Breaking Barriers, Defying Age: What Janet Carbin Taught Me About Masters Swimming—and Life!

If you watched Survivor Season 39, you remember her. Second-to-last person voted out. A brutal idol nullifier ended her run, but not her momentum. Janet Carbin didn’t just survive the island—she rewrote what “older” can do on national TV.

You also remember the first water challenge. Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel lined up, and Janet went stroke-for-stroke with her on a ~100-meter swim. Living rooms everywhere: wait, what?! That moment came from decades of showing up and a mindset masters swimmers know well—consistent work, clear goals, zero excuses.

The Masters Swimming Heartbeat

Janet isn’t just an open water diehard—she loves Masters swimming. She’s a leader on the Melbourne Mahis Masters swim team, the kind of teammate who shows up before sunrise, cheers loudest on the final 50, and makes the lane feel like family. She still pools swims, mixes in ocean miles, and helps set a tone that makes Masters swim workouts both challenging and welcoming. If you’re searching for Masters swim training, Masters swim teams, or U.S. Masters Swimming inspiration, Janet’s playbook is pure gold.

The Anti-Ageism Playbook, Courtesy of Janet Carbin

1) “Age is a number. Respect is earned.”
Swimming taught her the truest metric: the clock. Masters swimmers get this—effort in, improvement out. No shortcuts, just honest work.

2) Lead by example—always.
From Mahis practices to open water sessions, Janet does the work she asks of others. Preparation isn’t flashy, but it’s undefeated.

3) Own your age out loud.
Before turning 60, she started telling people, “I’m 60.” Owning it made space for joy, not limits.

4) Build a new relationship with your sport.
Bodies change; passion doesn’t have to. Shift from pool sprints to ocean miles, or butterfly to rowing. You’re not quitting—you’re adapting. That’s Masters swimming in a nutshell.

5) Be direct, be honest, own it.
Her self-talk is as clean as her coaching: say the thing, say it plainly, then own it. That clarity works in lanes, meetings, and life.

6) Listen to your gut.
Janet teaches athletes to trust their inner voice. Sometimes it says “push,” sometimes “pivot.” Wisdom is hearing both.

7) Move daily, sweat daily.
Six mornings a week: swim, spin, kayak, pickleball, trail ride—something. Not because workouts are always fun, but because feeling capable is.

8) Stay humble, keep learning—especially from younger swimmers.
On the Mahis and on the beach, mutual respect runs the show. That’s how ageism dies—through shared effort and earned trust.

For Masters Swimmers (and Anyone Who Wants to Be One)

Ageism shrinks possibility before effort even starts. Janet expands it. She didn’t tweak the rules; she played them straight—Masters swim workouts, accountability, courage, curiosity—and let results speak.

Try her three-step reset:

• Name it: Say your age. Stop negotiating with the calendar.

• Reframe it: If an old goal is off the table, add a new one to the table—open water races, technique blocks, strength, rowing, new distances, new roles on your Masters swim team.

• Earn it: Prep like it matters. Put in honest reps. Let the work, not the wish, build confidence.

Janet came into Survivor with four goals: break a glass ceiling for older women, start fire without flint, find an idol, and win. She didn’t get the million. She got something better—she blew up a stereotype and kept going, right back to the Melbourne Mahis and her open water crew.

My takeaway after talking with her: be authentic, own your age, and keep expanding your repertoire. Don’t tally what’s gone. Add what’s next.

So the next time someone labels you “too old,” answer with a smile—and your actions:

“Watch me.”