USA Swimming

By SportsPR565

  • Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)

    The USA swimming organization was governed by the AAU

  • Ethelda Bleibtrey

    She was the first American woman to win an Olympic swimming title and also the first woman, from any country, to win three gold medals. She turned professional in 1922 and had a successful career as athlete and coach

  • Summer Olympics 1972: Men's Swimming

    Mark Spitz set seven world records and won seven gold medals

  • Shirley Babashoff

    She had the most Olympic medals of any U.S. women
    She earned 8 medals.
    1972: she won a silver medal in 100m free and gold in 200m free relay
    1976: Earned silvers in 200m free, 400m free and 800m free and gold and silver in relays

  • Melissa Belote: Gold Medalist

    Won 3 gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke and the 4x100m medley relay.
    She beat the U.S. record holder, Susie Atwood, in the 100m back and then the 200m back setting a world record time
    At the Olympics she broke her own 200m backstroke record.

  • Amateur Sports Act of 1978

    This act allowed sports to create their own governing bodies that would be apart of the US Olympic Committee.

  • Founded in 1980

    The US swimming organization was founded in 1980. From 1978-1980, responsibilities from AAU were transferred to US Swimming.

  • 1980 Summer Olympics

    The US boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics. At this time, the last AAU head coach was Bill Lippman who worked with the first president of the US Swimming organization, Ross Wales. This duo helped with the transition.

  • Ross Wales

    First president of USA Swimming from 1980-1984

  • Ray Essick was the first Chief Executive

    Ray Essick (1980–1997)

  • USA Swimming headquarters location

    In 1981, USA Swimming established its headquarters in
    Colorado Springs.

  • Sandra Baldwin

    Sandra Baldwin was the president from 1984–1986

  • Matt Biondi

    Became the first U.S. swimmer to win gold medals in three Olympiads and to win the same Olympic event three times.

  • Carol Zaleski

    Carol Zaleski was President from: 1986–1990, 1994–1998

  • Bill Maxson

    Bill Maxson was president from 1990–1994

  • Mike Barrowman sets world record

    1992 won gold in 200m breaststroke and set world record.

  • Chuck Wielgus

    Chuck Wielgus chief executive from 1997–2017

  • Dale Neuburger

    Dale Neuburger president from 1998–2002

  • Ron Van Pool

    Ron Van Pool President from 2002–2006

  • Jim Wood

    Jim Wood president from 2006–2010

  • Michael Phelps beats Mark Spitz record

    At the Beijing Olympics Phelps earned eight medals beating Spitz record of seven medals.

  • Bruce Stratton

    Bruce Stratton president from 2010–2014

  • Jim Sheehan

    Jim Sheehan president from 2014–present

  • Tim Hinchey

    Tim Hinchey chief executive from 2017–present