AAU - Swimming

CSU INDUCT 6 INTO HALL OF FAME

11/01/2013

Written by: Spencer Tilus Originally posted on www.noco5.com by Spencer Tilus FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Six new members will join the Colorado State Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night during the annual Hall of Fame banquet at the Hilton Hotel in Fort Collins (425 W. Prospect Rd., Fort Collins, 80526). The event ...

Written by: Spencer Tilus

Originally posted on www.noco5.com by Spencer Tilus

FORT COLLINS, Colo.—Six new members will join the Colorado State Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night during the annual Hall of Fame banquet at the Hilton Hotel in Fort Collins (425 W. Prospect Rd., Fort Collins, 80526). The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. in the hotel atrium, followed at 6:30 by dinner and the induction ceremonies. The event will be emceed by 9News sports anchor and CSU alumna Susie Wargin.

One of the six winners was CSU swimming legend Ralph Hutton was born to be in the water.

In 1968, he set the NCAA record, the national swimming record, and the world record in the 400 freestyle. From 1969 to 1971, Hutton set numerous Colorado State swimming records and stroked his way to three individual Western Athletic Conference championships.

In the 1970 campaign, the British Columbia native set the conference record in the 200-, 500- and 1650-freestyle events. Closing out the year at the 1970 NCAA Championships, Hutton placed second in the 500 freestyle and the 1650 freestyle and fourth in the 200 freestyle, earning three All-America awards.

Hutton's college success was just a glimpse of what would become a storied career in the pool. He won the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national title in the 400 freestyle while finishing second in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 1500 freestyle.

Hutton would parlay his AAU and college success into an illustrious Olympic career, capturing a silver medal in 1968 as a member of the Canadian Olympic team, finishing second behind the United States' Mike Burton in the 400 freestyle.

Hutton competed on two consecutive Canadian Olympic teams from 1968 to the Munich games in 1972.

He won more than 20 national titles in Canada and set more than 20 national records from 1963 to 1972.
In international competition, he brought home 24 total medals, including his silver medal in the 1968 Olympics.

The CSU graduate is a member of the Canadian Swimming Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.