Articles and Videos
Why Swimmers Are Among the World's Most Attractive Athletes
How society, culture, and science influence what makes a person attractive, particularly highlighting the link between athletic involvement and attractiveness. According to scientific research, elite athletes of all ages are consistently rated as more attractive than amateurs because humans innately associate athletic success with biological fitness, health, and reproductive capability. Here's why swimming ranks high when it comes to perceived attractiveness.
High School vs. Masters Swimming: How Do They Compare?
Both high school and Masters swimming offer inclusive environments that emphasize camaraderie and hard work across varying skill levels. According to longtime coach Jennifer Dutton, the primary difference between the two is autonomy: high school swimmers face strict attendance requirements, parental pressure, and external resume-building goals, whereas Masters swimmers are entirely self-motivated, participating purely by choice. Despite differences in aging and performance expectations, both environments offer profound physical, mental, and social benefits, showing that swimming is a lifetime sport in which every participant holds equal value regardless of their speed.
Three Big Training Mistakes Masters Swimmers Make That Lead to Injury
What is one big difference between Masters swimmers and age group swimmers? You have more control over your training. Although you may do most of your swimming with a local Masters club, you have more control over how much you swim, what days you swim, and more freedom to adjust your workouts.
Underwater Kick Drill for Improved Breath Control
To become a more efficient swimmer, it's important to maintain a steady rhythm of breathing in and out during training. Consistent air flow helps lower heart rate and promotes relaxation, while providing the necessary oxygen to your muscles to propel you through the water.
Swimmer’s Guide to Pain-Free Knees
If you’re experiencing knee pain while swimming and you’ve ruled out a knee injury, the root of that pain may be in another joint. This article addresses primarily breaststroke kick and flutter kick, but the overall issues are similar in backstroke kick and butterfly kick.
Improving Core Connection
Swimming is a collection of complex motions that aren’t intuitive for humans, so technique errors are quite common. The No. 1 mistake swimmers make when swimming freestyle might surprise you, so let’s dive into what it is and how to fix it.
How to Do Butterfly Pull
The butterfly pull is challenging because it demands a lot of strength, a large range of motion, great timing, and a lot of skill. You must quickly get into difficult positions and then apply a lot of force to create propulsion. Here's what you need to know to do a great butterfly pull.
Infrared or In-Fad-Red: Does Red Light Therapy Actually Work?
Claims about the benefits of red light therapy are varied, running the gamut from hair growth and skin rejuvenation to reducing muscle soreness to improvements in mental health. As a result, some athletes have started using red light therapy to help with recovery. Here's what swimmers need to know.
Lights, Camera, Chlorine!
Timothy Olyphant, a successful actor whose career has included roles in "The Office," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Mandalorian," says his return to swimming was something he didn't see coming. He had switched off the swimmer part of his life after college. But the former competitive swimmer in him, once dormant, came back quickly.
Your Brain on Water
Researchers, psychologists, neuroscientists, and conservationists are spreading the word that we really are better in, on, or by the water. Their work aims to describe the exact mechanisms of that connection and provide the scientific evidence that will persuade everyone that our oceans, rivers, lakes, seas, ponds, and other waterways are worthy of preservation.
Sore Shoulders How to Know When to Push Through and When to Pull Back
Soreness is normal, but not all soreness is created equal. Some soreness is an early warning sign of injury. Other times, it’s just muscles tired from a tough workout. This article will help you distinguish between soreness you can train through and soreness that deserves closer attention.
Tart Cherry and Banana Nut Energy Balls
These energy balls are great to have for a no-bake, easy-to-make, on-the-go snack to fuel your next swimming or dryland workout. They’re portable, bite-sized treats and are good sources of carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and protein, as well as being vegan and gluten free with no added sugar.
A Bone to Pick
The outer part of your ear canal is made of soft cartilage, but your inner ear—which starts behind your ear drum—is nothing but bone sheathed in a papery layer of flesh. When your inner ear canal gets cold, it’s literally chilled to the bone. When exposed to cold water and wind, your inner ear will become irritated and respond by thickening the bone beneath your skin. The resulting bone spurs are called exostoses, more commonly known as surfer’s ear.
Feeling Off Your Game?
One of the reasons people can feel demotivated and stuck involves how they’re relating to the feelings their self-talk is bringing up. It may seem hard to believe in the moment, but as psychologists in every discipline like to say, feelings aren’t facts, they're information. Seeing them this way allows you figure out how to change your script so you don’t stay stuck.
Open Up
Some thoughtful preparation can help ensure you’ll have a great first outing in the open water, says Kirsten Read, a USMS Level 2 Coach in Southern Maine. She's coached hundreds of Masters swimmers from pool to open water over the years and offers the following tips and suggestions for helping ease into your first 1-mile race.
Strong Shoulders for Your Summer of Swimming
Summer is almost here and now’s the time to focus on your shoulders during your dryland training. The mobility and strength you build can help you enjoy your summer of swimming. Here are three shoulder mobility and three shoulder strength exercises to help you maximize your time in the water. Do two to three sets of these exercises twice a week.
From the Center Lanes: Jennifer Brooks Crozier
New England Masters Swim Club member Jennifer Brooks Crozier, 49, can’t do as much butterfly as she did when she was younger. Doing drylands to stay strong and swimming shorter repeats allow her to do less butterfly during practice, which spares her aging shoulders and helps keep her race ready.
Ask the Coach: Jake Andersen
When getting his swimmers ready for a 200 butterfly race, Valpo Masters coach Jake Andersen makes sure to emphasize the word rhythm. This set is a prime example of Andersen’s philosophy that form and rhythm breed success in butterfly.
Saved By Swimming
Documentary filmmaker and lifelong swimmer Michele Kuvin Kupfer, who was slated to compete at the 1980 Moscow Olympics but was denied because of the boycott, has always seen swimming as her refuge. In her new film “Parting the Waters,” she shares her greatest fears, deepest pains, and ultimate triumph. The film premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2025, where it won first prize for best feature documentary.
Saga of an Aging Masters Swimmer
Many thoughts were percolating in my brain as I prepared for the main set. A conversation with myself ensued about strategy for this mixture of sprints and recoveries. Should I sit out a 50 or go really slow to recover before the next sprint? This strategizing on how to get through 16 x 100s isn’t something I remember doing in my much-younger days as a Masters swimmer.
