High swimming figures in Pensacola space historical past

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See how swimming is one other a part of the Pensacola space’s wealthy athletic custom.

• The Pensacola space has produced quite a few elite athletes, together with Olympians and Hall of Famers.
• This listing highlights eight nominees for the highest swimming figures from the Pensacola area.
• Three swimmers from the world, Beth Barr, Andrea Hayes, and Daniel Watters, competed within the 1988 Olympics.
• Legendary coach Steve Bultman skilled a number of native Olympians earlier than a profitable profession at Texas A&M.

No matter the game, the Pensacola space at all times appears to supply nice athletes.

This small a part of the northwest Florida panhandle has produced MLB and NFL Hall of Famers, golf main champions and monitor and subject Olympic gold medalists.

Swimming has its personal wealthy historical past too, with a number of Olympians and coaches who helped develop a number of the better of the very best throughout their time. It’s additionally the ultimate sport on our listing of USA TODAY’s companywide 250 for 250 collection.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will have a good time the 250 biggest American sports activities figures of all time. Alongside that nationwide recognition, the USA TODAY Network will highlight the roots of the nation’s sports activities tradition: the highschool athletes and sports activities figures who formed communities and outlined their states and areas. 

In current months, we have been honoring a number of the prime athletes in Pensacola space historical past.  

Below are the eight nominees for the highest swimming figures from the Pensacola space. Think we missed anybody? Email JFitzgerald@gannett.com to tell us who ought to have been included.

Beth Barr, Booker T. Washington

The first of three swimmers on this listing to signify Team USA on the 1988 Olympics, Barr received a silver medal because the leadoff leg on the 4×100-meter medley relay earlier than graduating highschool. She additionally completed fifth within the 100-meter backstroke and fourth within the 200-meter backstroke.

Barr graduated from Booker T. Washington in 1989, profitable the FHSAA 4A 100-yard backstroke titles in 1987 and 1988. She went on to compete for the University of Texas, the place she was a four-time All-American, profitable the 200-yard backstroke and swimming the primary leg on the nationwide championship profitable 200-yard medley relay in 1991 because the Longhorns romped to a workforce title.

Tori Bindi, Gulf Breeze

The most embellished prep swimmer in Pensacola space historical past, Bindi received the 2A 50 and 100-yard freestyle titles all 4 years from 2012-15.  Only 5 athletes in FHSAA historical past have received extra titles than Bindi, although none of these athletes received a state title after 1940.

Back then, there have been no limits on what number of occasions a swimmer may swim. Today, swimmers are restricted to 2 particular person occasions.

Just two swimmers since then can match Bindi’s eight particular person state titles. She went on to swim on the University of Florida from 2016-20, the place she competed on the 2019 NCAA Championship as a member of the Gators 800-yard freestyle relay workforce.

Steve Bultman, Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club

Bultman’s legendary teaching profession included stops at GPAC from 1975-79 and 1980-89. Locally, he’s greatest identified for putting Barr, Andrea Hayes and Daniel Watters on the 1988 U.S. Olympic workforce.

He coached at 4 different golf equipment and was an assistant at LSU and Georgia earlier than taking up as the pinnacle coach at Texas A&M in 1999. In 25 years main the Aggies, this system had 12 top-10 finishes on the NCAA championships and received eight convention championships. Bultman additionally coached six particular person nationwide champions, 80 All-Americans and 16 Olympians.

Donald Gibb, Tate

Gibb’s a long time within the sport began in Pensacola, the place swam for Tate and was the state runner-up within the 100 freestyle in 1979.

He then walked on at Florida, the place he was SEC champion within the 100 freestyle in 1982 and helped the Gators win the SEC and NCAA championship in 1983. At one time he was additionally the co-American document holder within the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.

Gibb has been in teaching for the final 40 years at each the school and membership degree. He was the pinnacle coach at Florida State from 1994-99, South Carolina from 1999-2007 and Daytona State from 2011-13 and has developed 14 Olympians in his teaching profession.

Morgan Farrell, Booker T. Washington

Farrell had a embellished prep profession with the Wildcats, profitable the 2A 100-yard butterfly state titles from 2004-06 and the 2A 100-yard backstroke state titles in 2005 and 2006.

She went on to swim at Tennessee from 2007-11, the place she was a four-time All-American.

Andrea Hayes, Booker T. Washington

The second of three 1988 Olympians on this listing, Hayes graduated from Booker T. in 1986. She received the 4A 100-yard backstroke in 1984 and 1985 and the 200-yard particular person medley in 1985.

Hayes received gold within the 800-meter freestyle within the 1986 Goodwill Games, a silver medal within the 200-meter backstroke on the 1987 Pan Pacific Championships earlier than ending sixth within the 200 again on the 1988 Olympics.

She additionally had a embellished profession at Texas from 1986-90, the place she was  16-time All-American and helped the Longhorns win three nationwide championships in 4 years.

Logan Robinson, Booker T. Washington

Robinson received the 2023 3A state titles within the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly as a senior for the Wildcats, then received the 200-meter butterfly whereas representing Team USA on the 2024 Junior Pan Pacific Championships the next summer season.

He’s competed at Florida State the final two seasons and is coming off an unbelievable sophomore marketing campaign. Robinson set college information within the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard butterfly received the 200 fly on the ACC championships and have become a four-time All-American.

Daniel Watters, Booker  T. Washington

The ultimate 1988 U.S. Olympian on this listing, Watters positioned 15^th within the 100-meter breaststroke. He additionally received three straight 4A 100-yard breaststroke state titles from 1986-88.

Watters swam collegiately at Texas, serving to the Longhorns win two nationwide championships.