YMCA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
A CENTURY OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO OLYMPIC SPORTS
The relationship between the International Olympic Movement and the YMCA goes back to the first days of the modern Olympic Games; especially during the decades of the 1920’s and 1930’s where we played a key role in the international growth of this competition. The work of the Director of the Department of Physical Education of the YMCA of de USA, Mr. Elwood S. Brown, was essential. He was very involved in the organization of sport games among Allies during World War II. This work was perceived by Baron Pierre de Coubertin (considered the founder of the modern Olympic Games) as a direct threat to the Olympic Games and he wrote to Brown to that regard. Brown responded positively and committed to put the resources and infrastructure of YMCA to support the growth of the Olympic Movement. Almost without any help, Brown boosted the development of the Olympics in Latin America, Asia and India; developing YMCA sports in those countries. From the beginning, the YMCA promoted talented young athletes around the world to compete in the Olympics and, in many cases, it became the space in which athletes trained or coached more people when they finished their competitive years.
Elwood S. Brown YMCA USA
“BE STRONG IN BODY CLEAN IN MIND, NOBLE IN IDEALS.”
James Naismith
YMCA RECIEVED
TWICE TO THE OLYMPIC CUP The prestigious award was given to the YMCA University of Springfield in recognition to its contribution to the Olympic sports; particularly for the creation of Basketball in 1920.
In 1929, it received once again this award. This time it was awareded to the YMCA World Committee in recognition to its contribution to the international growth of the Olympic Movement.
CREATED IN 1895 IN THE YMCA OF
MASSACHUSETS Voleyball was created in 1895 by William G. Morgan. He was then the director of Physical Education at the YMCA of Holihoke, in the state of Massachusetts, USA.
WILLIAM MORGAN
INVENTOR OF VOLEYBALL
In 1895, he organized the first demonstrations of voleyball in search of a more “soft” sport than basketball, combining elements of other sports like handball, tennis, and even basketball.
CREATED IN 1891 IN THE YMCA OF
MASSACHUSETS AL
Basketball was created as a response to the need of doing indoor physical activity during winter time at the YMCA training school in Massachusetts, USA.
JAMES NAISMITH
INVENTOR OF BASKETBALL
This task was delegated to professor of physical education James Naismith, in 1891. He was able to attend the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, and see how his creation became an Olympic Game.
BOXER OF
TORONTO
YMCA
Son of an English bricklayer, Horacio Gwynne, he boxed at the YMCA of Toronto to lose weight and keep his job as a jockey.
HORACIO GWYNE CANADA YMCA
Later on, he became a professional boxer wining the gold medal of boxing “Elwood S. Brownn” in the bantamweight category during the Olympic Games of 1932.
LEARNED
TO BOX
AT THE YMCA
Considered a strong figure of his Community during his youth, Seifu was a mentor for youth while working and training at the YMCA in his community, the city of Addis Ababa.
SEIFU MAKONNEN ADDIS ABABA YMCA, ETIOPĂ?A
The idea of Makonned bieng a hero increased when he represented Ethiopia in box during the Olympics of 1972 in Munich, Germany.
MANAGED TO COMPETE
IN JUDO
DISGUISED AS A MAN She was the pioneer of female judo in the history of the Olympic Games. She threatened to sue the International Olympic Committee if this sport was not included in the Olympic Games of Seul in 1988.
RENA KANOKOGI NEW YORK YMCA, USA
LIED ABOUT HIS AGE
TO BE PART OF
THE TEAM OF THE YMCA The creative and iconic actor that played Tarzan on TV, won three gold medals, setting a new world record in 400 meters swimming, during the Olympic Games of Paris in 1924.
JOHNNY WEISSMULLER CHICAGO YMCA, USA
At 12 years old, he started practicing competitive swimming, lying about his age, looking to earn a spot at the swimming team of the YMCA of Chicago.
BEGAN HIS COMPETITIVE
CAREER AT THE YMCA Mark Spitz, swimmer who won seven gold medals during the Olympic Games of Munich, Germany in 1972, set an unbeatable record or 36 years.
MARK SPITZ
SACARAMENTO YMCA, USA
He was the most decorated athlete until his fellow countryman, Michael Phelps won eight gold medals at Beijing 36 years later in 2008.
YMCA TEAM
REPRESENTS
MEXICO
The basketball teams of the YMCAs of Mexico City and Chihuahua YMCA formed the core of the basketball team that represented Mexico in the Olympic Games of 1936 in Berlin, where the Mexican team won the bronze medal.
BASKETBALL TEAM 1936 MEXICO YMCA
TAUGHT
SWIMMING AT THE YMCA At the age 41, Dara Grace Torres became the first USA swimmer to participat in five Olympic Games in 24 years.
DARA GRACE TORRES FLORIDA YMCA, USA
She earned 12 Olympic medals: Four gold, four silver and four bronze medals.
GENERAL SECRETARY
OF THE YMCA
OF JAMAICA
Sarah Newland-Martin was born with deformed legs inspiring her to find new gifts and strengths.
SARAH NEWLAND-MARTIN JAMAICA YMCA
She became the first women with disability to compete the 'Across the Harbour' swim in Kingston Harbour and the first person with a disability to win an Olympic medal for Jamaica. Today, Sarah is the Executive Director of the Kingston YMCA in Jamaica and the General Secretary of the YMCA of Jamaica where she works for greater community inclusion.
DANIEL PURVIS SOUTHPORT YMCA UK
BRONZE MEDAL LONDON 2012 British champion in men’s artistic gymnastics. He played a key role in helping Great Britain to qualify to the Olympic Games of London 2012. Currently, he is training at the Southport YMCA and will participate in Rio 2016.
BRONZE MEDAL
2012
Matthias is an active member of the YMCA of Neckarsulm in Germany participating in outdoor camping. Albino and blind from birth, Matthias Is an athlete who represented Germany in judo in 2004 and 2008.
MATTHIAS KRIEGER
NECKARSULM YMCA, GERMANY
He won the Bronze Medal in the Summer Paralympics Games of 2012.
CHILEAN GYMNAST
WITH YMCA
BACKGROUND
He is the first Chilean in wining medals in Pan American and global competitions in gymnastics. He was part of Chile’s delegation during the Olympic Games of London 2012.
TOMAS GONZALEZ SANTIAGO YMCA, CHILE
Just like Tomas, his entire family are athletes who have participated in the YMCA of Santiago activities.