Why Does Masters Swimming Continue to Grow? Fitness, Community and Adaptability are Key Reasons
Before the sun rises each morning, hundreds of pools across the country open their doors for swimmers – but not the ones you might expect. Instead of college athletes or energetic age-group kids, these lanes are filled with a far more diverse group: adults ranging in age from 18 to 104, and hailing from all kinds of athletic backgrounds. From Ironman competitors to casual lap swimmers, many of these athletes are part of U.S. Masters Swimming.
Growth
Masters swimming has grown steadily over the past few decades. According to its website, U.S. Masters Swimming currently has more than 60,000 active members. In 2018, USMS partnered with College Club Swimming, expanding its membership to include swimmers as young as 18 – a move that further expanded the organization. In 2023, the organization had a record-breaking turnout at its Spring National Championships, with nearly 2,500 registered athletes. A 2023 Swimming World article noted that results at Masters meets have become faster, partially due to increased participation.
The growth of Masters swimming has also been reflected at the club level.
Rick Walker, a founding member and associate head coach of the Sarasota Sharks Masters Swim Team, spoke about his experience with the U.S. Masters Swimming in a recent interview. Walker, who has competed in Masters swimming since 1985, has received several honors throughout his coaching career, including the U.S. Masters Swimming Coach of the Year award in 2023 and the Kerry O’Brien Coaches Award in 2020. He also set two world records in the 400- and 1500-meter freestyle during his competitive career.
Walker founded the Sarasota Sharks Masters program more than 20 years ago.
“We started in 2002 and there were three swimmers. At that time, we were swimming one workout at 5:30 in the morning,” he said. “Eventually, it grew to where we were offering three practices every day…We probably have about 140 swimmers who swim there on our roster actively, so the program has really grown.”
Today, the Sarasota Sharks Masters is one of the largest clubs in Southwest Florida, with more than 300 athletes registered. Walker said he has received several inquiries about joining in just the past few weeks.
Needless to say, U.S. Masters Swimming as a whole has come a long way since its founding in 1970. But what’s driving this growth?
Continuity
Photo Courtesy: Laura M. Hamel
Many swimmers want to continue in the sport after retirement. After years of daily training with swimming as a central focus, it can be difficult to suddenly stop competing.
Dr. Larry Black, a longtime swimmer in the Southwest Florida area, said swimming has always been part of his life and organized Masters swimming naturally fit into his routine. Black competed in Masters competitions from the late 1980s to the early 2000s, before transitioning primarily to triathlons. He has since completed 35 full Ironman races, along with numerous open water swims and national-level swimming competitions.
These days, he trains with U.S. Masters Swimming clubs two to three times a week. “On the day I die,” he joked, “I hope I have time to get a swim in.”
Health
One of the primary reasons for the growth of Masters swimming may simply be the sport itself. Swimming is widely considered one of the best forms of exercise for overall health. It’s low-impact, making it easier on the joints, while still providing a full-body workout and improving cardiovascular fitness. This allows for long-term participation, which is ideal for Masters swimmers, who compete across a wide range of ages.
Walker also spoke about swimming’s lasting health benefits. “Knowing how to swim well enough that you can get in and do a workout… to me that’s a key to lifetime fitness if you want to take advantage of it,” Walker said. “It really keeps you young.”
Adaptability
Swimming is also a flexible sport – offering a wide range of strokes, intervals and training levels. That adaptability allows people of all abilities and goals to participate, which may be part of the reason the sport continues to grow.
Julia Wreski, a current Masters swimmer with Swim Florida’s Masters group in Fort Myers, returned to the sport after 20 years through U.S. Masters Swimming. “The thing I really enjoy about Masters is that we are ‘masters,’” she said. “We can do or not do any sets. I swim for myself. I do it for my health… I like to call it aqua-therapy.”
Community
Masters swimming offers a strong sense of community for retired athletes. Chiqui Zabala, a former member of the Colombian National Team and current swimmer with Swim Florida’s Masters group, said community is a key part of her experience.
“I like Masters because I make friends, and we are all pushing each other to be faster,” Zabala said.
Zabala has been swimming since age two. When she first joined Swim Florida, there were only two Masters swimmers. Now, she and fellow swimmer Wreski are part of the growing group based in Fort Myers.
“I think people are now more into swimming than before,” Zabala said. “So not only former swimmers like me are on the team, but also people who are new to the sport.”
Looking ahead, the future appears bright for U.S. Masters Swimming. With its focus on community, competition and lifelong fitness, the program continues to show how the pool can remain a home for life.
