A Comeback Love Story And Ice Cream Challenge: Masters Swimming Champion, Joe Wotton, EP 301

Ready for a great love story? Former national and world-record-holding Masters swimmer Joe Wotton joins us on deck to share the stories, nicknames, and love that shaped a champion’s life in and out of the pool. Joe Wotton, 66 years young, swims for Swim Melbourne Masters—the Mahis—and brings with him a lifetime in aquatics. His journey began in Massachusetts, continued in backyard pools after his family moved to Florida, and grew through high school swimming and water polo. One of the highlights of his early career includes racing at the Florida state championships alongside Olympic legend Rowdy Gaines, an experience he recounts with humility, humor, and deep appreciation for the moment.

Service, Swimmer Motivation, and Staying in the Water

Joe went on to swim and play water polo at the Air Force Academy, where he captained the water polo team, earned MVP honors, won a national title, and found success in sprint freestyle events. His career later came full circle when he returned to the Academy as a coach, using swimming as both motivation and connection with the athletes he led. Along the way, Masters Swimming became a constant thread—one that provided community, competition, and lifelong friendships wherever life and service took him.

Nicknames, Teasing, and the Gift of Belonging

One of the most entertaining threads in this conversation is Joe’s collection of nicknames, each tied to a distinct chapter of his life. As a young cadet, he was called “Stiletto” for his lean build. In water polo, his squinting without vision correction earned him the name “Squint.” Later, in a moment of good-natured teasing during weight training, an ironic Yoda impression led to the nickname “Power,” a call sign that followed him so persistently that some teammates assumed it was his actual last name. Even today, he still hears it called out in airports by fellow Air Force pilots. These nicknames aren’t just funny—they represent belonging, shared history, and the deep bonds formed through sport and service.

His Greatest Comeback of All Is Love

The most powerful comeback Joe shares, however, has nothing to do with swimming. He tells a beautiful love story about reconnecting with Debbie, the woman he dated in college but didn’t yet understand how to fully love. Years later, after both had gone through divorce, they found their way back to each other. More than 35 years into a happy marriage, Joe describes Debbie as his greatest accomplishment in life—a story that resonates deeply and reminds us that growth, timing, and second chances matter.

Why Masters Feels Like Home

Joe also speaks with gratitude about Masters Swimming itself, describing every meet as a kind of homecoming. He reflects on the joy of seeing familiar faces, encouraging one another, and sharing a love of the sport that transcends age and performance. Whether he’s training for the 50 freestyle, lifting weights, walking golf courses, or spending a month each year in the Florida Keys lobster diving with family, Joe radiates appreciation for a life well lived and shared.

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