U.S. Masters Swimming

Andy Grant had a 2025 to remember!

The Walnut Creek Masters member shattered six USMS records and one AQUA Masters world record in the 40-44 age group.

200 LCM free: 1:53.58

50 SCM free: 22.94
100 SCM free: 50.11
100 SCM free: 49.54
200 SCM free: 1:47.74 (AQUA Masters world record)
100 SCM IM: 56.39

”The 2025 season felt great, and I’m looking forward to breaking more records in 2026,” Andy says. His big target: the 200 LCM free at Summer Nationals in Sacramento, California. He also wants to take on the challenge to swim every yards event at a meet.

Good luck, Andy!

1 day ago | [YT] | 24

U.S. Masters Swimming

Andy Grant had a 2025 to remember!

The Walnut Creek Masters member shattered six USMS records and one AQUA Masters world record in the 40-44 age group.

200 LCM free: 1:53.58

50 SCM free: 22.94
100 SCM free: 50.11
100 SCM free: 49.54
200 SCM free: 1:47.74 (AQUA Masters world record)
100 SCM IM: 56.39

”The 2025 season felt great, and I’m looking forward to breaking more records in 2026,” Andy says. His big target: the 200 LCM free at Summer Nationals in Sacramento, California. He also wants to take on the challenge to swim every yards event at a meet.

Good luck, Andy!

2 days ago | [YT] | 38

U.S. Masters Swimming

Started at 39, racing by 40—DeeDee proves it’s never too late to become a swimmer.

In December 2024, DeeDee Bloemer took a brave first step into the pool with a candid admission: “I could barely swim! I couldn’t make it across the 25-yard length without stopping to breathe.” Her goal was ambitious—to learn the technique needed for her first Olympic triathlon by July 2025.

What she found with the Silverlake Sharks was more than just a training lane; it was a community that welcomed her as a complete beginner.

The results? They speak for themselves. Since incorporating swimming into her routine, DeeDee hasn't just mastered the water—she’s found a new gear on land, too. By using swimming as cross-training and reducing her high-impact running miles, she has set new personal records in both half and full marathons!

“I wouldn’t have been able to complete the swim of my Olympic triathlon without the support of my Masters team,” DeeDee says. Now, she’s already signed up for her next triathlon this summer and is preparing to register for her very first Masters swim meet.

But for DeeDee, the real magic happens in the early hours. “The camaraderie in my swim lane makes that 5:00 AM wake-up call worth it,” she shares. “You don’t have to be a swimmer in the 'traditional' sense to join USMS.”

This Adult Learn to Swim Month, we celebrate DeeDee for diving into the deep end and showing us all that the best time to start is now. 🏊‍♀️💙

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3 days ago | [YT] | 116

U.S. Masters Swimming

Marty Mennen, 89, just broke his first three AQUA Masters world records!

The Indy Aquatic Masters member set new SCM world records in the 90-94 age group in the 50 back (48.39), 100 back (1:46.33), and 200 back (3:58.39). (He was eligible for the 90-94 age group because swimmers’ age groups are determined by their age on Dec. 31 of the year.)

”I’ve been in Masters Swimming for a long time,” he says. “And since these are my first world records, they are very satisfying. But they are just one of the many rewards of Masters Swimming. I feel lucky to have been part of the swimming community and especially Indy Aquatic Masters.”

Amazing job, Marty!

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4 days ago | [YT] | 93

U.S. Masters Swimming

🚨 FINAL CALL: Spring Nationals registration closes tonight!
 
Join us April 30-May 3 in Greensboro, North Carolina, and swim alongside 1,800 swimmers from across the country. Whether you’re chasing a PR, looking to set a record, or just want to hang out with your swim friends, don’t miss this event.

Entries close at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on April 6. No late entries will be accepted.

www.usms.org/events/national-championships/pool-na…

6 days ago | [YT] | 44

U.S. Masters Swimming

Thank you to all swimmers, volunteers, officials, and partners for making the 2026 Sprint- and Long-Distance Open Water National Championships a success this weekend in Sarasota, Florida!

We hope to see you July 18 for our Marathon-Distance Open Water National Championship in Applegate Lake, Oregon, and July 25 for our Middle-Distance Open Water National Championship in Square Lake, Minnesota.

www.usms.org/events/national-championships/open-wa…

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6 days ago | [YT] | 44

U.S. Masters Swimming

🐸 A Frogman’s Return: From Navy SEAL to USMS National Contender -


"The water doesn’t care who you are or where you start. It only rewards work."

After 32 years away from the blocks, medically retired Navy SEAL Derrick Jaastad (53) is proving that the water always welcomes you back—even if the journey isn't a straight line.

Between a medical discharge at 31, a hip replacement, and two decades away from the sport, Derrick’s "mental rebuild" was just as grueling as the physical one. It all started with a single mile in the pool alongside his son, where Derrick admits he "barely made it to the end."

To prepare for this weekend, Derrick trained without a coach or a team, logging 25,000 yards a week solo. Using his "Frogman grit" and tech to track his data, he tested his engine last year at his first pool meet in three decades. Despite being "absolutely terrified" on the blocks, he found instant camaraderie in the USMS community, winning two of his three events.

Yesterday, the pool gave way to his true passion: the open water. Trading the black line for a "choppy adventure" at the 2026 USMS Open Water National Championship in Sarasota, FL, Derrick drew on his SEAL training to find calm in the chaos. His strategy and discipline paid off—he hammered out a 5K time of 1:13:09.1, placing 2nd in his age group and 6th overall.

For Derrick, swimming is more than a workout—it’s a tool for resilience. "I’ve lost a lot of teammates," he says. "Swimming is a tool to rebuild mental resilience. I'm swimming for a different reason now. If I can inspire someone else, it's just as gratifying."

Huge congrats on the podium finish, Derrick! Thank you for showing us what true grit looks like. 🇺🇸🏊‍♂️🔥

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6 days ago | [YT] | 64

U.S. Masters Swimming

Only 4.5 months ago, 35 year old pro triathlete Gabrielle Suver was airlifted to a hospital after a near-fatal hit-and-run. With a shattered body and multiple spinal fractures, it was a miracle she wasn’t paralyzed.

After 29 days in the hospital and months in a back brace, Gabrielle had to relearn how to walk. But her true recovery happened in the lanes with her Masters Swimming family.

Using the same grit that fueled her pro career, she returned to the water just 8 weeks ago with her Masters teams: Lake Gators Swim Club and SLAP (Swim Like a Pro). Today, she isn’t just swimming, she’s competing at the USMS Open Water National Championships in Sarasota.

Although it's her first race since the accident, she doesn't feel pressure.

“I’m doing this swim to prove to myself that anything is possible,” Gabrielle says.

For her, this race isn't about hitting pace goals. It's about not taking her body for granted and feeling gratitude in every stroke.

#mastersswimming #usmsnationals #openwaterswim #mastersswimmer

1 week ago | [YT] | 55

U.S. Masters Swimming

What a perfect finish to an incredible day yesterday. 🌅✨
 
Swimmers, friends, and family came together for an unforgettable Chat & Cheer, complete with sunset views and post-race energy.
 
Proceeds from this event supported @swim_foundation and their mission of Saving Lives, Building Champions, and Impacting Communities. Thanks to everyone in attendance for showing up for the sport and each other. 🏊‍♂️🤝
 
Check out some of our favorite moments! 👇

‪@usaswimming‬

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1 week ago | [YT] | 37

U.S. Masters Swimming

Join us in celebrating Judy Young’s 100th birthday today!

The Nickel City Splash Swim Team member began competing in her late 50s, and she’s embraced the power of swimming to keep her mentally and physically sharp. Despite facing physical challenges and the heartache of losing many friends, she attributes her vibrant spirit and resilience to her loving swim community.

“I have loved swimming all my life,” she says. “I grew up on a bay and 45 minutes from the ocean, so I was in the water with friends almost everyday. As an adult, I came back to it when everyone started running and wellness became a big thing. Swimming is an easy way to exercise and have fun.”

1 week ago | [YT] | 154