Veteran sports administrator and World Aquatics Vice-President Sam Ramsamy is set to join the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 as an honouree member for his lifelong contribution to aquatic sports.
Ramsamy came into the sporting world with a passion and spent the early years of his life working toward the birth of a new South Africa. He fought for the ending of the colour ban in sport, centring his efforts on creating unity in the sporting arena and that team selection would be based on merit and not the colour of their skin. Ramsamy also insisted that athletes of all races be given an equal opportunity to participate.
“It is among the best accolades I have ever received, and its from a supreme body that recognises people in swimming," Ramsamy said when hearing about his induction to the Hall of Fame.
Champion South African swimmer Chad Le Clos said Ramsamy deserved the recognition.
“I call him Uncle Sam because he has been a great help to me and my family since we first met at the start of my career in the youth Olympics and handed me my first gold medal. He has been a great servant in revolutionising the sport.
“Without him, I respectfully say, we would have been still in the dark ages because he helped to create change and transformation.”
In 2019, the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) awarded Ramsamy with the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long work campaigning against discrimination in sport in his role as role as a founding member of the South African Council for Sport (established in 1973), and as Chair of the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SANROC) five years later.
The two sports organisations were united in fostering greater global support for the resistance against apartheid. Following the Soweto uprisings in 1976, Ramsamy petitioned countries to formalise a boycott of South African Sports, which culminated in the Gleneagles Agreement.
During South Africa’s transition to democracy, Ramsamy encouraged international support for the black sports body, the National Olympic Committee of South Africa, and became its head in 1991. At the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, Ramsamy led the first non-racial South African team to the Games. From here, Ramsamy continued his mission in sports in South Africa, becoming a member of the IOC and World Aquatics, alongside numerous other commissions and serving in various roles.
Currently, Ramsamy is the World Aquatics First Vice President, a position he has held since May 2021. Before this, Ramsamy served as the World Aquatics Second Vice-President (2017-2021), Vice President (2004-2017) and a Bureau Member (1996-2004).
The hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in Fort Lauderdale (Florida, USA) on 29 September.
Joining Ramsamy as this year’s inductees is a star-studded field of inductees, including the USA’s Michael Phelps and Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry. Phelps comes in as the most accomplished Olympian in history with 28 medals (23 gold), while seven-time Olympic medallist Coventry currently serves as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation.
Class of 2023 Inductees | International Swimming Hall of Fame
- Bob Bowman (USA) / Honor Coach
- Chris Carver (USA) / Honor Coach
- Cesar Cielo (BRA) / Honor Swimmer
- Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) / Honor Swimmer
- Missy Franklin (USA / Honor Swimmer
- Natalia Ischenko (RUS) / Honor Synchronized Swimmer
- Kosuke Kitajima (JPN) / Honor Swimmer
- Heather Petri (USA) / Honor Water Polo Player
- Michael Phelps (USA) / Honor Swimmer
- Wu Minxia (CHN / Honor Diver
- Sam Ramsamy (RSA) / Honor Contributor
- Stephane Lecat (FRA) / Honor Open Water Swimmer
- Trischa Zorn (USA) / Honor Paralympic Swimmer
Contributing: Meg Keller-Marvin/International Swimming Hall of Fame