Masters swimming
Encyclopedia
Masters swimming is a special class of competitive swimming
for swimmers 25 years or older (Canada
and the USA allow adults 18 and over and have an 18–24 age group, while Australia
allows adults 18 and over and has an 18–24 age group). They compete within age groups of five years, with a swimmer's age group in a certain year determined by his/her age on the last day of that year (age is determined as of the day of the competition in the U.S. for meets held in non-metric pools):
Age Groups: 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, and so on at 5-year increments, the last group being for any age above 100 years.
The rules and distances are nearly the same as for senior swimming. However, meet programs include 2 mixed (2 men/2 women) relay events in addition to the all men's and all women's relay events. Mixed relays are swum exclusively in masters' competition. The age groups for the relay events is determined by the sum of the ages of each team component, allowing for swimmers of very different ages to compete together in the same team. Age groups for relays are 100–119, 120–159, 160–199, and so on at 40-year increments.
Masters Swimming is a fast growing leisure activity, particularly in North America and Australia but also in Europe. Most towns or cities now have masters clubs. Typically these are very friendly and welcome newcomers. The minimum requirements to join a Masters club vary widely, anywhere from the ability to swim one length of the pool to the ability to swim a kilometre without stopping. Club members will follow a set of different drills and swims each time typically covering anything from 1.5 km to 3.5 km. Each club will have lanes and so whilst the younger and faster swimmers who are competing nationally and regionally are at one end, the other lanes are for hobbyists who may have taken up swimming quite recently.
United States Masters Swimming is the governing body of Masters Swimming in the United States, sponsoring competition at all levels. 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.
Masters Swimming Canada is the governing body of Masters Swimming in Canada, listing swim clubs, competitions and provincial master swim associations.
organizes the FINA World Masters Championships
since 1986, but 2 editions were held in the pre-FINA era:
s for masters swimming, but they can only be set in masters meets. Masters swimming records are available at the FINA website masters section.
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
for swimmers 25 years or older (Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the USA allow adults 18 and over and have an 18–24 age group, while Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
allows adults 18 and over and has an 18–24 age group). They compete within age groups of five years, with a swimmer's age group in a certain year determined by his/her age on the last day of that year (age is determined as of the day of the competition in the U.S. for meets held in non-metric pools):
Age Groups: 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, and so on at 5-year increments, the last group being for any age above 100 years.
The rules and distances are nearly the same as for senior swimming. However, meet programs include 2 mixed (2 men/2 women) relay events in addition to the all men's and all women's relay events. Mixed relays are swum exclusively in masters' competition. The age groups for the relay events is determined by the sum of the ages of each team component, allowing for swimmers of very different ages to compete together in the same team. Age groups for relays are 100–119, 120–159, 160–199, and so on at 40-year increments.
Masters Swimming is a fast growing leisure activity, particularly in North America and Australia but also in Europe. Most towns or cities now have masters clubs. Typically these are very friendly and welcome newcomers. The minimum requirements to join a Masters club vary widely, anywhere from the ability to swim one length of the pool to the ability to swim a kilometre without stopping. Club members will follow a set of different drills and swims each time typically covering anything from 1.5 km to 3.5 km. Each club will have lanes and so whilst the younger and faster swimmers who are competing nationally and regionally are at one end, the other lanes are for hobbyists who may have taken up swimming quite recently.
United States Masters Swimming is the governing body of Masters Swimming in the United States, sponsoring competition at all levels. 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.
Masters Swimming Canada is the governing body of Masters Swimming in Canada, listing swim clubs, competitions and provincial master swim associations.
FINA World Masters Championships
FINAFina
Fina may refer to:*Fina, a character in the Skies of Arcadia video game*FINA, the International Swimming Federation*FINA, the North American Forum on Integration...
organizes the FINA World Masters Championships
FINA World Masters Championships
The FINA World Masters Championships are the world championships open for masters swimmers, swimmers that are 25 years or older and compete in age groups of five years. The championships are held biennially.-Events:...
since 1986, but 2 editions were held in the pre-FINA era:
- 1978 – Toronto, CAN (non-FINA)
- 1984 – Christchurch, NZL (non-FINA)
- 1986 – Tokyo, JAP
- 1988 – Brisbane, AUS
- 1990 – Rio de Janeiro, BRA
- 1992 – Indianapolis, USA
- 1994 – Montreal, CAN
- 1996 – Sheffield, ENG
- 1998 – Casablanca, MOR
- 2000 – Munich, GER
- 2002 – Christchurch, NZL
- 2004 – Riccione, ITA
- 2006 – Stanford, USA
- 2008 – Perth, AUS
- 2010 – Göteborg/Boras, SWE
- 2012 – Riccione, ITA
- 2014 – Montreal, CAN
Records
Like in senior swimming, there are world recordWorld record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
s for masters swimming, but they can only be set in masters meets. Masters swimming records are available at the FINA website masters section.