FIRST Fest

The First Fest Countdown

DAYS HOURS MINUTES

	George Haines nominator: Kathryn Mathewson George Haines began the Santa Clara Swim Club in 1950 and was its first coach until 1988. His team produced a total of 53 Olympic swimmers who won 44 gold medals, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals. Enshrined with Haines in the International Swimming Hall of Fame are fifteen Santa Clara Club swimmers, more than from any other club. George Haines was three times Head Coach of the United States Olympic swimming team, and served on the support staff of four other Olympic squads. He was Head Coach of the United States team to the 1978 World Championships in West Berlin, a team considered the most successful in United States Swimming history in terms of medals won. In 2000 Haines was voted Swimming Coach of the Century. "Never before was such an array of great stars assembled in one club. He was the pioneer of the large super-swim club." (Swimming World Magazine, May 2006)
sports “firsts” submissions
	Golden State Road Warriors nominated by Victor Backer First wheelchair basketball team sponsored by the NBA – Golden State Warriors. All members are world-class wheelchair athletes. They take time out to provide demos at local schools and participate in many community events as well as half times for Warrior games.
	San Jose Sharks nominator: Trilby Parker During the 1993/94 season, just two years after becoming an official NHL hockey team, the San Jose Sharks have their FIRST season at the Arena, and in March of that season embark on a 9-game unbeaten streak that vaulted them into the Western Conference playoffs for the FIRST time in club history. Jaime Baker (now broadcaster for Sharks) scores the winning goal in Game 7 vs. the Red Wings to take the club to the second round.
	George Haines nominator: Kathryn Mathewson George Haines began the Santa Clara Swim Club in 1950 and was its first coach until 1988. His team produced a total of 53 Olympic swimmers who won 44 gold medals, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals. Enshrined with Haines in the International Swimming Hall of Fame are fifteen Santa Clara Club swimmers, more than from any other club. George Haines was three times Head Coach of the United States Olympic swimming team, and served on the support staff of four other Olympic squads. He was Head Coach of the United States team to the 1978 World Championships in West Berlin, a team considered the most successful in United States Swimming history in terms of medals won. In 2000 Haines was voted Swimming Coach of the Century. "Never before was such an array of great stars assembled in one club. He was the pioneer of the large super-swim club." (Swimming World Magazine, May 2006)
	Downtown Ice nominator: Blage Zelalich Downtown Ice, now in its sixth season in San Jose's city center, is the first and only outdoor seasonal ice rink where attendees can skate both directly under and around palm trees in a perfectly circular configuration. Since its inception, over 150K skaters have skated "under the palms." As far as I can tell, it is the only rink in the world where the ice is literally built around each palm tree - 32 of them. Downtown Ice is a wonderful recreational experience for children and adults of all ages.
	Joseph George Wines and the NHL nominator: Courtney Smith Kramer Bert George, owner of Joseph George Fine Wines in San Jose was the first person to ever partner with the NHL and Miner Winery to create licensed commemorative wines for the league. The winery's owner, Dave Miner, is a huge hockey fan and was hooked up with the league by San Jose-based wine retailer Bert George, a season-ticket holder of the league's San Jose Sharks. The bottles are limited-edition engraved or hand painted works of art, some of which retail at Joseph George's wine shop and the rest to individual teams for sale, with proceeds going to Hockey Fights Cancer and other charities. Masterpieces that reside at Bert's retail location include the Mario Lemieux Retirement Bottle and a hand-painted vintage presented to Owen Nolan.
	Ryan Nyquist, Warriors of Wood nominator: Joshua Russell nomination: Ryan Nyquist, Los Gatos native and professional BMX Biker, in partnership with the Police Activities League of San Jose, created the first "Warriors of Wood" BMX competition jumping event in San Jose, CA.
	Willie T. Ribbs, Jr. nominator: Julian Peeples Willie Ribbs, Jr., was the first African-American to ever race in the Indianapolis 500. He was born in San Jose.
	Antonio Esfanidiari nominator: Julian Peeples Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari is one of the world's best poker players. As a child, he moved to San Jose and grew up in our fair city. In 2004, Antonio won the World Series of Poker Main Event, the pinnacle of competitive poker, the first person from San Jose ever to do so.
	Rudy Galindo nominated by Sarah Moore First openly gay, and first Mexican-American to win a U.S. Figure Skating Championship
	Amy Chow nominator: Stephanie Morrison Amy Chow, from San Jose, was the first Asian-American woman to take an Olympic medal in Women’s Gymnastics in 1996 as well as a member of the first American team to win Olympic gymnastics gold.
	Chris Von Saltza nominator: Kathryn Mathewson Chris Von Saltza was the first female Olympian to win three gold metals in one Olympic Game (Rome, 1960). She won 5 gold metals in the 1959 Pam American Games. This led her to become the first American woman to break the 5-minute barrier for the 400m freestyle. She swam for the Santa Clara Swim Club under George Haines.
	Mark Spitz nominator: Kathryn Mathewson Mark Spitz swam for the Santa Clara Swim Club under George Haines from 1964 to 1967 while attending Santa Clara High School. In the 1972 Munich Olympics he was the first Olympian to win six gold metals in one Olympic. He held this title until 2008. The 1965 Maccabiah Games, one of the five largest sporting events in the world, was his first international competition. At the age of 15, in Tel Aviv at the Maccabiah Games, Spitz won four gold medals and was named the most outstanding athlete. In 1967, he established a record, winning five gold medals at the Fifth Pan American Games in Winnipeg. He held this record for forty years until 2007 when Thiago Pereira surpassed it at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. In 2007 he was inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.
	Kamba Tshionyi nominator: Kamba Tshionyi Kamba Tshionyi, a member of Stanford's men's basketball team from 1994-1998, was the first Stanford Cardinal to play in four consecutive March Madness NCAA tournaments.

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