You Don't Have to Be Fast to Belong: Finding Your Place in Masters Swimming with USMS Staff Superstar Bethany Burchill

One of the biggest misconceptions about Masters swimming is that you have to be fast enough to join.

Maybe you've looked at a practice schedule and wondered if you'd be able to keep up. Maybe you've been away from the sport for years and assumed everyone else would be more experienced. Or maybe you've simply convinced yourself that Masters swimming is only for former college swimmers and national champions.

Bethany Burchill hears those concerns all the time.

As Manager of Club and Member Services for U.S. Masters Swimming, she's often the first person swimmers connect with when they're thinking about joining. After years in sports administration and now helping thousands of members across the country, she's discovered that most people aren't looking for the same thing. Some want to race. Some want to get healthier. Some are searching for a community. Others simply miss being in the water.

The good news is that Masters swimming has room for all of them.

Start With Your "Why," Not Someone Else's

It's easy to compare yourself to the swimmer doing butterfly in the fast lane or the teammate training for Nationals. But Bethany's advice reminds us that comparison is the wrong place to begin.

Instead, ask yourself a simpler question: Why do I want to swim?

Maybe you want to improve your fitness without putting stress on your joints. Maybe you're training for an open water event. Maybe you miss the feeling of gliding through the water after a long day at work. Or maybe you're hoping to rediscover the joy you felt as a kid when swimming was simply fun.

Your answer doesn't have to match anyone else's. In fact, it shouldn't.

The beauty of Masters swimming is that it allows every swimmer to define success differently.

Finding the Right Club Makes All the Difference

Not every Masters club has the same personality, and that's a good thing.

Some programs are highly competitive, with swimmers chasing national rankings and records. Others are centered on fitness, technique, and camaraderie. Many offer a little bit of everything, with lanes organized by ability and goals rather than age.

That's why Bethany encourages swimmers to spend time finding a club that fits what they're looking for instead of assuming every workout will feel the same.

If you're unsure where to start, the USMS Club Finder is one of the best resources available. You can search clubs near home, find places to swim while traveling, and often learn about practice times and coaching styles before you ever step onto the pool deck.

And if you're still not sure? Pick up the phone.

Bethany's team talks swimmers through these questions every day because finding the right fit often makes the difference between trying one practice and discovering a lifelong community.

There's No Wrong Time to Come Back

Bethany's own journey is a reminder that swimming doesn't have to follow a straight line.

She competed through college, built a successful career in sports administration, raised a family, and eventually chose to narrow her focus back to the sport she loved by joining U.S. Masters Swimming.

Today, she's more of a runner than a swimmer, but she hasn't ruled out pinning on a race suit again someday. In fact, when Kelly asked what event she'd swim if she entered a meet tomorrow, Bethany already had an answer: the 100 freestyle.

That moment says something important. You don't have to be training for Nationals to still see yourself as a swimmer.

Sometimes staying connected to the sport is enough. And when the timing is right, you'll know if it's time to dive back in.

Community Is What Keeps People Coming Back

When Bethany talks about growing up in swimming and raising her children in the Carmel Swim Club, she doesn't focus on medals or rankings.

She talks about community, supportive teammates, families who invested in one another, and a shared love for the sport that extended far beyond practice.

Years later, that's still what she loves most about her job. Whether she's helping a brand-new member find their first club or assisting a world record holder with paperwork, she gets to connect people through swimming.

It's a good reminder that while workouts may improve our fitness, it's often the people around us who keep us coming back.

Your Swimming Journey Doesn't Have to Look Like Anyone Else's

One of the best things about Masters swimming is that there isn't one definition of success. For one swimmer, success might mean qualifying for Nationals. For another, it might mean swimming three mornings a week before work. For someone else, it's simply having a place where they feel welcomed, challenged, and connected.

Bethany has seen all of those swimmers thrive because they've stopped measuring themselves against someone else's goals and started embracing their own. That's the invitation for all of us.

Find your reason. Find your people. Then simply enjoy the water.

If this encouraged you to take another look at Masters swimming, share it with a friend who's been thinking about getting back in the pool. Subscribe to the podcast for more conversations that help you live well and swim well, and if you have a moment, leaving a review helps more swimmers discover the show. You can also stay connected by joining our Mojo Messages, short encouraging messages sent straight to your inbox to help you live well and swim well. 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