Swimmer, Detail Sleuth, and Reluctant Land Creature - 2020 to 2025
 

My first five years of swimming have been nothing short of transformative. From the very first poolside plunge in September 2020, I was hooked. I did not merely swim; I launched myself into the deep end of Masters swimming and have not looked back since, except occasionally to check that the competition is still behind me. All the while, I was working full time, so life quickly became an endless cycle of swim, work, swim, sleep, repeat — a routine that most would find exhausting but that I found oddly invigorating.

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By 2021 I was not just swimming; I was competing, earning Top 10 finishes on the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) national rankings. Between 2021 and 2023 I proudly secured five individual Top 10 finishes and six Top 10 relay placements, proving that teamwork and tenacity make quite the splash.

My open water journey began in earnest on August 1, 2021, with my very first ocean race. I was instantly addicted. Two weeks later, on August 15, I completed the Naples Island 3-Mile Swim, followed by the Oceanside Pier to Pier Swim on September 6. The following weekend brought the USMS Mid Distance National Championship 5 K on September 11, and the Mission Viejo Mile the very next day. It was, by all accounts, a mad series of events for someone who had only just discovered her love of open water, but I was thoroughly hooked.

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That same year I was honoured as 2021 Swimmer of the Year for my team, not only for speed and stamina but for unflagging spirit and what some might call an excessive fondness for swim caps.

By 2022 I had taken the plunge into freediving, and by July I was braving open water without a wetsuit. It was a decision equal parts courageous and questionable, yet it cemented my love for the sea and all things aquatic. August brought the USMS Lake Del Valle Open Water National Championships, where I completed the 5 K on August 27, followed by the 1-Mile Sprint Distance and 2.5 K the very next day. Then, on September 5, 2022, I completed the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, a 2.5 mile challenge in the warm, unpredictable waters off Hawai‘i — an event not for the faint of heart nor the faint of shoulder. Just under two weeks later, on September 18, 2022, I tackled my first triathlon at Malibu, proving that wetsuits and running shoes can coexist in the same lifetime, even if not in the same fashion category. A week later, on September 25, I joined my team for the La Jolla Cove 10-Mile Relay, my first experience with that legendary event, which combined the perfect mix of endurance, teamwork, and saltwater chaos.

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In July 2023, I completed the Santa Barbara 6-Mile Open Water Race, an unforgettable day of waves, willpower, and mild sunburn that further deepened my affection for ocean swimming. That same year my hard work and passion culminated in qualifying for and competing at the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, representing Rose Bowl Aquatics on the international stage. Then, on September 24, 2023, I returned to the La Jolla Cove 10-Mile Relay for the second time, proving that some traditions, like sand, salt, and sunscreen, are too good to give up.

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Long before all that, in 2005, I completed the Los Angeles Marathon, I started in trainers and demonstrating that endurance, humour, and stubbornness will take you 26.2 miles if you let them.

My aquatic escapades continued. On April 20, 2024, which happens to be my birthday, I became a certified open water scuba diver, which was a very Fiona thing to do. Then, on June 30, 2024, I travelled to Bermuda for the Bermuda Squid Pro Quo Open Water Swim, racing the 1-Mile event on Friday and the 5 K on Saturday. It was two glorious days of turquoise water, pink sand, and pure joy.

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Beyond the pool I served as Member at Large on the Executive Committee of Southern Pacific Masters Swimming (SPMS), part of United States Masters Swimming (USMS). In this role, I helped support the smooth operation of the organisation through detailed review and refinement of policies and procedures, assisted with communications to ensure information flowed clearly and positively throughout SPMS, and actively contributed to maintaining a spirit of cooperation among clubs and members. I also oversaw coordination of the SPMS Awards process, from nominations to committee review, helping to recognise excellence and dedication across the Masters swimming community. On December 30th 2025, I stepped aside from that position, closing that chapter of service while continuing to champion Masters swimming as both an athlete and advocate.

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Of course, none of the above even begins to mention the countless swim meets, the absurd number of training sessions, or the endless miles clocked in chlorinated water at all hours of the day. Nor does it account for the many open water races for “fun,” which usually involve salt in my hair, sand in my kit bag, and a level of exhaustion that only another swimmer would describe as “bliss.” The above, I might add, also does not include every single swim meet, early morning practice, or impromptu ocean adventure that filled these years. Never mind the children I have taught to swim. All the while maintaining full time work. It is all entirely ridiculous, wholly addictive, and I would not change a moment of it.

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Ironically, I only ever intended to keep swimming until I had collected enough race T shirts to make a quilt. Several years and countless swims later I now have enough to make several king sized quilts, and I am somehow still getting up at silly o’clock to go to the pool and or  sea.

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My love for swimming runs deep. Starting to swim as an adult was one of the most remarkable accomplishments of my life. It opened doors I did not even know were there. When a troublesome shoulder injury and health issues slowed my own training, I sought out new ways to stay connected to the swimming world that had given me so much joy. That journey led me to become an Adult Learn to Swim (ALTS) certified instructor, and I later earned Level 1, 2, and 3 coaching certifications. Over these five years I have met some truly wonderful people in the swimming community. One of them is fellow swimmer Erica Jenkins, who shares my passion for swimming built on fun, fitness, community, and inclusion. Together we founded our female run team, Burbank Aquatics Masters (BAM), January 2026, so that other adults could have a welcoming, supportive, and slightly cheeky place to train. BAM is our way of paying the sport forward, keeping adults in the water and helping new swimmers take their very first plunge with confidence, community, and inclusion. Here is to the next 5 years.