Bob Helmick (USA)

Honor Contributor (2007)

The information on this page was written the year of their induction.

FOR THE RECORD: FINA PRESIDENT: 1984-1988; FINA HONORARY SEC­RETARY: 1976-1984; INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE MEMBER: 1985-1991; U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE MEMBER: 1969-2003; USOC PRES­IDENT: 1985-1991; CHAIRMAN of U.S. Water Polo Committee: 1969-1972; PRESIDENT OF THE AAU: 1978-1980; SECRETARY of FINA Technical Water Polo Committee: 1972-1976; U.S. OLYMPIC WATER POLO TEAM MANAGER: 1972; 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee BOARD MEMBER and EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER;

During his lifetime (1937-1991), Bob Helmick became the most influential American in international sport lead­ing the governing bodies of the international aquatic disciplines (FINA), the United States sports authority (USOC) and the international Olympic sports authority (IOC). In his leadership positions, his primary goal was always to help the athlete.

Although restricted from athletics by childhood asthma as a youngster, Bob developed a liking to the water in gener­al and water polo in specific. He graduated Drake University Law School with honors and as an All-American water polo player. Returning home to Des Moines, Iowa, he helped to start a water polo team at the “Y” as player/ coach.  Four years later in 1969, he was appointed Chair of the AAU Men’s Water Polo Committee and then Manager of the 1972 bronze medal winning U.S. Olympic Team. He was selected chairman of the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee in 1972, FINA Honorary Secretary 1976 to 1984 and FINA President 1984 to 1988.

Bob’s years in FINA were productive years. He began the process to accept women’s water polo into international competition. He pressed for a second water polo referee and use of ear guards at games. He fought to elevate synchronized swimming to inter­national competition levels. He argued for three entries per event per country at Olympic and international swimming competitions and helped establish the 50 meter freestyle event in world competition. He worked to bring FINA into the modern era establishing a professional office and hiring FINA’s first office manager and executive director. He negotiated FINA’s first marketing contracts and he appointed a Masters Commission resulting in the formation of a 5th FINA Technical Committee for Masters disciplines.

Bob Helmick Bob served as president of the AAU and was highly involved in passage of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. He was outspoken against the U.S.-led 1980 Olympic boycott. As president of the United States Olympic Committee, Bob revitalized the organization and is noted for his efforts to involve athletes in the decisions and direction of the organization. He helped initiate new programs designed with the athletes in mind such as adapting the old “amateur” rule so that cash-poor athletes could receive  finan­cial compensation while training as well as the U.S.O.C. providing direct subsidies to those athletes. During his tenure, revenues and volunteers tripled and strong committee-based action was a hallmark. He served as a member of the Executive Board of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. He published numerous articles on commer­cial law and sport and was a guest lecturer at Yale Law School and instructor at Drake Law School.

At 6 feet 4 inches, this statuesque, debonair, silver-haired leader also served seven years on the International Olympic Committee and was a member of the IOC Executive Board. He was regarded as one of the most important leaders in the Olympic movement. As an administrator, he conducted business with one thing in mind: the well-being of the athlete.