xi fina world masters championships

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF U.S. MASTERS SWIMMINGwww.usmsswimmer.com

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2006 l VOL.2, NO.5

INCREDIBLERACINGXI FINA World Masters Championships

CATHYTIBBETTS

Ultrarunner, Ironman,

Masters Swimmer

KATRINA: AYEAR LATER

USMS Grants Provide Relief

to Friends in Need

DRYLAND EXERCISE

Matt Wren’s Advice on Strength, Stability

and Core Stabilization

16 USMS SWIMMER | september - october 2006 | w w w. u sm s s w i m m e r. c om

he Avery AquaticCenter at StanfordUniversity in Palo Alto,Calif., was the stage forthe XI FINA World

Masters Championships, heldAug. 3-17. More than 7,200people from 75 countries com-

peted in the five aquatic disci-plines: swimming, open water,water polo, diving and synchro-nized swimming.

Some 5,500 Masters swim-mers enjoyed sunny skies anddramatic moments in thewater, as competitors broke

161 world records during theeight days of swimming events.

“The venue is so wonderful,and the weather couldn’t havebeen better,” said Jane Asher,75, of Great Britain’s KingsCormorants club, and one ofthe most prominent interna-

tional guests at Stanford. Admitting that she was

“tickled pink” with her perform-ance, Asher shattered five worldrecords in the 100 (1:20.15),200 (2:59.64), 400 (6:13.20) and800 (13:00.65) freestyle events,plus the 50 fly (41.99).

A Spirit of Good Will Prevails at International Meet

XI FINA WORLDMASTERS

CHAMPIONSHIPSby Bill Volckening >>> Photos by Peter Bick

T

w w w. u sm s s w i m m e r. c om | september - october 2006 | USMS SWIMMER 17

Three-time Olympian SUSAN VONDER LIPPE, 40, of Team TYR setseven world records, including fourindividual events and three relays.Von der Lippe’s individual worldrecords came in the 50-meter breast(33.45), 200 breast (2:38.44), 50 fly

(28.62) and 100 fly (1:03.38).

Olympic gold medalist DARATORRES, 39, of Florida’s GoldCoast Masters broke the worldrecord in the 50 free (25.98), leadingoff a relay that also included Olympicgold medalist Rowdy Gaines. Torresis now the oldest woman ever tocrack the 26-second mark.

LAURA VAL, 55, of California’sTamalpais Masters shattered sixworld records including fiveindividual events and one relay. Herindividual records came in the 50free (29.59), 100 free (1:02.63), 200Free (2:18.04), 400 free (4:50.72)and 100 fly (1:12.13).

JANE ASHER, 75,representing Kings Cormorantsclub of Great Britain, sailed tofive new world records.

But it wasn’t all about win-ning for Asher, who noted shewould compete even if shedidn’t win. “It is the fun of thechase that attracts me,” sheacknowledged. “I swamrecently in the Great BritainMasters Championships inManchester—in a breaststrokerace—and got soundly beatenby a star from Belgium. I amhappy to find people who canput me in my place, as long aswe have a good race.”

Graham Johnston, 75, ofMasters of South Texas estab-lished seven world records atStanford, including the 800free (11:25.95). On the way tothat first-place finish, he broke

records for the 200 (2:46.20s)and the 400 (5:39.93s). Later inthe meet, Johnston eclipsedhis own record-setting times,turning in stellar performancesin the 200 (2:36:30) and 400(5:32.06). He also set new worldrecords in the 100-meter free(1:10.92) and the 200 IM (3:18.31).

Americans Susan von derLippe, 40, of Team TYR andDennis Baker, 45, of Oregon


GRAHAM JOHNSTON, 75, a 1952 South African Olympian nowswimming for Masters of SouthTexas, set world records in the 100free (1:10.92), 200 free (2:36.30),400 free (5:32.06), 800 free(11:25.95) and 200 IM (3:18.31).

The TEAM TYR women’s 200-medley relay blew awaythe record in the 160-199 agegroup (2:04.75). From left toright: Collette Sappey, 42;Betsy Cleary, 46; Susan vonder Lippe, 40; and JenniferStein, 43.

SHERI HART, 35, of TeamTYR scored two meet recordsand two world records. Herworld records came in the 50 back (30.40) and 100 back(1:06.04).


At 93, EUGENE LEHMAN(right) of Tri Valley Masters in

Pleasanton, Calif., was the oldest

male swimmer to compete at Worlds.

ELLEN TAIT (below), 96, of

Rinconada Masters in California was

the most senior participant in the

women’s swimming competition.

DENNIS BAKER, 45, of OregonMasters broke world records infour of the most grueling events—the 400 free (4:15.16), 200 fly(2:06.94), 200 IM (2:16.12) and 400 IM (4:50.73).

Hailing from San Rafael, Calif., theblue-toed TAMALPAIS MASTERSmixed 200 freestyle relay team seta world record in the 240-279 agegroup (1:58.75). From left to right:Dick Thomas, 59; USMS PastPresident Nancy Ridout, 64; RichBurns, 63; and Laura Val, 55.

CAV CAVANAUGH (left), 71, of Florida’s Gold Coast Mastersand DAVID RADCLIFF(above), 72, of Oregon Mastersbattled it out in the 200-meterfreestyle. Radcliff prevailed,setting a new world record(2:27.27). Cavanaugh set meetrecords in the two shorterfreestyle events and coached abronze-medal-winningwomen’s water polo team.


Masters weren’t the youngestswimmers on deck, but theywere two of the fastest over-all. Von der Lippe set an aston-ishing seven world records,including four individualevents and three relays.Meanwhile, Baker—a 1980 and1984 Olympic Trials finalist—set world records in four of

JEFF COMMINGS, 32, of

Team TYR reacts to his world

record swim in the 50-meter

breaststroke (29.01).

CHRISTEL SCHULZ, 66, from SGEinheit Rathenow inGermany, broke meet recordsin the 50 free (32.73), 100 free(1:14.76), 200 free (2:42.96), andset world records in the 50 fly(35.77) and 200 IM (3:08.85).


World record holder JUDYWILSON, 62, of the Heart ofEngland Masters won two golds,one silver and two bronze medalsin the butterfly and freestyle events.

Norwegian swimmer

ALEXANDER MILLS, 55, set

new world records in the 100

free (57.85), 50 breast (33.03)

and 200 IM (2:27.92).

RICH ABRAHAMS, 61, of

Colorado Masters set a world

record in the 50 free (25.23), and

held off Olympic gold medalist

Rowdy Gaines while anchoring

the mixed free relay.


KARLYN PIPES-NEILSEN, 44,

of San Diego Swim Masters set

five meet records in the freestyle,

backstroke and IM events.

SUZANNE HEIM-BOWEN,48, of California’s Walnut CreekMasters won the women’s 45-49 3K open water event,and was the third-place femalefinisher overall.

Hotly contested water polo matches added fun and excitement to the World

Championships, with spectators avidly following the men's and women's

events at the Avery Aquatic Center and nearby pools. MARYBETH KOLDINGand the South Florida Flamingos (aka the USMS women’s squad)—considered

a long shot in competition—captured a bronze medal under the coaching

direction of Cav Cavanaugh and Mike Heather.

the most grueling events: the400 free, 200 fly, 200 IM and400 IM.

Both swimmers hope to participate in the 2008 U.S.Olympic Trials. In fact, vonder Lippe has already earnedher ticket in the 100-meterbreaststroke. She is the oldestswimmer on record to qualifyfor the U.S. Olympic Trials.

The experience of the WorldChampionships and visitingother countries to interactwith fellow swimmers is aprivilege, according to Asher.“We get a better understandingof each other’s problems—thehopes and fears for our chil-dren and grandchildren,” shesaid. “Our good will aroundthe pool should filter out intoa wider sphere if we can talkto each other, and often thisleads to visiting each other’shomes, which leads to evengreater friendship and under-standing.” <<<>>> Complete results and recordsfor the XI FINA Masters WorldChampionships are available onlineat www.2006finamasters.org.


JOHN CALVERT, 60, of VirginiaMasters crushed three worldrecords in the 200-meter back-stroke (2:39.01), 200 IM (2:36.07)and 400 IM (5:41.07).

BOB STRAND, 60, representingThe Olympic Club in SanFrancisco, scored three worldrecords in the breaststroke events(34.20, 1:16.38, 2:51.93).

Teammates from Germany proudly

display the colors of their flag.

The ROLLING HILLS MUDSHARKS mixed medley relay

from Novato Calif., (left to

right): James Cochrane, 48;

Cokie Lepinski, 47; Anne

Shaver, 44; and Eric Sutton-

Beattie, 54.

xi fina world masters championships

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