Gold Medalist Proven Product of Nebraska?s Culture

University of Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame

Randy York’s N-Sider

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Now that the inaugural Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame honor has soaked in and another child has been welcomed into the family, Olympic swimming gold medalist Adam Pinewill travel from his native Australia to Lincoln to receive that precious award during the Huskers’ season-opening football game against BYU on September 5th.

When Pine returns, fans will appreciate two of his staunch beliefs: 1) He truly thinks there’s NO PLACE like Nebraska; and 2) He genuinely believes that he’s a proven product of a Nebraska culture that embraces, processes and delivers success in academics, in athletics and in life. “The Hall-of-Fame news was a great surprise, and I still don’t think I’ve comprehended the ramifications of this great honor,” he told me. “I still don’t believe that a swimmer from Australia is being put forward and recognized in this inaugural list, especially when you think about all of the great sportsmen and sportswomen who have worn the Huskers’ Scarlet and Cream.”

Nebraska’s Culture, Enthusiasm Special, But Difficult to Describe

“I really loved the passion and the pride that Nebraskans bled for sport and specifically their support for game days,” Pine said. “Every Nebraskan knew the fall football schedule and jumped at the opportunity to support the other sports and athletes at UNL. When I tried to explain to people back home (in Australia)about the culture and the enthusiasm that Nebraska has toward all sports and all student-athletes, I realized how special Nebraska really was.”

Pine is the most decorated performer in Nebraska men's swimming and diving history. A 19-time All-American, he earned the second-most All-America accolades of any Nebraska male student-athlete in history, trailing only men's gymnast Jim Hartung, another of the 22-member Nebraska inaugural Hall of Fame class. Earning at least four All-America awards every year of his career in 1997-98-99-2000, Pine culminated his Husker career as the only NCAA champion in program history after winning the 100-meter butterfly at the 2000 NCAA Championships.

“I was lucky enough to study at UNL in the 90’s when there was just the expectation for success, both in the classroom and in the pool or any sporting arena,” Pine said. “The Athletic Department built a system for high performance and a culture of excellence and overall success. There was this huge investment in staff and personnel. Everyone was very focused on playing their part and performing at the highest level of every sport.”

Incredible Memories of National Football Titles and One of His Own

Nebraska's all-time leading point scorer at the NCAA Championships, Pine was also a four-time Big 12 Conference champion. His development at Nebraska helped him shine on the international stage, where he was a three-time Olympian. Only a few months after winning an individual national championship at Nebraska, Pine was a member of the Australian 4x100-meter freestyle relay team that won Gold at the 2000 Olympics.

The only Nebraska men's swimmer or diver to win an Olympic medal, Pine added a Silver Medal at the 2000 Olympics as a member of Australia's 4x100-meter medley relay. Pine also competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, earning a Bronze Medal in 2008 with the 4x100-meter medley relay team.

“It was pretty incredible to be at Nebraska when the football team won three national championships and for me personally when I finally won the 100-meter (butter) fly at the NCAA Championships,” Pine said. “I had some great success and placed in my main events every year, but it took me until my senior year to finally stand atop the podium as an NCAA champion.”

In Minnesota, Wife Sasha Saw Magic Moment, Leaning Over and Waving

Pine will never forget his most magical moment at Nebraska. “I remember the pool in Minnesota and the other Husker swimmers congratulating me,” he said. “My wife (fellow Husker swimmer Sasha Van Hamburg) was there, too, leaning over the grandstands and waving at me. I can still picture her face 15 years later.” Adam, 39, and Sasha, also a native of South Wales, Australia, are the parents of three children, Maximilian, Buster and Xander.

At Nebraska, both were motivated to strive for excellence in all aspects of their life. “There was this culture of striving to be the best you could be and leaving no stone unturned in your quest for performance,” Adam said. “That culture really set me up for a long and rewarding time in swimming and now continuing to work in the sport in my home country. It was the sense of urgency and commitment of the team environment that really had the most impact on me. I think that helped me achieve what I did.”

Lincoln: Perfect Training Environment for Serious-Minded Athletes

The Pines are eager to visit Nebraska and get an updated glimpse of Lincoln, now a proud member of the prestigious Big Ten, a conference well known for its ability to attract world-class student-athletes. “Lincoln really is the perfect training environment and place for someone to come in and focus on their sport and studies,” Adam told me. “It’s small enough that you can park right at the airport and drive in and out of town without traffic worries, but big enough to have excellent sporting facilities.

“Most importantly, it comes down to the people,” Pine said. “The locals really welcome those who come to Lincoln to study and compete. They make you feel like part of their family. What I remember most are the friendships and the camaraderie with other student- athletes, coaches and staff. That’s what I miss most from my time in Lincoln.”

Pine: Dream Big, Get Stuff Done and Make Sure You Have Fun

Like countless world-class student-athletes, Adam Pine has a fundamental formula to excel on the international stage. “Dream big, get stuff done and have fun!” he said.” You have to have a big goal and then strive to meet it. To get there, you have to work hard and get the job done. But none of this is important if you don’t have fun along the way.”

Learning life lessons is a continuous process, especially for a busy father of three who shares a vision with Sasha. “I’m still learning everyday and not sure what my most memorable lessons are or will be,” Pine said. “I do know that the reward isn’t always in the destination. It’s often in the journey, and my journey at Nebraska was definitely filled with wide and varying experiences.”

With that premise paramount in mind, Pike thanks “all my coaches, professors, friends, classmates and staff members that made my time as a Husker so valuable, memorable and instrumental in making me the man that I am today,” he said. “And a special thank you to the Hall-of-Fame Committee for bestowing this great honor. We’re humbled and eager to see another football game in Lincoln…what a great way to reconnect with the best fans in the world.” 

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Nebraska Athletics

Hall of Fame Profiles

Charlie Greene: Men’s Track and Field

Jim Hartung: Men’s Gymnastics

Steve Jung: Men's Tennis

Joe Kirby: Men's Cross Country

Christine Latham: Soccer

Liz (Mooney) Shaffer

Adam Pine: Men's Swimming

Shannon Pluhowsky: Bowling

Dave Rimingon: Football

Lori Sippel: Softball

Fran (ten Bensel) Benne: Women's Cross Country

Amanda Trujillo: Rifle