The 47th International Swimming Hall of Fame induction dinner will be part of a four-day celebration of aquatics in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on May 5th – 8th.

Among the diving, swimming, water polo and synchronized swimming greats, the very best of the open water swimming world will also be honored.

The induction ceremonies will honor several aquatic greats including British marathon swimming great Michael Read while the new Fran Crippen Memorial 10K race will draw the top American Olympic 10K marathon hopefuls as well as top swimmers from as far away as Australia, South Africa and Azerbaijan.

2005 world 10K champion Chip Peterson, 2008 world 25K silver medalist Mark Warkentin, 2010 world 25K champion Alex Meyer, 2009 world 10K silver medalist Andrew Gemmell, 2010 world 5K champion Eva Fabian, two-time FINA World Cup champion Christine Jennings, NCAA champion Emily Brunemann, USA Swimming National Team member Emily Hanson and several others will take part.

At the Paragon Awards, which recognizes leaders in the world of competitive and recreational aquatics, famed environmental leader Lewis Pugh will be honored who is expected to give a rousing, mind-boggling inspirational speech.

In addition to the 10K race and Paragon Awards, there will be a world-class AT&T/USA Diving Grand Prix, the Fran Crippen Memorial 10K Race and an incredible Guinness World Record dive attempt into 12 inches (30.5 cm) of water by Darren Taylor (aka Professor Splash) and the attendance by Prince Albert II of Monaco.

The ties to open water are evident as Prince Albert’s fiance Charlene Wittstock told the media that she will attempt to convince Prince Albert to compete in the aQuelle Midmar Mile in South Africa next year. Prince Albert’s ties to the swimming world go back far: he has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985 and his maternal uncle, John B. ‘Jack’ Kelly, Jr., was a long-time supporter of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and served as President of its Board of Directors from 1981-1984. Prince Albert’s maternal aunt,Mary Freeman Kelly Spitzer, was a member of the 1952 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team and is an International Swimming Hall of Fame honoree.

A full weekend plus of honoring, watching and celebrating the best the world of aquatics has to offer.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source