All welcome at Masters swim clubs

A Masters Swimming Club operates somewhere on the Central Coast on most week nights and adults who can swim at least 100m, be it fast or slow, are welcome to join.

Groups at Gosford Olympic Pool, Peninsula Leisure Centre and Toukley Aquatic Centre are offering ‘come and try’ swim training sessions.

Joining up is also very affordable because the clubs are not-for-profit and operate purely for the love of swimming and to encourage everyone to swim regularly for fitness, friendship and fun.

Forresters Beach swimmer Paul Lemmon says the clubs are open to everyone.

“Don’t be in awe of the term Masters,” he said

“It doesn’t mean we’re exceptional swimmers, just that we’re over 18 years old.”

Generations Z, Y, X, Boomers and beyond are represented in Masters Swimming Clubs and each individual finds something good in the water.

Baby Boomer Paul Stalgis of Wyoming says Masters swimming helped him reclaim his fitness after his sporting life was crushed by injury.

“I loved touch footy, but by my early 30s, my knees were pretty shot,” he said.

“I asked the surgeon if he could fix my knees for the upcoming finals … he said the ‘fix’ was to start swimming instead.

“It was hard leaving footy but I’m glad I did as swimming has kept up my fitness and even strengthened my knees a little bit.

“Masters swimming is a great option for people with an injury as you can exercise at your own level and stay relatively pain-free.”

Of the wide range of exercise options available to Gen Z, Meghan Cronin from Umina Beach recommends Masters swimming for being social and inclusive.

“We all swim a distance, then joke and chat while we rest before pushing-off again,” she said.

“If you share your personal swimming goal with the team, be it an ambitious fast time or modest distance, they will adopt this into the training plan and cheer you on.

“The team helps you stay committed as you know you’ll be missed if you don’t go to training.”

Gen X’s Byron O’Loughlin from Toukley loves to travel and says being a Masters swimmer connects him with the locals.

“Now that my kids are old enough, my wife and I can travel more often,” he said.

“I’ve found Masters Swimming Clubs everywhere and they’re all very friendly.

“On holiday in Hobart, I looked up the local club and they made me feel very welcome to just jump into the water with them.”

Masters Swimming Clubs around the state and country also host race events and Gen Y’s Lauren Bradley of Bensville always has one in her sights as the next challenge.

“Rather than group people by age, Masters swimming races you with swimmers of similar speed, so you truly get to compete against yourself,” she said.

“An upcoming race pushes me to improve my fitness and technique so, at the event my ‘win’ is improving on my own best time.”

Gen Y’s Greg Moeller of Point Clare says his ability at work or sports has been thanks to others with the passion and patience to share their knowledge with him.

“When I swim now, I have this urge to pay it forward and help others feel really good in the water,” he said.

“I love seeing the ‘wow’ expression on a person’s face when they emerge after trying a slight tweak to their swimming stroke and getting an almost instant improvement.”

Every swimmer can be sure to find something positive at a Masters Swimming Club.

Dip your toe in with the ‘come and try’ sessions by reaching out to one of the Coast clubs.

Gosford Seagulls swim at Gosford Olympic Pool on Monday and Wednesday evenings; call Mike on 0439 628 559.

You’ll find the Ettalong Pelicans at Peninsula Leisure Centre on Thursday evenings; call Marion on 0413 827 479.

Toukley Aquatic Centre is home to the Wyong Wobbygongs on various evenings; call Byron on 0458 204 787.