Albert Hubbard (born June 29, 1927) is an American synchronized swimmer, choreographer and coach. He is also an aquatic artist as well as historian of the International Academy of Aquatic Art.
Sportive career 1946-1954 Hubbard started synchronized swimming shortly after it was introduced in his birth town Detroit in 1946 by swimmers from Chicago. In 1949 he won the first Men's AAU Synchronised Swimming competition in the duet St.Louis Blues March with Lee Embrey.Synchro History - A compilation by Sue Edwards, 2010. As male soloist he became the US Junior National Champion in 1954 with A Viking's Prayer Before Battle.Synchronized Swimming History on the official website of United States Synchronized Swimming, 2010.
1955-present: Aquatic Artist, choreographer and historian With the introduction of the International Academy of Aquatic Art (IAAA) in 1955 men were welcomed in synchronized swimming events, and Hubbard created and performed as aquatic artist until 2009 in various compositions, especially solos, at many IAAA festivals throughout North America. In 1960 he choreographed two mixed trios Othello after Verdi's Otello and A Medieval Morality that were the first to receive top honors from IAAA in that category.Art music in figure skating, synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics/Kunstmusik in Eiskunstlauf, Synchronschwimmen und rhythmischer Gymnastik. PhD thesis by Johanna Beisteiner, Vienna 2005. pages 45-48. At that festival he presented the first male solo A World of Silence to be awarded First Class Honors from the IAAA. As the historian of the IAAA he documents the organization's history and artistic activities, and shares such information in IAAA's newsletter The Aquatic Artist.
Further reading Robert E. Kerper: Splash - Aquatic Shows from A to Z (published by Michael Zielinsky, 2002)2009 Buck Dawson Authors Award . Information about the book by R.E. Kerper on the official website of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, 2009. Beulah Gundling: Exploring Aquatic Art, International Academy of Aquatic Art, 1963. Information about the book by Gundling on Google website. Contains descriptions about five choreographies by Bert Hubbard. Beulah Gundling: Dancing in the Water, International Academy of Aquatic Art, 1976.Information about the book by Gundling on Google website. Contains information about the IAAA. Dawn Pawson Bean: Synchronized swimming - An American history. McFarland Company Inc. Publishers, Jefferson (North Carolina, USA), 2005.E-Book on Google website. Contains information about Bert Hubbard on page 51. Johanna Beisteiner: Art music in figure skating, synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics/Kunstmusik in Eiskunstlauf, Synchronschwimmen und rhythmischer Gymnastik. PhD thesis, Vienna 2005, (German). Contains information about Bert Hubbard and the IAAA (Chapter I/2: History of synchronized swimming, pages 40–55).Article about the PhD thesis by Johanna Beisteiner in the catalogue of the Austrian Library Network. 2005. (German and English)
References
External links
Official website of the International Academy of Aquatic Art, contains information about Bert Hubbard Official ISHOF website (International Swimming Hall of Fame) with information about the activities of the International Academy of Aquatic Art 2005 Who’s Who in Aquatic Leadership in the United States, Official Website of the United States Water Fitness Association, contains information about Bert Hubbard.