International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF) Induction Ceremony ~ a smashing success in beautiful Naples, Italy ~ Saturday, May 26, 2022
This year, after a two-year delay of in person ceremonies, the Marathon (IMSHOF) Induction Ceremony weekend was finally held, and in the city that has a rich history of open water swimming: Naples, Italy. The Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli (Capri-Napoli Marathon) is a 36 km (22 miles) professional marathon swim from Capri to Napoli, in southern Italy. It is one of the longest running professional marathon swimming competitions in the world which began in 1954 and starts on the Isle of Capri and finishes 36 km later on Marina Grande Beach in Napoli on the mainland of Italy. The race was set in motion, after Aldo Fioravanti and Cesare Alfieri first swam the race in 1949 in a time of 12 hours. The Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli is now part of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit and is annually one of world’s Top 100 Island Swims named by the World Open Water Swimming Association. It is one of the longest running professional marathon swimming competitions in the world.
The Maratone del Golfo Capri-Napoli was selected as the 2021 World Open Water Swimming Event of the Year by a global poll.
The weekend was full of activities. The group enjoyed a tour of Pompei; a prison island swim escape; the induction ceremony with 100 attendees; a 1 mile and 5 km public race; and lots of ad-hoc gatherings for other walks, meals, drinks and laughs!
For the past decade, IMSHOF has made steady progress to be truly an international organization: six of the last eight ceremonies held outside of the USA; local language translations for the website and ceremony booklet biographies; the six Executive Committee member spread across the globe with half speaking English as a second language; Honoree ZOOM interviews in local language (with English translations); Honorees from six new countries; and in Naples our first experience with a language translator on stage.
The IMSHOF Class of 2022 includes:
Dr. Caroline Block (USA) Honor Swimmer
Rachele Bruni (ITA) Honor Swimmer
Georges Michel (FRA) Honor Swimmer
Evan Morrison (USA) Honor Administrator
Sharon van Rouwendaal (HOL) Honor Swimmer
Serpentine Swimming Club (GBR) Honor Organization
Ferry Weertman (NED) Honor Swimmer
Alick Wickman (SOL) Honor Coach
Beth Yudovin (USA) Honor Administrator
The Irving Davids/Captain Roger W. Wheeler Memorial Award: Elizabeth Fry (USA)
The Poseidon Award: Shelley Taylor Smith (AUS)
The IMSHOF Dale Petranech Award: Steven Munatones (USA)
To read the IMSHOF Induction ceremony booklet, click here: https://www.imshof.org/class-of-2022-italy?fbclid=IwAR37jC9_r6WVbwOugr56ae83xrzN1rIWhH2vweZJCGoR0gYDQBwTiuM6vv4
Many thanks to Honor Administrator Luciano Cotena and Honor Organization Capri-Napoli for hosting us all so well in Naples – one of the historic homes of marathon swimming! See the names of the Honorees and Executive Committee attendees on Notes and Ceremony Attendees | IMSHOF. See the booklet (a few final edits are still ongoing – so speak up if you spot any typos, please) and ceremony weekend pictures on Class of 2022 Italy | IMSHOF. The final video is still weeks away -and we’ll notify you in the next newsletter.
And we look forward to seeing you in the fabulous New York City (another great Marathon swimming city!) for next year’s IMSHOF Induction Ceremony, May 6, 2023, so mark your calendars now!!!
