Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1988
- Class:
- 1981
Christopher J. Hug '81
Hometown: Springfield, MA
Sport: Swimming & Diving
Year Inducted: 1988
“If it were easy, I wouldn’t do it.” That is the attitude Chris Hug took when he excelled as a distance freestyler and 400 IM specialist at the Smith Swim Center. Success in swimming requires a tremendous amount of hard work and effort. Hug knows what it takes. When he graduated from Brown, he was, arguably, the best ever at the university. After all, he left with Brown records in 500 free (4:30.16), 1000 free (9:20.42) and 1650 free (15:44.48) and 400 individual medley (4:03.84). All three of the distance freestyle times still rank as standards for current Bear swimmers. He also earned numerous All-Ivy and All-East honors and was a two-time Joe Watmough Most Valuable Swimmer (1978 and 1981) award winner. In addition, he qualified for the 1978 NCAA Championships, the 1980 United States Olympic Trials, where he was a consolation finalist in the 400 IM, and several indoor and outdoor national championship meets. His success at Brown was not unexpected since he arrived from Boston College High School with honors ranging from High School All-American to All-State to Boston Globe Swimmer of the Year to two state and one New England record. When asked on a sports information form what he wanted to achieve from swimming, Hug answered, “I want the feeling when I’m finally retired that I used my talent to the best of my ability and as a result have become a better person. I’d like to be a good example for other young swimmers, in terms of attitude, sportsmanship, hard work and humility.” He achieved all that. Chris, a policy forms consultant at Mass Mutual Life and a law student at Western New England College, lives in Springfield, Massachusetts with his wife Tonya.
