2013 Paragon Award Recipients Announced
2013 Paragon Award Recipients Announced
The Paragon Awards is sponsored by Paragon Aquatics and presented for outstanding contributions to Competitive Swimming, Water Polo, Competitive Diving, Aquatic Safety, Synchronized Swimming and Recreational Swimming. The Paragon Awards are presented at the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A.
“The annual Paragon Awards bring some of the most interesting and fascinating people each year to the Hall of Fame,” said International Swimming Hall of Fame President/CEO Bruce Wigo. “These are the unsung heroes who make competitive swimming possible, who save lives, who promote water safety and further aquatic education.”
Bob Duenkel
International Swimming Hall of Fame
Joost Bierens, MD, PhD. – Water Safety
Joost Bierens of the Netherlands has been involved in water safety as a lifeguard, researcher,
author, congress chairman, key member of major organizations and international facilitator.
Academically, his PhD thesis entitled “Drowning in the Netherlands” highlighted pathophysiology,
epidemiology, and clinical studies at the University of Utrecht. He organized the first World
Drowning Congress (Amsterdam), the World Safety Congress (Portugal), and the Water Safety
Congress (Vietnam), where he presented numerous safety studies. He is the editor of the
“Handbook on Drowning-Prevention, Rescue Treatment”, which brought together 144 contributors
from 22 countries.
Joost Bierens of the Netherlands has been involved in water safety as a lifeguard, researcher,
author, congress chairman, key member of major organizations and international facilitator.
Academically, his PhD thesis entitled “Drowning in the Netherlands” highlighted pathophysiology,
epidemiology, and clinical studies at the University of Utrecht. He organized the first World
Drowning Congress (Amsterdam), the World Safety Congress (Portugal), and the Water Safety
Congress (Vietnam), where he presented numerous safety studies. He is the editor of the
“Handbook on Drowning-Prevention, Rescue Treatment”, which brought together 144 contributors
from 22 countries.
Theodore “Ted” Boyett, BS. MS – Recreational Swimming
Theodore “Ted” Boyett has been involved in swimming and recreational swimming all his life as
a teacher, coach, and aquatic director. He spent three years at the American College of Greece in
Athens, 12 years University of Rhode Island, 13 years at Georgia State University, four years at
Josephine County Parks Department in Oregon, and four in Lewis and Clark College in Portland.
Among others, he has over 5000 volunteer hours with the American Red Cross and has been
involved as a leader with the Boy Scouts of America, The National Swimming Pool Foundation,
and the National Spa and Pool Institute. Since 2011, he has been the facility Manager of the MCAA
Pool in Wisconsin.
Steve Foley – Competitive Diving
With 40 years of experience as a competitor and coach, Foley has turned around the USA diving
program with its best Olympic showing since 1988, winning one gold, one silver and two bronze
medals. As a three-time Olympic diver for Australia, he later became Great Britain’s National
Performance Director earning their first Olympic medal in 44 years, at the 2004 Games. He
currently serves as USA’s High Performance Director.
Chuck Hines – Water Polo
Chuck Hines enjoyed a 40- year career with the YMCA and was a strong advocate for Olympic
Water Polo. He was a three-time All-America player and coached at three YMCA teams that won
National Championships. He is the author of two instructional books, including “Water Polo the
Y’s Way” and served as Chairman of National Committees for the AAU, ASCA and the YMCA of
the USA.
Chuck Hines enjoyed a 40- year career with the YMCA and was a strong advocate for Olympic
Water Polo. He was a three-time All-America player and coached at three YMCA teams that won
National Championships. He is the author of two instructional books, including “Water Polo the
Y’s Way” and served as Chairman of National Committees for the AAU, ASCA and the YMCA of
the USA.
Sue Johnson – Competitive Synchronized Swimming
Sue Johnson has been the Chief Recorder and scoring chair at six Olympic Games, 1984 and 1996
to 2012. She also served as Chief Recorder and scoring Chair at four FINA World Championships,
five FINA World Masters Championships, and three FINA World Cups. She officiated at four Pan
American Games, four USA Olympic Trials, developed IBM scoring programs, created scoring
forms for the FINA handbook and developed a section scoring resources for the USA Synchro
website. She was a FINA presenter at a 2002 Chief Recorder clinic in Dallas
Mark Onstott – Competitive Swimming
Mark Onstott has been coaching boys and girls high school swimming for 38 years, elected as
Coach of the Year in Iowa, Texas and Illinois 13 times with 19 years at New Trier Township
High School in Illinois. His terms have amassed a record 900 wins for the boys and 13 state
championships for the girls and he developed over 160 High School All America Swimmers. He is
a past president of NISCA, has received NISCA’s highest award, the Hall of Fame Award and was
awarded the John Newman Award for outstanding leadership and service in Illinois.
