USMS Ambassadors

Connect With Us!

Meet our 2026 social media ambassadors. You'll be able to find their content on U.S. Masters Swimming's social media channels this year.

Caitlin Gagnon

I've been swimming since 2000, whether at the club level, college, or Masters! When I finished college swimming, I was heartbroken to leave the sport that had meant so much to me. My club coach persuaded me it was time to join Masters almost as soon as I graduated. Masters swimming has introduced me to so many great people and taken me to amazing places, but it has also given me an encouraging and positive place to love this sport. Now I volunteer for USMS and tell everyone I meet that they should try Masters swimming.

Instagram: confusenthuse
TikTok: @glamourswammer

Arlette Godges

I'm honored to be a USMS ambassador. Swimming is lifelong passion for me. I started when my Mom would not let me out of the pool until I could swim a length above water. I could swim a length underwater but was unable to come up and breathe. But that skill made me unstoppable. I swam in Switzerland before coming to the U.S. to compete for a Division I team. The rest is history filled with memories. I coach Santa Barbara Masters and compete with Team Redbird. I love combining my profession of physical therapy with swimming.

Instagram: @ageupwell

Emily Huffer

After finishing four years of Division I swimming at the University of New Mexico, I'm lucky to be part of the few post-college swimmers who have fallen back in love with the sport. From swimmer to swammer and back to swimmer again, I'm thankful that each morning I get to swim with friends, be surrounded by great coaches, push my body, and get an awesome workout in (all before 7 a.m.)! I've learned that there is nothing else that is as good for my mental health and my overall well-being as swimming. You can't keep me out of the water.

Instagram: @emilynhuffer
TikTok: @emilynhuffer

Amy Okada

I began swimming when I followed my sister to her first lessons, soon realizing it was something I wanted to pursue. My love for swimming and competitive nature led me to swim for UCLA 2016-2020. Graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic and losing my last NCAA championship left me with no celebration, ending, or closure.

Because of this, I was motivated to continue my swimming career. I decided to swim professionally overseas in England at Loughborough University while earning a Master's degree. After that, I sought to remain involved in a swim community, leading me to join USMS. The past four years of USMS have brought me many new friends, training partners, and a lifetime of amazing memories.

With more than 17 years in the water, my journey has come full circle. I am now proud to serve as a registered dietitian for aquatic athletes, a swim coach, an ocean lifeguard, and a USMS ambassador, roles that allow me to support and inspire others in the sport.

Instagram: @mizusportsnutrition

Jing Li

I grew up swimming competitively, swam at Georgia Tech, and now live in the San Francisco Bay Area. After college, I needed to take both a mental and physical break after competing and training intensely for so many years. I started traveling a lot for work and eventually found my way back to the pool with the vibrant community at San Mateo Masters. When pools shut down during the pandemic, I discovered a new world of open water and marathon swimming with the South End Rowing Club. I love swimming - whether it's out in the wild like dipping into lakes or cruising in the ocean, pushing myself in 1-hour virtual swims, or racing the mile off the blocks at Masters meets. I'm also a new mom who swam all the way through my pregnancy including completing a double Alcatraz crossing, 10-plus-mile "Bay to Breakers," and the Trans-Tahoe relay. Swimming is my happy place, and I hope to share my love for the water with the world!

Instagram: @jingchik

Ralph Porrazzo

I grew up swimming competitively (high school and college) and reached Olympic trials and can’t see myself “retiring” thanks to Masters Swimming. I love the structure and peace swimming brings. I’m always looking for new ways to play in the water. My swim coaches are some of the greatest mentors in my life. The lasting friendships you make in this community are priceless. I’m grateful to wake up and hop in a pool to do what I love most. You can always find me by a pool, either swimming or coaching in Southern California. I'm looking forward to sharing my content with you, and I'll see you poolside.

Instagram: @poolsideguru
TikTok: @poolsideguru

Evan Johnson

As a 12-year Navy veteran and former swimmer for the UIC club team, swimming has been a constant source of discipline, focus, and peace in my life. My passion extends beyond personal fitness. I’m dedicated to teaching swimming to Black and Brown communities, helping others gain confidence and safety in the water. Through my journey, I aim to showcase the power of swimming as a tool for wellness, resilience, and unity. Being an ambassador in 2026 would allow me to share my story, inspire others to dive in, and build greater representation and access in aquatic spaces.

Instagram: @evanduegreatness
TikTok: @blackshark924

Cherie Wiser

I swam competitively growing up and had an opportunity to swim on a small college team but went to a different university. Still, I swam religiously on my own while there. I was obsessed until a disabling back injury stopped me. I hung up my goggles for 15 years until my daughter decided she wanted to be a swimmer. I had to get back in the water and help her get ready for tryouts. I found moving in water again therapeutic for my back and my mental health. I slowly started to incorporate swimming into my back exercises, and I was hooked. Indy Aquatic Masters started a new location near me at a perfect time. I went to the first practice and fell in love. What I lack in speed and power I make up for in enthusiasm for swimming. The freedom of movement I have in water is so different than on land, and it’s been a miracle for my happiness levels. Masters swimming is for everyone, including people like me with limitations. I want to help spread the word.

Instagram: wholesome.ish.mom
TikTok: @wholesome.ish.mom

Jerry Chen

I fell in love immediately with swimming and have been swimming competitively for more than 18 years. Even though I've had my ups and downs with the sport, I've never strayed too far from the pool even after competing as a Division I student-athlete at the University of Pittsburgh. Having competed at nearly all levels of the sport, from summer league to international meets, as well as being both on deck as an athlete and coach, USMS provides me a great way to stay in this wonderful sport with the flexibility of making swimming whatever I want it to be.

Instagram: @jrryswim

Josh Ramirez

I didn't swim in high school, but I’ve always loved being in the water. In 2020, I joined USMS, and that’s where everything really began for me. What started as just a way to stay active turned into a real passion. I found myself drawn to sprint events and the challenge of pushing my limits every day. Swimming has brought me so much joy, from the early mornings and hard workouts to the moments of laughter with teammates. More than anything, I love the peace and happiness the water gives me and the friendships I’ve made since becoming a swimmer. It’s more than just a sport to me. It’s a part of who I am.

Instagram: @theslimspeedster

Luke Kleman

I swam collegiately at the University of Findlay, where I went on to earn my Ph.D. in physical therapy. What I love most about swimming is how it clears my mind, builds my confidence, and connects me with teammates who share the same passion. That love for the sport is what inspired me to continue as a coach, helping swimmers improve their technique, prevent injuries, and reach their full potential no matter their age.

Instagram: @drlukekleman
TikTok: @klemanl

Mallory Golski

When my gym teacher told my second grade class that swimming is the one sport you can do your whole life, I took note. I started swimming competitively a couple of years later, and although I didn't swim in college, I remained involved as a coach, first for the summer swim team I grew up with and now as the head coach for my local YMCA. Once my body AND mind both missed being in the water, I hopped in as a Masters swimmer in 2021 and fell back in love with training. These days, although I compete in meets on occasion, I'm much more inclined to sign up for an open water race. Whether I'm coaching young athletes or welcoming a new Masters teammate into the lane, I am most passionate about making swimming as inclusive as possible for EVERYONE.

Instagram: @malgrace
TikTok: @malgraceg

Ross Breitenbach

I began my lifelong love of swimming in Northern Virginia, where summer league meets first sparked my passion for the sport. That enthusiasm carried me through high school and into an elite AAU program, ultimately earning me a spot on the Virginia Tech swim team, where I specialized in sprinting. After college, I moved to California to pursue a career in television, build a family, and—like many—took an extended break from competition. Years later, I found my way back to the water, this time drawn to open water and distance swimming. When pools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ocean became both my refuge and my training ground. That dedication led me to compete at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. Today, I’ve come full circle, rediscovering my sprinting roots and racing times that rival my high school bests at 57, proving it’s never too late to find your fast again.

Instagram: @backhalfstrong

Trevor Hoyt

I'm a lifelong swimmer who competed at the University of California, Berkeley, earning NCAA All-American honors and contributing to an American record in the 200 medley relay. Swimming has shaped every part of who I am, teaching discipline, resilience, and the power of detail. As a coach, I emphasize technical precision and thoughtful training because I believe success in the water carries over into life. USMS embodies everything I value about the sport: lifelong growth, community, and joy in the process. My mission is to help swimmers of all ages continue thriving in and out of the pool.

Instagram: @SwimToTheT