Masters swimming

Akiko Nakazawa, a masters swimmer and open water swimmer from Japan

noun - Masters swimming is a fast-growing leisure and competitive activity for adults who enjoy swimming. Masters swimming is a formalized adult swimming training program for fitness or a competitive swimming event. The swimming events include competitions in a pool (short-course yards, short-course meters, long-course meters) or in open bodies of water (e.g., oceans, lakes, bays, rivers). Masters swim teams are groups of individuals (masters swimmers) who train and compete together in pools and in the open water.

Age Groups

They compete within age groups of five years: 19-24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95-99, and 100+.

U.S. Masters Swimming

United States Masters Swimming is the governing body of masters swimming in the United States, sponsoring competition at all levels both in the pool and in the open water. In addition, it sponsors programs for non-competitive "fitness" swimmers who train primarily for the health benefits that the activity offers to the aging athlete.