Articles and Videos
Busting 3 Nutrition Myths for Swimmers
You may have seen trends on TikTok, Instagram, or other social media platforms: “Eat this not that to swim better.” “This is what I did to swim fast.” Social media is saturated with influencers and many people look to them for their opinions. But opinions aren’t the best place to start when you’re searching for evidence-based facts. Here are three common nutrition myths and the science-backed facts that refute them.
Swimmer’s Shoulder: When Stretching Isn’t Enough
John, an avid Masters swimmer, came into my clinic complaining of a nagging shoulder pain that wouldn’t go away. The pain was in the back of his shoulder and was especially sensitive during backstroke and butterfly.
Give Your Freestyle the Middle Finger
Many swimmers overlook their freestyle hand entry because feeling the problems caused by an improper hand entry as it’s happening is difficult.
What Swimmers Need to Know About Fins
For most swimmers, there are two primary reasons for using fins.
How Far Is a Mile in Swimming Actually?
Units of measurement are manmade and to some extent arbitrary. Many have a lengthy history, and the mile is one of the longest standing units of measurement that continues to be something many of us interact with daily.
How to Do Butterfly Kick
If you've ever felt that infamous piano on your back, you know how difficult butterfly can be. Without a strong and effective kick, butterfly can be almost impossible to swim well. Here are the key skills for developing an effective butterfly kick and how to improve.
Where Are They Now?
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of SWIMMER, we thought it’d be a great idea to flip through the first issue, March-April 2005, find a few people who were featured, and see what they’re doing today.
Volunteer Profile: Patrick Weiss
Michigan Masters member Patrick Weiss never swam as an age grouper or in college. He learned to swim as an adult in 2009 and swam in his first Masters meet that year.
Riding the Waves of Age
A recent study from the Stanford University School of Medicine found that aging isn’t a linear process. Though we get a year older with every trip around the sun, the health effects of age tend to spike at key moments—in our mid-40s and early 60s.
Lucky 115
Larry Raffaelli has used U.S. Masters Swimming’s virtual championships to help him keep time for the past 23 years.
Happy 20th Anniversary!
When this magazine launched with the March-April 2005 issue, the focus was simple yet profound: keep you informed about what’s happening within U.S. Masters Swimming and providing great content to help with your swimming.
From the Center Lanes: Tricia Campbell
Originally a sprinter, Tricia Campbell has expanded her repertoire to include middle- and long-distance races.
Ask the Coach: Aaron Schneider
Aaron Schneider developed a concept for his season plan for Riptide Masters in New Orleans that puts a heavy focus on counting strokes.
20 Years of SWIMMER
U.S. Masters Swimming came into existence in May 1970, and right from the beginning, the organization needed communications tools to keep members informed.
Using Strength Exercises to Improve Mobility
These three lower-body and three upper-body strength exercises will improve your mobility. Start by doing two rounds of each movement. As you build strength, you can add a third round and add weight to make these exercises more challenging.
Build Your Swimming Capacity
Think of capacity as the maximum exertion level you can sustain: your level of conditioning. You can build your capacity. You can improve the physiological adaptations that occur in your body and the mental fortitude you develop. Here’s an upper-body and lower-body circuit to help you improve your capacity.
Cool Down for Longevity and Performance
After a challenging swim workout or a dryland session, cooling down your body and mind can help you avoid nagging aches and pains and help your body transition to recovery mode.
Unlock Your Ankles to Swim Faster
Although your ankles and feet have a small surface area compared to the rest of your body, they can make a large impact if you have good mobility.
Unlock Your Extra Gear in the Water With Power
Here are three upper-body exercises and three lower-body exercises geared toward helping you develop power. Start by completing two rounds of each exercise and then add a third round as you build familiarity with the exercises.
Stabilize Your Body to Swim Better and Happier
Managing your body position is critical if you’re trying to swim efficiently. You could be very strong, but your strength won’t matter much if your hips and legs are sinking.
