USMS Award Recipient

Capt. Ransom J. Arthur M.D. Award


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Recipient: Sandi Rousseau
Year: 2003
LMSC: Oregon

Sandi Rousseau received USMS’s highest honor for service, the Captain Ransom J. Arthur, M.D. Award, so named for the founder of Masters swimming. Sandi has an exceptional history of service to Masters swimming on all levels since 1983. Her service includes eight years as chair of the USMS Championship Committee, where she spearheaded many changes in national championship meets and she was the USMS liaison to seven national championship meets. Sandi had personal experience to rely on in the national championship arena, as she was meet director for the 1986 USMS Long Course Nationals, the swimming commissioner for the 1998 NIKE World Masters Games, and a driving force behind the 1995 USMS Long Course Nationals.

Sandi has been active on her Oregon LMSC board for twenty years, holding several offices and committee chair positions. She has also been president and secretary of her local team. She has drafted meet guidelines, contracts, and safety procedures on both the local and national levels. She has received numerous local awards for service as well as the National Championship Meet Award.

A recent move from Portland to Hood River has not diminished Sandi’s support for Masters swimming. Suddenly Hood River has a Masters team where none existed before. She was recently spotted “selling” Masters swimming at a post-workout breakfast to a lap swimmer who thought he was just going to get pancakes. To quote her teammates and swimming friends, “Her dedication, professionalism, work ethic, and integrity have been a blessing to Oregon Masters Swimming, the Northwest Zone, and USMS”.