Sid Cassidy Named to International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Coach Stephen A. “Sid” Cassidy has been named an Honor Contributor to the International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2026, a distinction that recognizes his decades of leadership and his transformative impact on the world of aquatics.

While he is a familiar face on the Saint Andrew’s pool deck, Cassidy’s reach extends to the highest levels of international competition. He is widely regarded as the architect of modern Olympic marathon swimming, having dedicated his career to advancing the sport. As the longtime Chairman of the World Aquatics Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, Cassidy was the driving force behind the inclusion of the 10km Marathon Swim in the Olympic program, which made its debut at the 2008 Beijing Games.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame’s citation for Cassidy is simple but profound: "He has probably done more for the sport of open water swimming than anyone else." Steven Munatones, a prominent figure in the open water community, noted that Cassidy’s "infectious laugh" and "clear vision" allowed him to build an Olympic sport from the ground up with very little institutional blueprint to follow.

This same sense of mission has defined his time at Saint Andrew’s School. Since taking the reins in 2006, Cassidy has established the school’s Swimming and Diving team as one of the premier programs in Florida. His remarkable leadership has earned him the FHSAA Coach of the Year title four times, and he has been recognized as the top aquatic mentor in Palm Beach County over a dozen times. Under his guidance, the Scots have become a dominant force, consistently finishing in the top ranks at the State Championships and producing alumni who compete at the nation's most prestigious universities.

Despite these global and state-wide accolades, including his oversight of the World Cup circuit and World Championships, Cassidy remains deeply committed to developing the next generation of swimmers in Boca Raton. His induction serves as a reminder to his student-athletes that the man timing their laps is the same man who timed the world’s greatest Olympians into the history books.

The formal induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale. Cassidy will be honored alongside a prestigious group of legends, cementing his place among the most influential figures in the history of swimming.