Jon Urbanchek, who's ever-encouraging "keep-it-movin' ... " mantra will be echoed across pools in the United States and beyond for many years to come, is our Carlile Cup for Lifetime Achievement, recipient for 2024.

The Carlile Cup, which was named after and in honour of Australian coaching legend Forbes Carlile and his fellow mentor and partner Ursula Carlile,  is granted to those whose contribution is not only deep in decades but delivered leadership, pioneering progress and made a significant contribution to the betterment of swimming. 

The 2023 recipients (a full list of recipients and the stories of their contributions will be added to the SOS+ archive for subscribers in due course):

• Brigitte Berendonk & Werner Franke, for their unrelenting pursuit of justice for all athletes affected by the Sporting Crime of the 20th Century, the fraudulent state plan doping program of the German Democratic Republic, which unfolded on the watch of the International Olympic Committee and member federations that have yet to acknowledge the injustice and the massive impact it has had - and continue to have - on the lives of athletes, primarily women, both those from East Germany and those who faced them in unfair competition.

The award is granted posthumously in recognition of Jon's towering contribution to swimming and the guidance he provided to generations of swimmers down many decades before he passed away at 87 last May.

By way of tribute, here is an extract from our recollections of Jon at the time he moved on.