2002 PARAGON AWARD
Synchronized Swimming

For the past 32 years, Ginny Jasontek has been involved in synchronized swimming as a coach, administrator, clinician, educator, judge and promoter.  As head coach of the Cincinnati (Ohio) Synchrogators, since 1970, she has trained over 600 athletes from age group to international levels with more than 50 swimmers advancing to the collegiate ranks.  In the past 10 years, seven of her athletes have been National Team participants, the closest being her daughter Becky, 1999 Pan American Games silver medallist.  During this time period, her teams have traveled throughout Europe medalling in invitational and open championship competitions. She has been the U.S. Olympic Festival coach six times between 1986 and 1995.  Her teams have been Ohio Senior champions every year since 1978 and Age Group champions since 1976, three times on the national level. 

But Ginny has done more than only coach her teams. She has been a member of the USSS Coaching Education Task Force (since 1993), USSS Board of Directors (since 1982), a U.S. National Judge (since 1975) and a National Clinic Network clinician (since 1988).  She has been vice president of Olympic International (National Team program development) and U.S. Officials as well as chairperson of the Coaching Education Program. 

Ginny is using her vast knowledge of and experience in synchronized swimming to help the sport continue on the international scene.  She is Honorary Secretary of the FINA Technical Synchronized Swimming Committee attending to issues and competition of an international scope and on which she has served since 1996.  She has been a FINA rated international judge since 1982, a 1996 Olympic Games official, a 1999 Junior World Championships referee and competition director of the 1985 FINA World Cup and 1987 Pan American Games.  She has conducted coaching and judging seminars in Thailand (1998) and Dallas (2002).