Dynamic Sets, Smart Strength, and the Long Game: Eddie Tiozzo’s Masters Swimming Mindset

Eddie Tiozzo brings an uncommon blend of precision and curiosity to the pool deck. At 52, racing for Fort Lauderdale, he swims with the focus of a scientist and the openness of someone who still enjoys being challenged by the work. His background spans water polo, Masters swimming, and a PhD in exercise physiology, but what defines his approach is how intentionally he connects strength, movement, and longevity.

Originally from Croatia and later settling in the United States, Eddie found his way into Masters swimming about fifteen years ago. What began as a way to stay active quickly became something deeper. A structure. A community. A space to keep learning.

Finding His Way into Masters Swimming

Eddie’s athletic roots are in water polo, not competitive swimming. He stepped away from the pool before college and didn’t return through a traditional pipeline. When he joined a Masters team years later, it offered something familiar and new at the same time.

The competitive edge was there. So was the freedom to explore different events, distances, and training styles. Over time, swimming became less about chasing a single identity and more about staying engaged with the process.

That mindset still shapes how he shows up today.

Choosing Challenges on Purpose

Despite identifying as a sprinter, one of Eddie’s proudest swimming accomplishments was completing a 10K open water swim in Bermuda. It wasn’t his comfort zone. It wasn’t his strength. That was the point.

In the pool, his best event is the 100 backstroke. His favorite is the 100 IM short course, a race that rewards balance, efficiency, and adaptability. These choices reflect how he thinks about swimming. Variety matters. Learning matters. Staying curious matters.

Training That Refuses to Be Boring

Eddie’s training week is clean and intentional. Four swim sessions totaling three to four and a half thousand yards per workout. Two gym sessions. One stretching session.

What he avoids is monotony.

Long, repetitive sets don’t hold his attention. Instead, he gravitates toward broken, dynamic work. Mixed distances. Multiple strokes. Changing intervals. Enough variation to keep both the body and mind engaged.

For Eddie, training should challenge more than just fitness. It should demand presence.

A Comeback Built on Patience

When Eddie talks about his biggest comeback, he doesn’t point to a race result. He points to his PhD.

He began his doctorate in exercise physiology at 32 and finished in his late thirties, a season of life that required real sacrifice. Time. Energy. Focus. The process demanded patience and long-term commitment, qualities that now show up clearly in how he approaches training and recovery.

That experience shaped his perspective. Progress doesn’t need to be fast to be meaningful. Consistency compounds.

Strength as a Non-Negotiable

Eddie’s advice for Masters swimmers is refreshingly grounded. Do resistance training. Keep your shoulders strong and flexible. Build the foundation that allows everything else to work.

Bands are a good place to start. Bodyweight exercises add another layer. Weights take it further. None of it has to be extreme, but it does need to be intentional.

He favors balance. Lighter weights and higher reps on recovery days. Heavier loads with fewer reps when it’s time to push. Assisted pull-ups for swimmers still building strength. Progress without ego.

Strength supports longevity. Skipping it catches up eventually.

Curiosity Beyond the Pool

Outside the water, Eddie loves to read. Real books. Paper pages. No audiobooks. Slowing down matters to him.

That same curiosity carries into how he engages with the Masters community. He values the conversations on deck, the people he trains alongside, and the shared commitment to staying capable and active over time.

It’s not about chasing youth. It’s about staying involved.

Why He Keeps Showing Up

For Eddie Tiozzo, Masters swimming works because it leaves room to think, adapt, and evolve. It rewards effort, but it also rewards awareness.

He trains to stay strong. He mixes things up to stay interested. He builds habits that support the long view.

That combination keeps him moving forward.

If you enjoy Masters swimming stories that explore curiosity, smart training, and staying engaged over time, you’ll feel right at home here. Share this with a teammate who likes variety in their workouts and purpose behind the work. Stay connected by joining our Mojo Messages, short encouraging notes delivered straight to your inbox to help you live well and swim well. What’s one small change you could make this season to keep your training interesting and sustainable? We’re cheering you on.

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice. Please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com