Bob Christensen

Bob Christensen dedicated his life to swimming, coaching, and officiating high school swimming for 40 years. He spent 28 of those years as head coach of the Tosa East swim team, where he produced numerous individual state champions and All-Americans. In addition to coaching men’s swimming, Christensen helped coach several women’s swimming programs, served as National President of Phi Epsilon Kappa, and was involved with officiating, including as one of four organizers of the Metro Swimming Officials of Milwaukee. Possibly his greatest contribution to swimming in Wisconsin was Christensen’s involvement with Special Olympics Swimming. He was head coach for Wauwatosa Special Olympics from 1971 to 1992 and ultimately named Special Olympics State Director of Athletics. He served as the head swimming coach at the 1987 Special Olympics International Games and as one of eight officials at the 1991 Special Olympics International Games. Christensen was recognized with many awards, including Distinguished Service Awards from NISCA, WISCA, Wisconsin Special Olympics, Phi Epsilon Kappa, and the Boy Scouts of America. He was also honored as the NISCA Special Olympics Coach of the Year in 1993. For all of his achievements and contributions to Wisconsin swimming, Christensen was inducted into WISCA Hall of Fame in 1996.