Swift Swimming's six-member team represented both the club and The Bahamas well at the 15th FINA (International Swimming Federation) World Masters Championships, in Montreal, Canada.The swimmers from the Swift Swimming Club who participated were Percy Knowles in the 80-84 age group, Andy Knowles, Bruce Knowles and Nancy Knowles in the 55-59 age group, Lisa Knowles competed in the 50-54 age group, and Allie McPhail in the 40-44 age group.The host city of Montreal was also the host of the inaugural championships 20 years ago.This year, a total of 7,794 competitors, representing 101 countries, gathered in Montreal. More than 6,000 swimmers entered the pool at the Parc Jean-Drapeau Aquatic Complex, on St. Helen Island, while another 1,370 took to the open water race in the rowing basin located on Notre Dame Island. The championships also accommodated 950 water polo players, 487 synchronized swimmers and 230 divers.Participants from the host federation came in great numbers (3,550), but there were also those from the United States of America (USA), France, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Russia, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Great Britain, Spain, Venezuela, Switzerland and Argentina just to name a few. Also, there were some from The Bahamas, Nigeria, Greece, Singapore, Senegal, Fiji, Tunisia, Bolivia and Moldova who made the trip, making the world masters a true universal experience.The swimming competition kicked off on August 3 and offered 20 events, including the 4x50 meters (m) mixed medley and freestyle events; a three kilometer (km) race that took place in open water on August 10; water polo games which were held from July 27 to August 2; divers competed in the 1m, 3m and 10m boards starting August 5; and the synchronized swimming events were held from July 28 to August 2 with Solo, Duet, Team and Free Combination.Since 1990, masters athletes aged 25 to more than 90-years-old, have come and shared their life passion for aquatics at the world masters, competing in one of FINA's five aquatic disciplines - swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming - while promoting fitness, fun and friendship.The Swift team had four top 10 finishes. Percy Knowles finished 10th in the 100 breaststroke in 2:18 and also in the 200 breaststroke in 2:56. Andy Knowles was sixth in the 400 Individual Medley (IM) in 5:46, and also in the 400 free in 4:53.There were mostly personal best swims over the entry times going into the meet. The week started off on Sunday August 3, with Andy swimming the 800 free and finishing in 10:21 for an 11th place finish. Allie McPhail also swam in the 800 free and finished in 13:01 in her first world championships swimming meet.The second day saw Percy swimming the 100 free. He finished in 1:52. Andy finished in 1:02.8 in the 100 free, and then Percy and Bruce swam in the 100 breast, and finished in times of 2:18.8 and 1:26.9 respectively.The third day saw Andy swimming in the 400 IM. That was followed by Andy and Allie in the 200 free, and they finished in times of 2:19 and 2:57, respectively. Bruce and Nancy finished the day off with more personal best swims, this time in the 50 fly, in times of 33 and 43 seconds respectively.The fourth day was active with Lisa, Nancy and Percy swimming in the 50 free. They finished in times of 37, 38, and 52 seconds respectively.On the sixth day, Percy started things off with the 200 breast and finished in 4:56. He was followed by Nancy, who finished in 4:07 in the 200 fly. Both swims were personal best times.On the final day in the pool, Bruce and Lisa started things off in the 50 back, and finished in times of 37 and 47 seconds, respectively. The day finished with Andy and Nancy swimming in the 400 free. They finished in times of 4:53 and 6:49, respectively. On Sunday August 10, the open water swimming took place. Andy finished seventh in his age group, in 43.02, and Nancy finished 35th, in 1:03.During the meet, Percy, Andy and Bruce were interviewed on television, to be shown at a later date on the FINA website. Andy and Bruce were the first swimmers to represent The Bahamas at the Olympic Games, in Montreal, Canada, in 1976. Their father Percy was the coach. Thirty-eight years later, the three were back in Montreal, competing in swimming.As far as Masters swimming is concerned, Swift Swimming continues to set the standard.

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