Masters Swimming is a program for adults designed to encourage fitness through swimming. The benefit of joining a local Masters Swim club is the expertise and personal attention received from the coach, the motivation and camaraderie of swimming with a group, and flexibility of service to all levels of swimmers. The Master Swimmers profile shows that 85% of participants have never been in a structured program, most participants swim 3-4 times weekly, 70% swim for fitness, while 15-20% have had competitive experience.

First started in 1981, Dallas Aquatic Masters (DAM) provides year round opportunities to increase physical fitness, improve stroke technique, receive regular coaching, and participate in social activities. DAM addresses common problems of beginning swimmers - fear of failure, fear of pain, lack of discipline, and lack of skill. This program is well suited for individuals who have taken swim classes before but never learned, have had unpleasant experiences in the water and are afraid to try again, or who want to swim but feel embarrassed, intimidated, or think it's too late. It is also a great program for experienced swimmers and those interested in competing. DAM Coaches are capable of working with swimmers who just starting to swim as a fitness activity to those who have competed at the highest levels.

A swimming program offers a great alternative for developing cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength. One major benefit of swimming as an exercise is the fact that water supports the body and eliminates the "bone-jarring shocks" of high impact sports. As a result, foot, knee and back injuries are almost non-existent. An ancillary benefit of improving swimming ability is increased confidence.

Founder of DAM, Jim Montgomery, states "swimmers in the masters program have a great opportunity to build confidence through their training. As our confidence builds, along with our ability to swim well, and as we acquire positive habits and attitudes in practice, a direct carryover in quality of lifestyle occurs. We find that this ease of achievement stretches into our personal and professional lives as well." This philosophy explains why a large number of DAM members are highly successful professionals. Montgomery's success in building the DAM adult swimming program is, in part, his belief that health and fitness excellence is not the "exclusive province of the very young."

Joining a Masters Swim club can also offer competitive opportunities in a variety of ways. Anyone 18 years or older can join United States Masters Swimming (USMS) which currently has over 40,000 members nationwide with a few members in their 90's and even 100's. There are over 450 local Masters Swim clubs throughout the country with Dallas Aquatic Masters being one of the largest and most successful. Competitions are organized by age groups of five-year increments (19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, etc. to 95 and over). Events include 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle (400, 800 and 1500 in meters) 50, 100 and 200 backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly and 100, 200 and 400 individual medleys. There are also freestyle and medley relays for men, women and/or mixed teams. Open water swims are held in most locales during the summer and can range in distance from one to ten miles. Special events such as seeing how far you can swim in one hour are contested through the mail. USMS hosts two national championship meets a year. A short course (25 yard pool) championship is held in May and a long course (50 meter pool) championship is held in August. These four-day events rotate to different locations around the country.

Dallas Aquatic Masters sponsors four local swim meets a year. A short course 25-yard meet in March, a long course 50-meter meet in July, a short course 25-meter meet in November and a fun Christmas Relay meet. World and U.S. records, Top Ten and All America rankings, All Star status and national champion are accomplishments recognized by USMS. Medals, ribbons and trophies are a part of many competitions and are awarded to all age groups. It is not uncommon to see older Masters swimmers, some in their 50's and 60's, swimming competitive times as fast or faster than they did when competing during their high school or college days. Nationally about 30% of Masters Swimmers compete in swimming meets on a regular basis (for DAM it's about 15%). Short course (25 meter and 25 yard) and Long Course (50 meter) pool meets, lake and ocean open water swims, postal meets, special events and international championships are all part of the program of masters swimming.