HISTORY OF USA DEAF SWIMMING
United States Aquatic Association of the Deaf, an affiliate of the USA Deaf Sports Federation, was incorporated in April of 1990. By-laws were written and USAAD was accepted as a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization with its own identification number. USAAD affiliates yearly with AAAD, USS, USWP and is well represented at respective conventions. USAAD applies for grants and raise funds for its development and training programs. USAAD fosters national and international aquatic competitions. USAAD was replaced with USA Deaf Swimming (USADS) in 2007.
2024: World Deaf Youth Games. The United States withdrew from competition because of a lack of financial support. The games were hosted by Brazil from January 15-22, 2024 and included 6 sports - Swimming, Athletics, Badminton, Futsal and Table Tennis. Athletes were ages 18 and under.
2023: 6th World Deaf Swimming Championships was hosted by Aregentina in August 2023. A team of seven athletes, 4 men and 3 women, represented the United States with Head Coach Jon Maccoll. Team USA topped the medal chart brining home 25 including 13 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze.
2022: The 24th Deaflympics. Team USA competed in the 24th Deaflympics hosted by Brazil from 1-15 May 2022 in Caxios Do Sul (https://www.deaflympics2021.com/) and brought home 35 medals for Team USA including 16 Gold, 5 Silver and 14 Bronze. Matthew Klotz won 14 total medals and Carli Cronk won 12 Gold medals and set 4 Deaflympic records.
2021: World Deaf Swimming Championship (short course meters). The 1st Short Course World Deaf Swimming Championships (Short Course Meters) was held on November 15-20th, 2021, in Gliwice, Poland. Unfortunately, USADS withdrew from the competition because we were unable to generate adequate financial support to send a team and the USA was not represented.
2019: 5th World Deaf Swimming Championship (long course meters). Team USA competed in the 5th World Deaf Swimming Championships hosted by Brazil from 25-31 August 2019 in Sao Paulo. There were 29 countries participating in the event. Team USA brought 16 swimmers and returned with 6 Silver and 3 Bronze medals.
2017: The 23rd Deaflympics. The 23rd Summer Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey. There were 86 nations participating and 2,873 athletes.
2015: 4th World Deaf Swimming Championships hosted in San Antonio, TX. There were 22 countries participating in the event and Team USA had a large team participating.
2014: USDS changes its name to USA Deaf Swimming (USADS) to better align itself with USA Swimming and USA Deaf Sports Federation.
Hosted the First Deaf International Short Course Swimming Championships (DISCSC) on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus (official results) in Jaunary 2014. Meet Director, Doug Matchett, led the way offering a non-inclusive competition sponsored by both ICSD and USA-Swimming. Over 100 swimmers from nine different countries competed. Thirty-one (31) World Records were broken at the meet. Read the official report:http://deafswim.org/2014-discsc-new-england-swimming-officials-newsletter-report
USDS and USA Swimming Foundation host the first joint Make-A-Splash event following DISCSC.
2013: 18 New American Records, 2 New World Records
The USDS Team took 11 swimmers to the 22nd Deaflympic Games in Sofia, Bulgaria. The team, lead by Marcus Titus, achieved six medals total (2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 3 Bronze), 2 World Records, and 3 American Records. Many members were first-time Deaflympians and earned personal best times in their swims.
2011: 26 New American Records, 5 New World Records
The USDS Team took 19 Swimmers to World Deaf Swimming Championships in Coimbra, Portugal. The team brought back a total of 22 medals (11 Gold, 4 Silver, and 7 Bronze). The USDS Team was named 2011 World Deaf Swimming Champions. Marcus Titus was named Swimmer of the Meet and Coach Bill Snape was named Coach of the Meet.
2009: 14 New American Records, 8 World Records
21st Deaflympic Games were held in Taipei, Taiwan. The US Swim Team brings home two bronze medals. 100% of US Team performed best times.
2007: The United States Deaf Swimming (USDS) organization was formed and filed a 501 (c) (3).
2005: The 20th Deaflympic Games were held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center in Melbourne, Australia. The USA Swim Team brings home six medals, three silver and three bronze. Twelve swimmers and one coach represented the US Swim Team.
2001: 19th Deaflympic Games in Rome, Italy. USA Swim Team wins 17 medals in swimming and a fifth place finish in water polo. Ten swimmers and two coaches are on the USA team roster representing USADSF/USAAD.
1998: Deaf swimmers participate for the first time at the USA Swimming Disability Championships, twelve deaf swimmers competed in June 1998.
1997: At the World Games for the Deaf in Copenhagen, Denmark in July 1997, USAAD swimmers win 24 medals while the water polo players win the silver medal. Ten swimmers, twelve players, and three coaches and one team manager represented USAAD on the USA team roster.
USAAD launches its first WWW page in June 1997.
1996: USAAD hosts a successful fundraising casino event in Huntington Beach, CA in November 1996.
Six swimmers participate in a youth development camp in Iowa in June 1996. USAAD hosts an alumni swim meet with veterans from 1969-1993 World Games for the Deaf.
1995: USAAD sends a team to the 1st World Championships in Brugge, Belgium in August 1995. USAAD brings home 35 swimming medals and a bronze medal in water polo.
USAAD sends six swimmers, one coach, and one team manager to an invitational in Malmo, Sweden in March 1995.
1994: USAAD hosts a successful fundraising dinner/entertainment event in Buena Park, CA (Casino Night) in November 1994.
Fourteen members participated in AAAD/USAAD coaching clinic in October 1994.
USAAD sends seven swimmers, one coach, and one team manager to the annual USS DSO camp in June 1994.
1993: World Games for the Deaf in Sofia, Bulgaria in July 1993. USAAD brings home 33 swimming medals and a gold medal in water polo. Twelve swimmers, thirteen players, and two coaches are on the USA team roster representing AAAD/USAAD.
1992: USAAD sends four swimmers and one coach to an invitational in Minsk, Belarus in October 1994.
USAAD attends the annual USWP convention in Colorado in Spetember 1992.
Swimming and water polo tryouts are held in Fremont, CA in June 1992. Twenty eight swimmers, twenty two players, 4 coaches, and 5 officials’ participated. Athletes and coaches were selected for the 1993 World Games for the Deaf.
USAAD hosts its first annual Easter water polo camp at Cypress College in April 1992. This lasts from 1992-1997.
USAAD sends eight swimmers, one coach, and one official to Can-Am dual meet in Calgary, Canada in January 1992.
1991: Twelve players and two coaches participated in USAAD's first annual Thanksgiving water polocamp at Cypress College in January 1991. This lasts from 1991-1996.
USAAD attends the annual USS convention in Kentucky in Spetember 1991. USAAD continues to send a representative to the annual USS convention.
USAAD prints its first newsletter in Spetember 1991. USAAD has three editors since the founding of the organization: Lisa Herberger, Russ Bye, and Carrie Miller.
USAAD begins to supports water polo tournaments in California in the summer of 1991.
USAAD sends seven swimmers to a swim development camp in Mission Bay, Florida in July 1991
1990: USAAD holds its first meeting in November 1990. Doug Matchett, Barbara Ogle, and Reed Gershwind were present.
Past Games
2009 Taipei, Taiwan
2005 Melbourne, Australia
2001 Rome, Italy
1997 Copenhagen, Denmark
1993 Sofia, Bulgaria
1989 Christchurch, New Zealand
1985 Los Angeles, USA
