Margaret Swan Forbes

Margaret Swan Forbes (June 13, 1919 - December 18, 2010) was a synchronized swimming coach, teacher, and author who helped synchronized swimming become recognized as an Olympic sport.^[1][2][3]

Career

She founded and trained San Antonio’s first competitive synchronized swimming team, the Silver Fins, as well as the San Antonio synchronized swimming teams the Cygnets and the Marlins; the Marlins were one of America's first coed synchronized swimming teams.^[1][3]

She was on the Synchronized Swimming International-Olympic Committee for twenty years, eventually serving as its chair and secretary.^[3][1]

She also taught swimming at San Antonio College, teaching Josh Davis among others how to swim.^[3]

In 1971, Sports Illustrated wrote a story about her work, and in 1973 she was named Sportswoman of the Year by the San Antonio Express and News.^[1] Also in the 1970s, Mildred Bailey asked her to establish and coach a Women's Army Corps synchronized swimming team; the team toured throughout Germany and the United States.^[1]

She published Coaching Synchronized Swimming Effectively in 1984; it was the first official teaching manual for synchronized swimming.^[1]

Legacy

She was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1989, was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, and was inducted into the Texas Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame in 2015.^[4][5]

Personal life

She was married to George Swan until their divorce, later marrying T. Harold Forbes, who died in 2003.^[1]

References