BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) once again highlights a former athlete as the league turns its attention to 1989 University of Richmond graduate and former water polo athlete George Edelman.
A 2016 inductee to the Richmond Hall of Fame, Edelman was born and raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the Hill School, George earned his bachelors degree at the University of Richmond, where he was a varsity athlete in both swimming and water polo. While at Richmond, he set six school swimming records, two conference records and was voted Colonial Athletic Association Swimmer of the Year his senior year.
It was his participation in swimming and water polo that led him to a career of physical therapy. During an ocean race at Zuma Beach in Malibu, he dislocated his left knee and underwent six months of physical therapy. It was during this time that Edelman developed a passion for physical therapy and decided to return to school.
In 1996, he earned a Masters of Physical Therapy degree from the Institute of Physical therapy in St. Augustine, Florida. The Institute of Physical Therapy, (now called the University of St. Augustine), is known throughout the world for its advancements in manual therapy and management of spinal disorders. Upon graduation, he was honored with the first Paris – Patla Manual Therapy Award.
Edelman moved to Tucson, Arizona, and worked in a physical therapy clinic that specialized in the management of spinal disorders. While in Tucson, he earned a Manual Therapy Certificate from the University of St. Augustine, Florida.
In 2000, Edelman and his wife Julia decided it was time to move closer to home and settled in Dover, Delaware. He became active with the Delaware Physical Therapy Association (DPTA) and was appointed chair of the Payor Relations Committee.
He served as Vice President of the DPTA from 2007 to 2010 and was elected President of the DPTA for 2011-2014.
In October of 2005, he was recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association as one of 31 emerging leaders.
An adjunct professor for the University of Delaware’s physical therapy program, Edelman participates in the school’s advanced orthopaedic class with emphasis on the spine.
He and his wife Julia are active with USA Swimming’s Sports Medicine and Science Network. In 2008 they were honored to receive USA Swimming’s High Performance award. Together, they participated on a Sports Science Task Force for USA Swimming to develop programs for the “UN-injured” Swimmer. In 2007 George was a keynote speaker at the USA Swimming National Convention and completed a project for USA Swimming regarding an active shoulder warm-up for competitive swimmers. The Edelmans were honored to join the medical staff of USA Swimming for the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska in 2012 and 2016.
