Recap: 2018 Annual Convention of United States Aquatic Sports

Linda just returned from Jacksonville, Florida where she attended the 2018 Annual Convention of United States Aquatic Sports. She represented Pacific Masters Swimming, a division of United States Masters Swimming (USMS). Also attending were members of USA Swimming; a young, very vocal group of synchronized swimmers, USA Synchronized Swimming; and one member of USA Water Polo. Linda met him, the #2 man in the organization, Bill Smith.

The convention was very well planned with 1400 attendees from all over the country. Meeting rooms were clearly marked. Maggie and Linda were kept busy with general HOD (House of Delegates) meetings, interspersed with committee meetings and workshops. There was something to do all day, every day.

Daily swim practices were scheduled, but alas, too early. The bus left promptly at 5:25 AM for a 6:30-7:30 practice. With the East Coast time change, making these practices seemed, well, impractical. A small over-heated but pleasant pool on the roof served well for one taper workout scheduled tightly between meetings.

Along with her Update Editing Team, Linda won the June Krauser Award for communication.
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Linda had the pleasure of rooming with the iconic 1952 Helsinki Olympian Gail Roper. Gail was a fantastic companion, a font of information with an amazing memory. Understandably, she sits on the History and Archives Committee. A small, intimate, dignified ceremony inducted new members into the International Masters Swimming Hall of fame. Among the presenters, Gail Roper was selected to present one of the honors to her friend, Maurine Kornfeld. Maurine is 97 and said to lively applause, “If you can’t out-swim them, out-live them.”