USMS Masters Swimming History
The USMS was formed in May of 1970 when Captain Ransom J Arthur M.D., a navy doctor, persuaded John Spannuth, president of the Coaches Association, to hold the first National Masters Swimming Championship.
Physical fitness for older swimmers was the goal and today nearly 60,000 members agree, Masters swimming is awesome!
Forty plus years later the goal hasn't changed. USMS is always promoting an active lifestyle via the pool no matter how old you are.
USMS has something to offer no matter your age or ability. Everyone is welcome.
Beginners can find comfort in knowing you are the majority! Many masters swimmers are not only novices but some are completely new to the sport. Yes there are many teams with huge groups of outstanding swimmers, but most teams are small and cater to you, the beginner.
Here is some additional information on how to find a team in your area. No excuses! On usms.org select the "local programs" tab and viola! You can search by zip code or address and input the distance you are willing to travel. The search will spit out local pools with open lap swimming times as well as facilities that boast a registered master's team. In Illinois alone there are over 80 locations to get your swim on.
Triathletes can also find a home with a USMS group. You can get that swim time you so want for your training regimen, and probably some advice on how to improve your technique. Did you know tri standout Sara McLarty swam for the University of Florida and coach Gregg Troy? She wasn't just an okay swimmer, but was consistently in the top heat of all her events at the NCAA Championships.
A new surge of post grads and former Olympians have taken center stage in the USMS world. This has made the 24-29 and 30-34 age group very competitive, and records have been falling steadily ever since.
Current competitors include all-stars Nathan Adrian, Anthony Ervin, Matt Biondi, Misty Hyman, Josh Davis, David Sims, Dave Wharton, Darian Townsend, Philip Morrison, Dana Kirk, Roque Santos, Alison Wagner, Karin LaBerge, and Rowdy Gaines to mention just a few.
This variety showcases how diverse USMS is and its capability to cater to everyone, plus it is fun and very social!
Log on to USMS.org and find blogs, workouts, and take part in the Go the Distance Program. It is a nationwide Nike and USMS program that logs your miles. Over six million miles have been logged so far! You can even win prizes from Nike.
www.usms.org/hist/40yrsofusms.pdf
