All-American Gerson Sobel

Gerson Sobel has been named USMS All American 13 times from 1986 through 2006 in recognition of his Masters swimming accomplishments. To be named All American for a given year, a swimmer must be ranked number one in at least one event on either the USMS National Top Ten Times list for short course yards, long course meters, or short course meters. Gerson was named All American in 1986 for Men 75-79, from 1990 through 1993 for Men 80-84, from 1995 through 1998 for Men 85-89, in 2000 and 2001 for Men 90-94, and in 2005 and 2006 for the Men 95-99 age group. He mainly competed in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle events.

In 1990 and 1991, he set five FINA Masters world records for the following events:

Men 80-84    50 LCM Free,    36.62, 08/03/1990,
Men 80-84  100 LCM Free, 1:28.22, 08/03/1990,
Men 80-84    50 SCM Free,    37.85, 10/27/1991,
Men 80-84  100 SCM Free, 1:27.87, 10/27/1991, and
Men 80-84  200 SCM Free, 3:22.37, 10/27/1991.

The annual Metropolitan Swimming Hall of Fame dinner took place Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Riccardo's Restaurant, in Astoria, Queens. About 40 guests attended the 2009 Induction Ceremony.  Inducted in the 2009 Hall of Fame were:

Bill Irwin—Swimmer/Coach
Sue Peterson-Lebow—Swimmer/Coach/Administrator and
99 year-old Gerson Sobel—Swimmer/HS, Masters

"Seniors Of The Freeport Recreation Center" by Al Bello (February 6, 2004, Underwater Portrait)—"Gerson Sobel, 93, of Rockville Center, New York swims his morning laps at the Freeport Recreation Center on February 6, 2004 in Freeport, New York.