LONG BEACH, Calif. – Olympic swimmers Bruce and Steve Furniss, along with their Long Beach Swim Club Coach, Dick Jochums, will be inducted into the 2019 Aquatic Capital of America Hall of Fame September 19, 2019 at the Pete Archer Rowing Center adjacent to Marine Stadium in Long Beach.
The ACOA Hall of Fame honors Long Beach, California’s rich history of athletes from various aquatic disciplines; Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Sailing, Rowing, Surfing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Skiing and Lifeguarding.
The Furniss brothers were part of the powerhouse Long Beach Swim Club coached by Dick Jochums in the mid-70’s.
Bruce was a 1976 Olympic double Gold Medalist setting world records in each race. One of the most versatile swimmers during his era, Bruce
broke the 200 mt. Freestyle world record four different times,
claiming the World Record from 1975 to 1979. He also broke his
brother Steve’s 200 mt. Individual Medley record in 1975, an event not
contested in the 1976 Olympic program due to Cold War politics. Over
Bruce’s career he set 10 world records and was part of two NCAA
National Championship team titles while at USC. He was named World
Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine in 1975 and 1976. In 2004, he was recognized with the prestigious “Silver Anniversary
Award,” by the NCAA, an honor bestowed annually on six former
collegiate athletes for their professional accomplishments and
charitable endeavors in the 25 years since graduating from college.
Bruce has been inducted into the International Swimming, the Orange
County Sports, and the USC Halls of Fame. In 2000, Bruce was selected to USA Swimming’s “Swim Team of the 20th Century” and in 2016 was named a member of the Pac-12 All Century Swim Team.
Brother Steve was a two time Olympian winning a bronze medal in the
200 IM in 1972 and was co-captain of what most sports historians
consider to be the most successful Olympic team in history; the 1976
Men’s team that won 12 out of the 13 (92%) events contested and 27 of
the 35 (77%) swimming medals awarded in 1976. During his career Steve set two world records, won four NCAA individual titles and was part of three NCAA team titles while competing for USC. Steve was named to Pac 12 All-Century Swim Team and was also a two-time All-American Water Polo player while at USC. In 1984, Steve co-founded TYR Sport, and was named Inc. Magazine’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” for Orange County in 1994. Steve is recipient of the 2014 Endurance Live Industry Award for his contributions to the sports of swimming and triathlon.
While swimming for Jochums and Long Beach Swim Club, Bruce and Steve teamed up with Tim Shaw and Rex Favero to set the 800 mt. Freestyle Relay World Record which currently stands as the last club team, which was not a National or Olympic team, to hold a relay world record, a feat not replicated in 44 years.
Dick Jochums was one of the most prolific swimming coaches of his time placing swimmers on every major USA International Team from 1968 to 2006. He placed five swimmers and one woman on the 1976 Olympic Swim Team, more than any other coach and a team largely regarded as the best sports team in Olympic history. He coached 1975 Sullivan Award winner Tim Shaw who simultaneously held the world record in all four freestyle distances from 200 mt. to 1500 mts. He coached 25 world record swimmers and two Olympic gold medalists (Bruce Furniss and George DiCarlo), five Olympic silver medalists, and five Olympic bronze medalists. An early proponent of high-quality interval training, he was considered to be among the best middle distance coaches in the world while at Long Beach, the University of Arizona and Santa Clara Swim Club. In 2017, Jochums was inducted into the International Swimming, and in 2004 to the American Swim Coaches Association, Halls of Fame. He was ASCA’s Coach of the Year in 1974.
“It is a special honor to be part of the 2019 ACOA Hall of Fame class
along with such distinguished athletes from other aquatic disciplines,
but it is truly special to be inducted alongside my brother Steve and
our coach, Dick Jochums,” said Bruce Furniss. “We were blessed to
swim in an incredible era for men’s swimming and under the guidance of one of the best coaches of our time.”
The Furniss brothers and Dick Jochums will be inducted at the Annual
ACOA Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony on Sept 19th in Long Beach, CA.
Aquatic Capital of America Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, was formed in 2008 to promote the myriad of aquatic
activities offered in Long Beach, California; to recognize, honor and
support the City of Long Beach and its aquatic athletes, coaches, and
organizations; and to promote water safety and education. The
Foundation also supports community and regional efforts to cleanse
local waterways as well as to increase the number of local aquatic
facilities.
For tickets go to HTTPS://ACOAHALLOFFAME.FUNRAISE.ORG.
Believe Coach Jochums took 17 swimmers to the 1976 Olympic Trials. Seven made the team.
Along with his 2017 International Hall of Fame Honoree Induction, it is great to see the Long Beach area recognize all these individuals.
The clarity of his coaching philosophy reached beyond the pool deck. As his career unfolded, Dick’s frankness about training, competing, and struggle was tying those processes to the meaning of life and working towards achieving honor.
His transmittal of the Greek teachings of that process (Agon and Arete) perhaps was a greater gift to others.
Whether influenced by his coaching partnership with you as a swimmer or as an assistant on the deck with him, he offered up opportunities that… Read more »