Articles and Videos
3 Myths About Backstroke (and the Truths Behind Them)
Here are three myths about backstroke and the truths behind them.
Can Swimming Cause Vertigo?
The official trailer for the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film “Vertigo” opens with a visit to a dictionary to describe this peculiar sensation. The definition supplied reads: “VERTIGO: ver’-ti-go—A feeling of dizziness… a swimming in the head… figuratively a state in which all things seem to be engulfed in a whirlpool of terror.”
Does Swimming Build Muscle?
The beauty of any form of training is that over time, your capacity for the work increases. “Practice makes perfect” can refer not only to your ability to play a piano sonata mistake-free but can also refer to your skills in executing a flawless 200-meter freestyle swim race.
USMS Announces 2026 and 2027 Pool Nationals
U.S. Masters Swimming on Thursday announced locations and dates for its 2026 and 2027 Spring National Championships and its 2026 Summer National Championship.
How and When to Use a Kickboard
As understanding of physiology has evolved, as well as knowledge of technique that produces fast swimming, drills, techniques, and equipment have also evolved in terms of design and use.
3 Myths About Dive Starts (and the Truths Behind Them)
There's a lot of bad information about dive starts out there. Here we bust three myths.
Holiday Gift Guide
Shop these USMS partner specials for holiday gifts, or just to start the New Year off right with some new equipment.
Two USMS Members in MISHOF 2024 Class
Puget Sound Masters member Charlotte Davis and Sarasota Sharks Masters member Diann Uustal are part of the eight-member Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame 2024 class.
USMS Elects At-Large Directors and Honors Members at 2024 Annual Meeting
U.S. Masters Swimming has concluded its at-large director elections and honored many of its deserving volunteers and coaches during its 2024 annual meeting.
How to Swim Modern-Day Butterfly
Butterfly was the last of the four competitive strokes to be created. Here's a retrospective on what was taught in swim schools and competitive programs years ago, and what the latest ideas are.
Matters of the Heart
Clifford was feeling good, in shape, and on target to meet his goals. But then, suddenly, something changed. For no apparent reason, his 1,000-yard repeat splits—typically rock steady at 15 minutes—began creeping up.
The Hidden Dangers of Microplastics
More and more research is revealing the damage to your body from microplastics. Understanding the effect microplastics has on your health is important so you can know what to do about it.
Better Aging Through Breaststroke
Given the absence of older swimmers at Olympic trials in most other events, it's hard not to wonder about the connections between breaststroke and swimming fast as we age.
Swimmer Mao
Growing up in Hunan province at the turn of the 20th century, Mao Zedong rose to power during a time of great shift and change in Chinese society. But he also grew up swimming in a pond on his family farm and carried a love for it well into adulthood.
Volunteer Profile: Kristof Kertesz
Kristof Kertesz helped get College Club Swimming launched and now works as a DC policy wonk, a job he carries over into his service on USMS’s Governance and Legislation Committees.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
Slow cookers are affordable, timesaving, and energy-efficient tools to cook delicious meals. This recipe requires minimal preparation.
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow?
Chlorine is great at keeping pools clean. Keeping hair soft and bouncy? Not so much. As a chemical compound more potent than a jug of household bleach, even relatively brief exposures to chlorine can cause skin and eye irritations, and leave hair dry, stiff, and discolored. But can chlorine cause hair to fall out?
The Optimists Advantage
When it comes to what makes a swimmer great, strength and technique are givens. Same with the ability to persevere. But an often-overlooked skill top performers need is optimism. Before it can work for you, however, you must know what it really is.
To Tow or Not to Tow?
Swimmers are often difficult to see in open water. Even if you’re wearing a neon-bright swim cap (you always do that in open water, right?), boaters and other waterway users may not notice you plugging along amid the waves and wash.
Cool Down for Longevity and Performance
After a challenging swim workout or a dryland session, cooling down your body and mind can help you avoid nagging aches and pains and help your body transition to recovery mode.
