Masters share their experiences and why they have continued swimming

Four masters swimmers have shared their experiences and why they have continued in the sport.

Colin Stephenson, Michael Read, Peter Stephens and Tony Cherrington have acquired decades of experience in Masters competitions, and each spoke to us about their journey at last year’s GoCardless Swim England Masters National Championships.

The quartet came away with 19 medals between them from Ponds Forge and for Gloucester’s Stephenson it was him wanting to regain his fitness that saw him take up Masters swimming.

He said: “I used to swim as a kid from the age of six. I think my parents taught me to swim. So I used to compete and then when I got married and had a family I had a break for about 18 years and then came back to it.

“The funny thing was I initially didn’t come back to compete. I was playing badminton as part of a work group and I was just really unfit. And I thought to myself, ‘I used to be so fit as a kid swimming’, so I went and found Gloucester Masters and said ‘I’d like to swim with you’.

“I started swimming and I just got fitter and fitter. It wasn’t long before I chucked myself in and carried on, I just really enjoyed it again.

“When I started, I didn’t realise that Masters existed – I just swam to keep fit. When I found out they competed, they said ‘you must swim in our relays’ and here we are.

“Masters clubs are very welcoming of swimmers to come along and compete. It’s a great place to be, it’s very friendly.

“Finding a club to swim in for me is so much better as it’s easier to swim at the pace you want to but also you can encourage and compete with each other.”

‘being part of the community’

For 82-year-old Cherrington, he turned his attention to Masters following the end of his international water polo career.

The fellow Gloucester swimmer took three golds and a silver and recommends for people to get involved and share some of the experiences he’s had in the sport.

When asked why he continues in the sport he joked: “It’s the only thing I can do properly!

“I won the 100 and 200 so I’m still doing quite well. Getting slower as you get older but I’m still really enjoying it.

“I was a Great Britain water polo player in my youth, so I just carried on through that. I may have stopped playing but I’ve carried on swimming.

“It can be very difficult but I would one hundred per cent say to people to join a club. It’s great to have that commitment because doing it on your own isn’t easy. You need to train and if you’ve been a swimmer, you’ve got to get fit again until it all comes back.

“We were in Japan last year, we’ve been in Serbia, Qatar, Finland – racing all around the world. There’s so many great experiences you can have with Masters.”

Brighton and Hove swimmer Michael Read started swimming 60 years ago, whilst Stevens has spent around 30 years swimming at Spencer and the pair are both desperate to get out there and compete.

Stevens said: “Masters is all about being social, staying fit and being part of the community. I just enjoy it. I encourage anyone who’s thinking about getting into swimming to just give it a go.”

Read added: “I’ve been swimming since 1955 and it’s always been great fun. I like to see all the old people and show them that I’m better than they are you see.

“I’d definitely say go for it. It really is great fun and you’ll grow and old and graceful. You never look back.”

There’s also a number of Masters events on the Swim England calendar for those looking for any upcoming competitions.