The 2014 International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) class won’t be inducted in the historic halls of Ft. Lauderdale; rather, the Hall of Fame will hold their 2015 induction ceremony at their new home in Santa Clara, California, according to the Florida Sun Sentinel.
The announcement might be the final nail to seal the fate of the hard-fought effort to keep the Hall of Fame in southern Florida, where it has existed for the last 50 years. The Hall of Fame has signed a memorandum of understanding with the city of Santa Clara to be a part of a new swimming complex being built there.
“This is where we have an agreement. This is where we’ll be,” said Bruce Wigo, the hall’s executive director, to the Sun Sentinel. “We’re leaving Fort Lauderdale. There’s no question.”
The old Hall of Fame complex will begin its massive $33.7-million next year, but the city and the Hall itself couldn’t reach an agreement that would include the Hall of Fame in that plan.
And so, the International Swimming Hall of Fame will induct its first class outside of Florida in the summer of 2015, with a class that includes Australian Jodie Henry, who in 2004 became the first Australian in 40 years to win Olympic gold in the women’s 100 free; and Chinese diving legend Lian Boxi who is the godfather of Chinese diving that includes winning the country’s first awarded National Championship off of 3-meters in a country that is now as dominant in the sport as any country is in any sport.
