{"id":504719,"date":"2022-05-02T04:14:53","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T11:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=504719"},"modified":"2022-05-03T18:09:58","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T01:09:58","slug":"editorial-distance-swimmers-deserve-better-at-u-s-masters-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/editorial-distance-swimmers-deserve-better-at-u-s-masters-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Editorial: Distance Swimmers Deserve Better at U.S. Masters Nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editorial: Distance Swimmers Deserve Better at U.S. Masters Nationals<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Kelly Palace<\/p>\n

As I write this, I\u2019m in attendance at the 2022 U.S. Masters (USMS) Spring National Championships in San Antonio. This is the 30th anniversary of my first ever USMS<\/a> Nationals. The meet opened on the first day with both the 1000 and the 1650 freestyles as the only two events. That\u2019s right, both on the same day. Some swimmers, including myself, did both of these events \u2013 because when you are a distance swimmer, these are your two best events \u2013 not ideal for the premier meet of the season.<\/p>\n

Having two distance events on the same day, and several other consistently repeated and negative practices for the treatment of distance swimmers, need to change. This commentary is only regarding the USMS Nationals and not local or zone meets.<\/p>\n

In 1992, I swam in my first ever USMS National Championships and set the national record in the 1650 yard freestyle for women aged 30-34. I fell in love with USMS Nationals. Fast forward three decades and I have swum multiple USMS Nationals\u2019 1650s, 1500s, 1,000s and 800s, so I\u2019m speaking from experience.<\/p>\n

Masters swimming provides an incredible community, not just for our physical fitness, but arguably as much for our mental and emotional well-being. Swimming, coupled with my friends in the Masters Swimming community, have helped me through breast cancer, divorce, caring for and losing my mother to Alzheimer\u2019s, and so much more.<\/p>\n

Now I\u2019m asking for support from the Masters community, its swimmers and its leadership in helping distance swimmers. It is my hope that this opinion editorial will start some important conversation for change.<\/p>\n

Distance swimmers work too hard to have their events marginalized and deserve to be treated the same as other swimmers. After seeing no change for 30 years (and recently surviving my fifth year clear of breast cancer and turning 60), I can no longer be silent about the second class treatment that distance swimmers receive when attending the U.S. Masters National Championships.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what needs to change at the national championship meets:<\/p>\n