Dr Robert Stallman
Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Keig Stallman: The Science of Survival. He is a globally renowned expert in drowning prevention who has bridged the gap between competitive swimming and functional water safety for over 60 years. After earning his PhD from the University of Illinois, he served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph (1966–1975) before a long tenure as an Associate Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Science (1979–2004).
Stallman is a leading architect of the Water Competency framework, a paradigm shift that argues being able to swim traditional strokes is insufficient for safety. His research emphasizes 15 fundamental aquatic skills, such as: Breath Control: Researching the impact of goggle-free swimming on autonomous competence. Survival Skills: Prioritizing floating, treading water, and safe exits over competitive speed. Environmental Resilience: Studying swimming performance in challenging conditions like waves and with the added burden of clothing. Beyond his 50+ published research papers, Stallman has trained instructors and coaches across six nations and three continents. He is a Lifetime Honorary Member of the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation and the Greek Lifesaving Sport Association and a member of The Lifesaving Foundation.
His leadership roles include serving on the boards of the Royal Life Saving Society (1968–1972) and the Norwegian Lifesaving Society. Currently, he divides his time between Norway and Tanzania, continuing to consult for the Tanzanian Lifesaving Society (TALISS) to reduce water-related fatalities in developing regions.
To The Saviors
He is included as one of the saviors in the video tribute, To The Saviors.
