11/02/2026
A big WAHOO to our adults from the SwimFit squad who participated in the recent New Zealand Masters Games in the swimming category. They did so well!
Here's a photo of them all: Caren, Ali, Antonia, Libby, Sarah & we are missing Licia (who was possibly off doing the jigsaw puzzle challenge at that time!).
Read on for a lovely report from Antonia about how well they did and about all the benefits of being part of our cool club as an adult...
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Port Chalmers Women Make a Splash at NZ Masters Games
Six women from the Port Chalmers Swim Club recently took to the pool at the NZ Masters Games, held in Dunedin from 31 January to 8 February at Moana Pool — and what a splash they made.
Our group was a true mix of backgrounds, experience, and age groups. Some of us were seasoned swimmers, others were first-time racers. A few had competed as children but hadn’t raced in over 20 years, while others had never stood on a starting block before. What united us was the Port Chalmers Swim Club Swim Fit group, which we all joined in October last year.
With the guidance and encouragement of our coach, Ali Hill, we gradually built up our swim fitness, confidence, and skills — and before we knew it, we were entering the Masters Games. Over the three days of swimming competition, the six women collectively won an incredible 39 medals, an achievement we are immensely proud of.
We competed across a wide range of events, including freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, individual medley, and distances from 50m through to 400m. We also took part in women’s and men’s relays, as well as the mixed medley relay.
Beyond the medals, the Masters Games provided an enormous learning opportunity. Over the three days, there was huge improvement in technique and understanding — from correct starting procedures and how to dive properly (including how to dive so your goggles actually stay on!), to pacing different race distances, mastering correct turning techniques, and learning the finer points of technical rules. It became clear that there is always more to learn and plenty to keep working on.
One of the most empowering aspects of Masters swimming is that you truly race at your own level. Regardless of who is in the lane next to you, it’s about challenging yourself, learning, improving, and celebrating personal progress. The atmosphere throughout the event reflected this perfectly — supportive, encouraging, and inclusive across all ages and abilities.
It was especially cool to see both young and young-at-heart competitors racing side by side in the pool. We even received several shout-outs from the commentator, who noted how well the Port Chalmers Swim Club swimmers were performing — our distinctive “Port” swim caps certainly helped us stand out.
Look out, Masters Games 2028 — we’ll be back, and hopefully with many more swimmers joining us.
If you’re interested in joining the Port Chalmers Swim Club Swim Fit programme, we’d love to hear from you. Classes run from October to April on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Email:[email protected]
And remember — swim club isn’t just for kids! 🏊♀️💙
