FINA World Masters Championships

Overall, the FINA Worlds Masters competition was an amazing and enjoyable experience for me!  It was exciting to be competing against such a large international group of swimmers and also inspiring to watch athletes of all ages and abilities swim with such passion and dedication (especially inspiring was watching those aged 70+ conquer the 400 IM.  As I paced and feared the unknown prior to my 400 IM, I took a few moments and sat on a chair next to the main pool and watched as the 70+ ladies fearlessly swam fly, bk, br & free and thought, if they can do, I can too!).  

 

It was a swim meet which brought many firsts for me - first time competing at a worlds event, first time competing in an outdoor pool (and also a temporary pool), and first time racing under the night sky.  I also had a few personal accomplishments - the one I was most proud of was swimming the 400 IM long course for the first time as a masters swimmer and actually getting through it relatively unscathed!  

 

Additionally, it was a meet of comradery and friendships for me - I enjoyed reconnecting with old varsity swimming friends, past masters friends, and also realizing I had many new Canadian masters friends - swimmers who I had met at the Ontario provincials and Canadian nationals held in Windsor this year, and although they were my fellow 40-44yr female competitors, they had become new friends.  It was also about meeting new international friends - I was surprised while in the marshalling/ready area prior to the 400 IM, when a fellow competitor from Mexico sitting next to me, asked if I would mind posing for a picture with her.  As her husband snapped the photo, I initially wondered why the picture??  It hit me that she was simply capturing the moment and enjoying her FINA Worlds Masters experience (and was making the most of competing at an international event).  I was lucky enough to be seated next to her 2 days later for the 200 IM - and once again her husband snapped photos in the ready area.  These once unfamiliar faces were now becoming familiar and friendly faces.   Finally, one of my favorite memories was looking up in the stands prior to my 800m free and seeing my fellow WAC teammates decked out in their orange team shirts knowing they had stayed up late for my night-time race to support me.