When C first started synchro swimming, she was scared of deep water. C had a near-drowning experience in the river when she was 5 years old. Although she learned how to swim as an adult, she was never a strong swimmer. At her first synchro tryout, she would hold on the side of the pool and gasped for air every 30 seconds. With the help and support of her synchro coach and team mates, she learned synchro figures. Most importantly she is super comfortable with the water. This summer she was able to swim 1,000 meters open water in the lakes, in the oceans.

I first started artistic swimming at age 47.  While I had been an okay casual swimmer in my youth, I wasn’t confident anymore and certainly had never tried “synchro”. After one trial, I was hooked. I never had felt I could do anything “athletic”- but the atmosphere was so positive and supportive, I felt I had finally found my sport. The water cushions you and yet challenges you in ways you can’t describe and I can see myself doing this for fun and fitness forever!

As a founding member of the team, I first joined VanIsle Masters Artistic Swimming in the Fall of 2017. Having only been a casual swimmer at the time, I was nervous about getting in the pool with those much more experienced than myself. However, self determination combined with superb coaching from Catharine Edwards led me to place 1st in all my events later that season. It’s neat to see how far the team has come these past few years, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us; it’s been a blast!

Synchro has been a part of my life for years. In fact, my mom was a synchronized swimmer when I was in-utero; and I competed in Nationals when I was pregnant with my own daughter.

This past year I was fortunate enough to be welcomed by the VanIsle Masters Artistic Swimming Club. Despite the fact that we didn’t get to compete due to covid-19, it was one of the most memorable and enjoyable seasons of artistic swimming I’ve ever had.

Our coaches are committed, prepared, creative, and collaborative. They combine their experience and expertise of the sport with our ideas and needs. Our ages range which allows for some amazing experiences to be shared and a LOT of laughter. I couldn’t be happier to be a member of such an eclectic, goal oriented, inclusive group of swimmers.