Our History
43 years of Making a Big Splash to Support Physically Challenged
Student-Athletes
What started as a drop became a ripple and then a wave, a nationwide wave, spanning over 40 years. Navigate through the years to explore the highlights of the Swim With Mike story.
"295 scholarships, 152 universities, 43-year history - turning tragedy into triumph."
- Mike Nyeholt
Dive into the History of Swim with Mike
1981
On January 2, 1981, Mike Nyeholt is involved in a motorcycle accident and is paralyzed from the chest down. After four months of rehabilitation, Mike makes a surprise appearance at the first Swim For Mike. Childhood friend and USC All-American swimming teammate Ron Orr rallies fellow swimmers and the Trojan Family to raise money for a specially equipped van for Mike to continue his studies at USC, raising $58,000. Mike is so grateful for the unwavering support that he pledges to pay it forward. He commits to swimming in the next event in 1982 to raise scholarship money for other physically challenged athletes. The Ripple Effect begins.
1982
In honor of Mike Nyeholt’s first swim, the 1982 event becomes the second annual Swim With Mike. Co-founders Mike and Ron have a vision to continue fundraising, offering scholarships for physically challenged athletes. Becki McCafferty, an All-American swimmer at UCLA, becomes paralyzed from a body-surfing accident. She is awarded the first Swim With Mike scholarship to pursue graduate studies at USC.
1983
Swim With Mike’s third annual swim-a-thon debuts the McDonald’s Swim Stadium at USC in preparation for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles with 99 Olympians participating in the event.
1985
Tenth Swim With Mike Foundation recipient Jeff Keith becomes the first amputee to Run Across America, running 16 miles a day for 8 months from Boston to Marina Del Rey. At the finish line in Los Angeles, Mike greets Jeff with a Swim With Mike scholarship for graduate school.
1988
Marc Little is awarded a Swim with Mike scholarship after he is shot in the leg not far from the USC campus, losing his leg due to complications from the gunshot wound. Mentored by Ironman Jeff Keith, Marc continues his graduate studies thanks to the scholarship, later graduating from the Gould School of Law at USC in 1994. Former President Gerald Ford serves as Honorary Chairman of the event and swims with Mike.
1989
David Lupash is awarded a Swim With Mike scholarship after becoming a quadriplegic from an ocean accident. Merlin Olsen and “Mickey” make a visit to Swim With Mike with David Lupash.
1990
President Ronald Reagan, a former swimmer and lifeguard himself, recognizes the impact of Swim With Mike and makes a personal donation, meeting with Swim With Mike Co-Founders Mike and Ron.
1991
Celebration of the 10-year anniversary commences with $700,000 raised since 1981, providing 20 scholarships. Mike presents the 1991 People Helping People Award to Betty White in recognition of her commitment to philanthropy.
1996
$1.3M is raised with 29 total recipients. Mike receives the California Governor’s Award from Pete Wilson.
1999
Sam Paneno is the first Swim with Mike scholarship recipient to attend a school outside of USC, completing his law degree at UC Davis School of Law. As a UC Davis running back, Sam dislocates his knee, and a severed artery results in the amputation of his lower leg. Sam goes on to be a legal advocate for children with special education needs. At Swim With Mike, Former NFL and College Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl Champion Lynn Swann is presented with the People Helping People Award.
2000
Rocky Paneno follows in his brother’s footsteps with a Swim With Mike scholarship, after falling six stories from a balcony in Florence, Italy, where he suffers multiple injuries and becomes a paraplegic. After overcoming tremendous roadblocks in rehabilitation and receiving a kidney transplant, Rocky goes on to complete his undergraduate and graduate degrees at USC, pursuing a career in education.
2001
Swim With Mike celebrates 20 years with $3 million and 38 scholarships provided.
2005
Triathlete, marathon runner, and Swim With Mike scholarship recipient Sarah Reinertsen makes history and becomes the first female amputee to complete the Ironman World Championship. Swim With Mike’s first fundraising event is held at the University of Hawaii.
2007
Swim With Mike raises more than $1 million, establishing a one-year high-water mark for the event. NFL Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks Pete Carroll and comedian Will Ferrell compete in a relay to celebrate the milestone.
2008
The Mayr Foundation, chaired by Former NFL and USC Quarterback and Sports Broadcaster Pat Haden, establishes a $250,000 endowment.
2010
Swim With Mike celebrates 30 years, awarding 92 scholarships with $10 million raised.
2014
Former USC Swimmer and Team Captain Fred Uytengsu donates $8 million to name the Uytengsu Swim Stadium at USC, appearing at Swim With Mike.
2017
Jake Olsen is awarded a Swim With Mike scholarship. Jake is the first blind Division I football player, joining the Trojans as a walk-on long snapper, after he became blind at the age of 12 due to retinoblastoma. Before he lost his eye sight, he met with former USC Head Coach Pete Carroll and attended a USC football practice, with a dream of someday making the team. Jakes goes on to become a motivational speaker and author, and launch a tech start-up company.
2018
38th Annual Swim With Mike raises $22 million to date with satellite events held across the country including Stanford University, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, and the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center.
2020
Swim With Mike celebrates 40 years of The Ripple Effect, changing lives for physically challenged athletes through the gift of education, raising $25 million and awarding 256 scholarships to recipients at 132 universities across the United States.
2021
Swim With Mike Foundation launches as a nationwide foundation in partnership with Jersey Mike’s founder, Peter Cancro, pledging a historic gift of $1 million
