From Walk-On Grit to Finding Her Way Back: Bryanna Lacey’s Return to the Water

Bryanna Lacey didn’t ease her way back into swimming. She committed to it.

At 28, racing for Swim Fort Lauderdale, Bryanna stands out not just for her results but for the intention behind them. She’s a third-year medical student rotating through pediatrics, someone balancing early mornings, hospital shifts, and long training sessions with a steadiness that feels earned. Her presence on deck reflects discipline, curiosity, and a deep respect for the sport that shaped her early on.

This weekend at the Fall Classic Short Course Meters Meet, that commitment showed clearly. Bryanna walked away with the High Point Award, capping a meet that marked not just fast swims, but a meaningful chapter in her return to the water.

Learning to Earn Her Place

Bryanna didn’t grow up swimming year-round from the start. She began at 12, swam summer league, and didn’t move into club swimming until high school. Once she did, things clicked. She set records, leaned into distance freestyle, and discovered how much she loved the grind.

That drive carried her to the University of Indianapolis, where she made a bold choice. No scholarship. No guarantees. Just a phone call to the head coach and a promise to give everything she had.

She backed it up.

As a walk-on, Bryanna earned her place. She started scoring points. She found her stride as a distance swimmer. She swam three years for UIndy, graduated early, and learned what it meant to commit fully without external rewards.

Then she stepped away.

When Something Was Missing

Seven years passed without competitive swimming. Life moved quickly. Bryanna lived in multiple states, started medical school, and gave her body the rest it needed after years of intense training.

But rest wasn’t the same as fulfillment.

What pulled her back wasn’t just fitness. It was structure. Competition. The shared energy of a meet deck. The quiet accountability of teammates beside you. That pull brought her back to Masters swimming in 2024, and within months, she was racing again.

The connection returned quickly. So did the joy.

Training With Purpose

Bryanna’s schedule isn’t casual. She wakes at 4:20 a.m. every day to give medication to her dog before heading to 5:30 a.m. practice. By 8 a.m., she’s at the hospital. She swims five to six days a week, logs doubles on Saturdays, open water on Sundays, and fits in a run when she can.

Her yardage ranges from 3,000 to 6,000 per session. Favorite sets lean unapologetically long. Twenty-one 100s. Eighteen 200s. Preferably pulling.

Distance swimming still feels like home.

But now, it’s paired with perspective. Masters swimming allows her to train hard while still enjoying the process. The pressure feels different. The purpose feels clearer.

Strength Through Setbacks

One of Bryanna’s proudest moments didn’t come easily.

During her final collegiate season, she injured a rib during weightlifting just before mid-season championships. Medical advice suggested weeks off. Bryanna chose a different path. She raced anyway. She swam best times in the 200 freestyle, pushed through to conference championships, and delivered a personal best in the mile.

That effort earned her the team’s Perseverance Award, an honor she still holds close.

That same resilience shows up now. In open water nationals, where she became age group champion in the mile. In short course nationals, where she brushed up against college bests only months after returning. In the quiet consistency of daily effort.

More Than a Comeback

Bryanna doesn’t frame her return as chasing the past. Her goals are forward-facing. She wants to keep trimming time. She wants to stay connected to the sport she loves. She wants swimming to support her life, not consume it.

Masters swimming gives her that balance. It offers competition without burnout. Structure without rigidity. Community without pressure. It fits alongside medical school rather than fighting it.

That fit matters.

Why She Stays

For Bryanna Lacey, Masters swimming brings everything together. Discipline. Belonging. Challenge. Joy.

She trains because she loves the work. She races because she enjoys the test. And she stays because swimming continues to shape her as both an athlete and a person.

If you enjoy Masters swimming stories that explore perseverance, purpose, and rediscovering what you love, you’ll feel right at home here. Share this with someone navigating a demanding season or finding their way back after time away. Stay connected by joining our Mojo Messages, short encouraging notes delivered to your inbox to help you live well and swim well. What part of your life could benefit from bringing structure and joy back into the mix? 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