11th Annual Paul Bergen Jr.International SCM Championships

December 11-13, 2009
Beaverton, Oregon, USA


2009 Meet Info
Meet Info
Meet Times
Current Records
Record Progression
by Event
Top Times by Year
Meet Results
2000 - 2008
2008 Videos from FloSwimming.com
Swimmer Recognition
Olympians
World Championship
Record Setting
Venue
Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Map
Photo Gallery

The Tualatin Hills Swim Club Rises to International Standing

A Unique Swim Meet for the USA

The annual Paul Bergen Junior International SCM Championship meet is the only one of its kind held in the United States, bringing together young swimmers (ages 18 and under) from around the world.  Since its inception in 1999, this competition has included swimmers from the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Mexico, many of whom have achieved World and/or Olympic championships.

1999 - The Meet is Born!

With everything all the coaches, swimmers and parents of the Tualatin Hills Swim Club (THSC) had done from the team's beginning in 1957 to take THSC swimmers out to meet the world, what was left to do?  Bring the world to THSC!  At least that is what Coach Paul Bergen declared as the new mission of THSC.  And Paul certainly knew what world class swimming was.

Fast Facts on Paul Bergen:
  • Four-time Olympic Coach (1980,1984,1988. 2004)
  • Four-time World Championship Coach (1975,1978,1982,1986)
  • American Swim Coach of the Year (1977,1978)
  • Women’s University Swim Coach of the Year (1981,1882)
  • Canadian Swim Coach of the Year (1986)
  • International Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree (1998)
  • Women’s Collegiate National Champions (1981,1982 - University of Texas)
  • U.S. Swimming National Champions (1978 - Nashville Aquatic Club)
  • Canadian National Champions (1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988 - Etobicoke Swim Club)
  • 21 World Records (8 swimmers 1970 - 2000)
  • 24 American Records (8 swimmers 1970 - 1982)
  • 13 Canadian Records (7 swimmers 1982 - 1988)
The club picked up a new nickname, The Thunderbolts, a new logo and a great new home meet in December that brought in teams with outstanding swimmers from France, Germany, Canada and later Mexico to compete head to head with the best of the Thunderbolts in a 25 meter short course challenge. But bringing international swimmers to the pool for meets was only part of the plan. Paul had international Olympic champion swimmers coming to the club to train as well. The most famous was, without question, Inge de Bruijn who swam in the 1992, 2000 and 2004 Olympics, winning gold and setting world records along the way. 

2009 - The Tradition Continues

The Tualatin Hills Swim Club Thunderbolts are proud to once again host the 11th annual Paul Bergen Junior International SCM Championship meet.  If past meets are any indication, this year's meet will continue the tradition of fast, record breaking swims.