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Adolph Gustav Kiefer, born in 1918 and raised in Chicago, was an extraordinary figure whose life bridged elite sport, national service, and civic leadership. He won Olympic gold in the 100m backstroke at the 1936 Berlin Games, setting world records in this event. Adolph later served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as Officer in Charge of Swimming, where he oversaw survival training for more than 13,000 Navy swim instructors. He swam collegiately at the University of Texas, earning All-America honors and helping lead the Longhorns to a Southwestern Conference championship. In 1965, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In the decades following, Adolph Kiefer worked closely with Chicago civic leaders to expand access to swimming by advocating for the construction of public pools in underserved neighborhoods.
In 1947, he founded Adolph Kiefer & Associates, combining his passion for performance, water safety, and innovation. Adolph then went on to develop the first nylon material swimsuit, the modern kickboard, the modern soft-gasket swim goggle, the rescue can and rescue tube, as well as innovations impacting starting blocks and racing lane lines that are still utilized today.
Today, the company operates as Kiefer Aquatics, continuing his legacy of service, performance and safety in the aquatic community.
Kiefer Aquatics is the trusted source for competitive swimmers, lifeguards, and aquatic facilities. From performance swimwear and lifeguard uniforms to rescue gear, on-deck equipment, and general aquatic facility needs, Kiefer is dedicated to helping our customers deliver better aquatic experiences through trusted products, customized solutions, and exceptional service.
Through our sister brand, The Lifeguard Store, we further extend our commitment to lifeguards and water safety programs – trusted by the largest waterparks and thousands of municipalities, YMCAs, athletic clubs, resorts, country clubs, and military facilities everywhere.
Kiefer was founded in 1947 by Olympic gold medalist Adolph Kiefer, whose passion for performance, safety, and service helped shape modern aquatics.
Kiefer explored ways to improve the rescue can design and create entirely new, softer life-saving Rescue Tube solutions that would be easier to use for lifeguards and a more effective solution to stay afloat and save lives.
Kiefer's design & safety innovations for the modern rescue tube and rescue can continue to support water safety standards across the aquatic industry.
After observing freestyle swimmers performing the flip turn during races, Adolph Kiefer thought to himself, "If they can do it on their stomach, I can do it on my back".
Throughout 1935 and 1936, Adolph Kiefer worked tirelessly to refine and perfect a new innovative backstroke flip turn. Adolph Kiefer threw one arm across his opposite shoulder, over his head, and bringing his knees up to his chest, while spinning with his opposite hand - putting two feet firmly against the wall, and then finally taking a hard kick and a long pull to propel himself through the water. Amazingly, 70 years later, the "backstroke flip turn" Adolph invented is still commonly used.
Adolph Kiefer served in the Navy during World War II - as the Officer in Charge of Swimming. He was in search of a device to help new recruits improve the power of their kick - an essential ingredient in water survival. Kiefer developed a flat piece of buoyant plastic and fiberglass and dubbed it the "kickboard". The Swim Kickboard represented another pioneering innovation that changed the way we learn to swim and train today.
Kiefer invented the modern, soft-gasket swim goggles that keeps irritants like chlorine or salt water out of the eyes. This innovation in goggles provided the foundation for many of the goggles that most brands produce today.
Today's high-tech racing swimsuits trace their origins all the way back to when Kiefer developed the first nylon swimsuit in 1948. Adolph Kiefer won his Olympic Gold Medal in 1936 wearing a silk suit that was standard for racers at the time. A silk shortage some years later led suit makers to switch to polyester which proved to be heavy, stiff and uncomfortable.
Always the innovator, Adolph Kiefer met with a Chicago garment company that made nylon girdles, looking to craft a swimsuit that was lightweight and flexible. By 1948, Kiefer was selling the first nylon swimsuits, even customizing colors for swim teams. Nylon remains the most popular material for swimwear by every leading swimsuit manufacturer throughout the world.
"Waves" are a naturally occurring force that pose a challenge for all competitive swimmers. After careful modification, Kiefer has pioneered racing lanes to quell the "waves" providing additional turbulence-dampening in the pool so swimmers could move thorugh the water faster and easier. This revolution by Kiefer included a plastic sleeve-device that has a calming effect on wave turbulence that completely changed competitive swimming and the approach to racing lane line design!
