Has anybody created an updated Motivational Times Chart for Masters Swimmers?

I think NQTs are the closest to what we have in Motivational Times, as they are the top 10 times + 10-15%: https://www.usms.org/events/national-championships/pool-national-championships/national-qualifying-times.

When I first started, I used to reference this Swimming Levels site, which provides times for distances by age and experience level: https://swimminglevel.com/swimming-times. However, they do not have a source. What do you think about this?

I would love a Motivational Times Chart! One way is to take times from the Event Ranking and create B, BB, A, AA, AAA, AAAA motivational standards based on percentiles: https://www.usms.org/comp/meets/toptimes.php. What do you think about this?

Thanks for your response, Jennifer! I appreciate your like to swimminglevel.com . I was unfamiliar with this site and will check it out. I am very familiar with NQT's, but they are out of reach for me anymore. The last time I made them was in 2013 for all three breaststroke events, but two hip surgeries later, I have never been able to reach them again. I can relate more to the typical scenario you outlined. 

The last time one was created (by another Masters swimmer) was a 2024 SCY chart, and I am still using it today, because it's all I have. Prior to that one, another Forumite, "Swimosaur" (from the old Discussion Forums) had created Motivational Times Charts. Not knowing how they were done, I am unable to create my own. 

If you know how to create one, I would LOVE IT! Here is the one from 2024:

/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/1242/2024-USMS-Motivational-Swim-Times.pdf

Thank you for sharing this! I reviewed the 2024 Motivational Times and confirmed that it calculates the times based on 2024 NQTs and used this formula to apply the standards:

1. AAAA = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * Factor / 100)

2. AAA = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 2 * Factor / 100)

3. AA = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 3 * Factor / 100)

4. A = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 4 * Factor / 100)

5. BB = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 6 * Factor / 100)

6. B = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 8 * Factor / 100)

I applied the same formula to the 2026 NQTs to create these 2026 Motivational Times (for both SCY and LCM) on my website: https://www.tryopenlane.com/motivational-times

You can also download the PDF on the website using the Download PDF button.

Please let me know if you need anything else - I can also add filters so it's easier for you to filter through your age, for example.

I work on a lot of analytics tools for swimmers and wonder if it makes sense for me to add it to my main analytics website as well - for example, here's your profile: www.tryopenlane.com/

Thank you for sharing this! I reviewed the 2024 Motivational Times and confirmed that it calculates the times based on 2024 NQTs and used this formula to apply the standards:

1. AAAA = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * Factor / 100)

2. AAA = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 2 * Factor / 100)

3. AA = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 3 * Factor / 100)

4. A = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 4 * Factor / 100)

5. BB = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 6 * Factor / 100)

6. B = Seed Time + (Seed Time * Adjustment * 8 * Factor / 100)

I applied the same formula to the 2026 NQTs to create these 2026 Motivational Times (for both SCY and LCM) on my website: https://www.tryopenlane.com/motivational-times

You can also download the PDF on the website using the Download PDF button.

Please let me know if you need anything else - I can also add filters so it's easier for you to filter through your age, for example.

I work on a lot of analytics tools for swimmers and wonder if it makes sense for me to add it to my main analytics website as well - for example, here's your profile: www.tryopenlane.com/

AWESOME, Jennifer! I am grateful to you for doing this! THANK YOU VERY MUCH! The Motivational Times chart is just what I wanted and I appreciate you taking the time to do it. 

The profile was interesting to see, so thank you for that as well.

Cheers!

Elaine

Of course! It was cool to understand the math behind it, and I'm glad that it's helpful to you! Remind me to do the 2027 one when 2027 NQTs are out :) 

I received your message, but I was unable to get my response through due to your settings that you are not receiving messages. Please email me at: GAEditor@USMS.org, so I can respond to you via email. Thanks!