This lady set all types of records. See "Beulah Gundling, Pioneer in synchronized swimming, is eulogized" at
An Unusual JW Dies
by Kenneson 3 Replies latest social physical
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Beans
After reading this the question is "Did she stand for the anthem"?
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ColdRedRain
Aren't all JW's unusual?
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Nathan Natas
That link didn't last long...
Here's the text --
CONTACT: Bob Duenkel International Swimming Hall of Fame PHONE: 705-387-3811 and John Pearson Family Member PHONE: 954-709-6964
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Beulah Gundling, USA Pioneer Synchronized Swimmer Dies At Age 87
Beulah Gundling, USA pioneer synchronized swimming champion and founder of the International Academy of Aquatic Art died of complications due to colon cancer on October 1, 2003, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was 87. In 1950, Mrs. Gundling, known affectionately as Beulah, won the first-ever U.S. National Outdoor Synchronized Swimming Championship. She remained undefeated in national and international competition until her retirement from the A.A.U. five years later. Her strong point in these competitions was her dance compositions in which she spent countless hours designing her own costumes complimentary to her musical selection. Synchronized swimming was developed in North America with Canada holding the first solo championships and the U.S. limiting activity to team and duet until 1950. Beulah won the Canadian solo crown in 1949 before beginning her five-year reign in four Outdoor U.S. National A.A.U. Championships and one tie Indoors. Her good Canadian friend June Taylor shared the Indoor titles when Beulah was not competing.
Born in 1916, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Beulah learned to swim by reading Olympic champion Johnny Weissmuller?s book on swimming. Johnny went on to Tarzan fame and Beulah to water ballet fame in this small Iowa town, a hotbed for synchronized swimming.
In 1955, Beulah and her late husband Henry founded the International Academy of Aquatic Art, the ballet of water activity, more an expressive art form then a competitive sports skill. The Academy has become a worldwide organization devoted to promoting swimming as an art form and holds annual participation festivals.
In 1965, Beulah was inducted with the inaugural class of aquatic athletes into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF), located in her hometown of Fort Lauderdale. ISHOF is the world?s premier showcase to honor the elite aquatic participants. She and her husband Henry helped develop initial displays on synchronized swimming and aquatic art.
?Beulah?s passing is the passing of an era in sport and we will miss her. She was not only a great athlete and participant, she also used her untiring energy to promote the sport on the international level,? said Bob Duenkel, executive director of ISHOF. ?She had the honor of introducing solo synchronized swimming on an exhibition basis at the 1951 Pan American Games in Buenos Aires and the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland.? Her persistence helped synchronized swimming become an official Pan American Games sport four years later in Chicago and Beulah won the gold medal. It took another 32 years before Olympic synchronized swimming competition was initiated in 1984.
A graduate of Coe College, Beulah was a leading missionary in the rapid growth of synchronized swimming and water ballet with her books, film loops, in-person demonstrations, and lectures in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Bermuda, Argentina, Israel, England, Wales, Italy, Mexico, Australia, and Scandinavia. She continued swimming for fitness well into her 87 years and performed in water shows and pageants until only a few years ago.
She is survived by her adopted daughter Martha Pearson Bennett and step-grandson John Pearson, in addition to extended family in Ohio, Iowa, Indiana and California as well as the congregation of Jehovah?s Witnesses, of which she was an active and participating member.
Memorial Service will be Saturday, October 11th, 4:30pm at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah?s Witnesses, 1301 NE 38thStreet, Oakland Park, Florida, 33334. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY, 11201-2483.