World Masters Swimmer Spotlight: Mike Freshley, Lynn Marshall

Photo Courtesy: Mike Freshley/Eric Marshall

2016 Top 12 World Masters Swimmers of the Year

Mike Freshley, USA (75-79)

In 1995, 29 years after he finished swimming in college, Mike Freshley went to his first Masters meet.

“I met other Masters swimmers there, and they told me about another meet, so I started going to meets,” he said.

Soon, Freshley was hooked. Now, he attends a meet, on average, every other weekend. From his home in the San Diego area, he travels throughout California as well as to Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico for different competitions. “We’re swimming for life, we’re swimming for health, but we’re racing for fun,” he said.

His training routine? He gets to the Rose Bowl pool at 5 a.m. every morning—“And I hate it!” he said of the early mornings, particularly in the winter. In the evenings, Freshley completes 100 sit-ups, 100 lat pull-downs, 100 push-ups and 20 assisted pull-ups.

This past season, that routine paid off with 16 world records in 11 events, primarily in breaststroke. Freshley never fashioned himself a breaststroker—in college, when asked to train breaststroke, he responded, “Coach, I’m an IMer. I’m not a breaststroker”—but after more than 20 years of Masters swimming, he thinks he has finally mastered the stroke.

His records came in the men’s 75-79 division: LC—100-200 breast (1:27.74, 3:13.93), 200-400 IM (2:59.01, 6:34.91); SC—50 free (29.93), 50-100-200 breast (29.93, 1:25.38, 3:06.82); 100-200-400 IM (1:17.58, 2:55.45, 6:29.29).

Freshley believes swimming helps his body stay younger than his chronological age—he turned 76 in March—so he has no plans to reduce his swimming schedule over the next few years. As for breaking more world records, he’s not afraid to set some ambitious goals—even if he fails.

“Failure is just a sign-post that tells you, ‘Hey, I need to modify this, I need to change this and get better,’” Freshley said. “But it’s not the end of the world. It’s just part of the learning process.” —D.R.

Lynn Marshall, Canada (55-59)

For the second time in her career, Lynn Marshall is a Top 12 World Masters Swimmer of the Year. She first received the honor in 2011—the same year she was inducted into the Masters Swimming Hall of Fame.

Marshall has been on the Masters swimming scene since 1986, when she was 25. Since then, she’s broken Masters world records 56 times (as of Nov. 1, 2016) in seven different age groups (25-29 through 55-59). She also holds all-time Top 10 times in six age groups.

Marshall rebounded from a shoulder injury in 2015, which affected her training throughout the end of that year and the beginning of 2016.

Swimming in the 55-59 division for the first time, Marshall set WRs 14 times in 12 events: LC—400-1500 free (4:43.41, 18:46.00), 200 back (2:38.52), 200 fly (2:37.99), 400 IM (5:40.33); SC—200-400-800-1500 free (2:13.58, 4:37.35, 9:33.78, 18:06.01), 200 back (2:33.67), 200-400 IM (2:34.01, 5:23.08).

Marshall usually trains six times a week for about an hour-and-a-half each time—“about five kilometers per workout. I also do strength training—a bit of weights and a lot of shoulder stability exercises— and stretching.”

Her 2016 highlight was being able to meet fellow world record holders Leslie Livingston, Susan Williams and Laura Val. Marshall was particularly impressed by Val, who set four world records in one 1500-meter race. —T.B.

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World Masters Swimmer Spotlight: Mike Freshley, Lynn Marshall

2016 Top 12 World Masters Swimmers of the Year

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Mike Freshley, USA (75-79)

Lynn Marshall, Canada (55-59)