Pedro Adrega Explains The Beauty Of Aquatic Athletes
Pedro Adrega, Head of the FINA Communications Department and Editor In Chief of the FINA Aquatics World Magazine, received the 2011 Al Schoenfield Media Award at the International Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this past weekend.A humble person fluent in five languages, he is a serious journalist with experience in all five aquatic disciplines, cycling, basketball, volleyball, motor sports, judo, tennis and golf.
He gave a short and characteristically modest acceptance speech in front of His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco and the distinguished crowd of over 300aquatic luminaries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
“It is an honor and privilege to [receive] the prestigious Al Schoenfield Media Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame. If receiving a prize is always an exercise in humility, I feel specially touched to be accompanied on this special occasion by such a distinguished company.
Stars in the five aquatic sports are recognized tonight for their performances and for being leading role models for the youth of the world. Their example certainly inspires all of us.
The speed of swimming, the grace of synchronized swimming, the team spirit in water polo, the aesthetics of diving and the endurance in open water swimming are characteristics shared by FINA’s athletes.
And in performing them so well, and combining them with the values of fair play and friendship, they make our sport an intense and exciting experience of life.
That is also why they make media’s work become easy. It is a pleasure reporting on your feats, as they represent an immense work, an unbreakable will, an unstoppable devotion, and a great deal of sacrifice.
You must be proud of sharing those feelings with your fans in the five continents. As media, we are immensely happy to transmit them to our readers, radio listeners, TV viewers or social network followers.
You produce good stories because besides your performances, you are also exemplary athletes and citizens.
And this is the essence of sport – what I and all my colleagues try to modestly share with our audiences. Thank you.“
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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