CSU’s man in Rio

Wally Morton, who coached CSU swimming and diving for 39 seasons, was in Rio de Janeiro for the Summer Olympics along with his wife, Carol, a faculty member at Baldwin Wallace University. It was their 10th Olympic adventure.

“What attracts us to the Olympics is that it brings people from all over the world to celebrate in a peaceful way. We always love the culture of the host city and Rio was extraordinary. Everything about our experience was perfect,” he said. The Mortons were hosted by former CSU swimmer Cristina Santoni and her husband, Djan Madruga, a 1980 Olympic medalist, member of the 2016 Olympic organizing committee, and swim commentator for Fox Sports during the Rio games. “In 1983 the CSU swimming and diving team traveled to Rio as part of an exchange program with Gama Filho University, established by history professor Don Ramos to strengthen ties between two similar urban educational institutions,” said Morton. “Afterward, Carol and I hosted two students from Gama Filho — one was Cristina Santoni, who was a Viking swimmer in the 1984-85 school year.”

During the Rio games the Mortons attended the opening ceremony, gymnastics, slalom, canoe/kayaking, cycling, beach volleyball and swimming. They also spent time with former Viking Ian Murray, an Olympic coach for the East African island nation of Seychelles.
Murray, a four-year letter winner at CSU from 1997-2000, was a team captain and member of two Viking teams that won conference championships. “The embrace of all nations is what the Olympic spirit is all about. Carol and I have been to every Olympics since 1976. We are already looking forward to the 2020 summer games in Tokyo,” said Morton.