United States Masters Swimming

Last updated
United States Masters Swimming
The logo of United States Masters Swimming.png
AbbreviationUSMS
Formation1970
Type National governing body (NGB)
PurposeOrganized adult swimming in the USA
Headquarters Sarasota, FL, USA
Region served
United States
Membership
60,000+
Official language
English
CEO
Dawson Hughes
Affiliations United States Aquatic Sports
Staff
18
Website http://www.usms.org/

Masters swimming is an organized program of swimming for adults. U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS), founded in 1970, is a nonprofit membership national governing body. The program began when the first National Masters Swimming Championships were held on May 2, 1970 at the Amarillo Aquatic Club pool with a few dozen swimmers. Captain Ransom J. Arthur, M.D., a San Diego Navy doctor, had persuaded John Spannuth, President of American Swimming Coaches Association, that the event would give older swimmers (ex-competitors and beginners) a goal for keeping physically fit. Arthur's mission of encouraging adults to improve fitness through swimming has grown over the years into a nationwide organization that currently includes more than 60,000 adult swimmers. [1]

Contents

Members participate in a variety of ways ranging from lap swimming to international competition. The program is organized by USMS, which provides organized workouts, competitions, clinics, and workshops for adults aged 18 and over. Programs are open to all adult swimmers (fitness, triathlete, competitive, noncompetitive) who are dedicated to improving their fitness through swimming. To be eligible for USMS competition, swimmers must sign up with USMS and obtain a membership card for a fee that varies by location. [2]

Triathlon sport which combines swimming, cycling and distance running

A triathlon is a multisport race with three continuous and sequential endurance races. The word is of Greek origin, from τρεῖς or treis (three) and ἆθλος or athlos (competition).

Swimming (sport) water-based sport

Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water. Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports, with varied distance events in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, and individual medley. In addition to these individual events, four swimmers can take part in either a freestyle or medley relay. A medley relay consists of four swimmers who will each swim a different stroke, ordered as backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle. Swimming each stroke requires a set of specific techniques; in competition, there are distinct regulations concerning the acceptable form for each individual stroke. There are also regulations on what types of swimsuits, caps, jewelry and injury tape that are allowed at competitions. Although it is possible for competitive swimmers to incur several injuries from the sport, such as tendinitis in the shoulders or knees, there are also multiple health benefits associated with the sport.

Competition

Although there are more than 500 local and regional competitions around the country that are available for Masters swimmers to participate in, less than half of the members compete in these meets. However, for those that do, there are a variety of events to choose from including pool meets, ePostal swims, and open water swims. Two national championship pool meets are held each year, which help to determine the USMS Top 10—the top 10 fastest times in the nation in pool meets that are sanctioned or recognized by USMS during the current season and is organized by age, sex and course. The swimmer with the fastest time in the USMS Top 10 in each age group, event, and course, plus the age group winners of the long distance events are further named to the All-American list. In each age group, the swimmer with the most All-American titles is named an All-Star. All of the results from the competitions, as well as a record of the USMS Top 10, All-Americans and the All-Stars are recorded and maintained on the web in the USMS Archives. [3]

History

Captain Ransom J. Arthur, a San Diego Navy doctor, had persuaded John Spannuth, President of American Swimming Coaches Association, that the event would give older swimmers (ex-competitors and beginners) a goal for keeping physically fit. In the early 1970s, Spannuth approached American swimmer June Krauser about the need for competitive swimming for adults. [4] With Arthur and Spannuth, she founded USMS. [1] Krauser helped organize the group and drafted its rules. [5] She became known as the "Mother of Masters Swimming." [4] [5] [6] [7]

June Krauser was an American swimmer. Known as the "Mother of Masters Swimming," she was one of the founders of United States Masters Swimming and set 154 national records and 73 world records. She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1994.

Krauser was an active competitor in masters swimming from the 1970s through the 2000s. Between 1972 and 2001, she set 154 national records recognized by the USMS. [5] [8]

Spannuth said that Krauser "literally wrote the book when it came to competitive swimming for adults and for the Special Olympics, and did more to kick-start those two programs than anyone will ever know." [6] Masters Swimming Hall of Fame inducted Krauser. [7]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "June Krauser of Masters swimming fame dies at 88". Sports Illustrated (AP story). August 12, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  2. United States Masters Swimming, usms.org, retrieved 2010-04-06
  3. U.S. Masters Swimming, usms.org, retrieved 2011-04-09
  4. 1 2 Barszewski, Larry (August 5, 2014). "June Krauser, 'Mother of Masters Swimming,' dies at 88". Sun Sentinel . Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Yardley, William (August 10, 2014). "Known as the 'Mother of Masters Swimming' June Krauser Dies at 88; Set 154 Records in the Pool". The New York Times . Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Times Wire Service (August 13, 2014). "June Krauser dies at 88; she was known as 'Mother of Masters Swimming'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Cohen, Howard. "'Mother of Masters Swimming' June Krauser dies at 88". Miami Herald . Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  8. "USMS National Records for June Krauser". United States Masters Swimming. Retrieved August 13, 2014.

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