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My Letter to the Editor of Swimmer Magazine

Elaine Krugman

I just sent this to Swimmer Magazine:

Dear Editor, 

I was very disappointed to read in your Editor's Note in the January / February 2026 issue that this will be the final year Swimmer Magazine will be published. 

The main motivator for joining USMS, in February 2010, was to receive Swimmer Magazine. As a former high school swimmer who had not been properly taught or coached, I relied on the publication for valuable information on learning proper stroke technique, training, and preparing for competition. I read every issue, cover to cover.

Swimmer Magazine also inspired me to start writing Swimmer Profile features and other articles for the Georgia Masters Newsletter, beginning in 2014, which I still do today. I am also the editor and serve on our board of directors.

How sad that membership fees have increased, but a valuable membership benefit will soon disappear.

Elaine Krugman

Communications, Georgia Masters

Augusta Blue Tides

Parents

  • Elaine: Thank you for reading and your note. I understand your frustration and, like you, I'll miss the bimonthly print version of SWIMMER. However, we've seen a decline in print subscribers (we'll only be around 5,500 by the end of the year) and (as I mentioned in the Editor's Note) we're still exploring whether to do special one-off print issues or continue the magazine as a digital-only product. 

    I may be a little biased, but even with the SWIMMER decision, I believe we're still the premier technique and training resource for Masters swimmers in the U.S. (and maybe even the world, considering how many comments we get on our social media posts in other languages). We've launched our exhaustive content guides (linked below), which come with professionally shot and edited videos (though some are still to come), to help swimmers and have six-week training plans. All of this has been added within the past couple of years.

    • Swimming 101 - Foundation for swimming skills, training structure, lingo, and equipment
    • Open Water 101 - Safety, strategy, and training for open‑water environments
    • Freestyle - Body position, breathing techniques, and efficient arm and leg mechanics
    • Backstroke - Shoulder rotation, hip alignment, and smooth, coordinated movement
    • Breaststroke - Timing, drag reduction, and efficient pull-kick coordination
    • Butterfly - Body undulation, rhythm, and seamless pull-kick timing
    • Starts - Faster and stronger forward start, backstroke start, and relay exchanges
    • Turns - Tighter and more efficient flip turns, open turns, and IM turns (transitions)
    • Underwater Kick - When to use underwaters and how to make them faster

Reply

  • Elaine: Thank you for reading and your note. I understand your frustration and, like you, I'll miss the bimonthly print version of SWIMMER. However, we've seen a decline in print subscribers (we'll only be around 5,500 by the end of the year) and (as I mentioned in the Editor's Note) we're still exploring whether to do special one-off print issues or continue the magazine as a digital-only product. 

    I may be a little biased, but even with the SWIMMER decision, I believe we're still the premier technique and training resource for Masters swimmers in the U.S. (and maybe even the world, considering how many comments we get on our social media posts in other languages). We've launched our exhaustive content guides (linked below), which come with professionally shot and edited videos (though some are still to come), to help swimmers and have six-week training plans. All of this has been added within the past couple of years.

    • Swimming 101 - Foundation for swimming skills, training structure, lingo, and equipment
    • Open Water 101 - Safety, strategy, and training for open‑water environments
    • Freestyle - Body position, breathing techniques, and efficient arm and leg mechanics
    • Backstroke - Shoulder rotation, hip alignment, and smooth, coordinated movement
    • Breaststroke - Timing, drag reduction, and efficient pull-kick coordination
    • Butterfly - Body undulation, rhythm, and seamless pull-kick timing
    • Starts - Faster and stronger forward start, backstroke start, and relay exchanges
    • Turns - Tighter and more efficient flip turns, open turns, and IM turns (transitions)
    • Underwater Kick - When to use underwaters and how to make them faster

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