April 18, 2025 • 32 mins
Nancy Steadman Martin is the only woman in the world, over 70, to break 21 minutes in the 1500 freestyle! What does it mean to be truly unstoppable at 70? Steadman Martin embodies this question as she continues to shatter world swimming records while maintaining a thriving career as a senior law partner. Her remarkable journey defies every notion about aging and physical limitations. She's also a mermaid--really!
Nancy's swimming resume reads like a fantasy novel: world records in the 800 and 1500 freestyle (70-74 age group), swimming the English Channel in record time for women over 50, completing the coveted Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, and winning national titles that often beat competitors decades younger. All while working full-time in law.
The secret to her extraordinary success? A 5:05 AM daily plunge into the pool for a 4,500-yard workout before heading to the office by 8:00, coupled with an unwavering commitment to goal-setting. "I couldn't just get in the pool and swim up and down," Nancy explains. "I need something that I'm looking forward to." This forward-looking perspective has carried her through every challenge, including a life-threatening bout with pneumonia that required lung surgery in 2017.
Perhaps most touching is the legacy connection—Nancy now competes to break her late mother's backstroke records as she ages into each new bracket, describing the feeling as if her mother is swimming in the lane beside her. This familial connection extends to her chosen swimming family, the Mighty Mermaids, a legendary team of women in their 60s and 70s who have been breaking relay records together for 20 years.
When asked what word comes to mind when diving into water, Nancy's answer is profoundly simple: "I'm home." For anyone feeling limited by age or circumstance, Nancy's extraordinary journey proves that with the right mindset and community, our greatest achievements may still lie ahead, regardless of age.
Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello friends, I'm Kelly Pallis, the host of the
Champions Mojo podcast.
While some 70-year-olds mightbe slowing down, today we're
meeting a force of nature whojust keeps getting better with
age.
Stick around.
You are going to want to beinspired by our guest today,
nancy Stedman Martin.
(00:20):
She is a world record-holdingmaster swimmer and a full-time
senior partner at the law firmof Martin Melody LLC in Little
Silver, new Jersey, where shespecializes in workers'
compensation and employment law.
Somehow in between her busylegal career, she's built one of
(00:41):
the most impressive masterswimming resumes I've ever seen.
She's built one of the mostimpressive master swimming
resumes I've ever seen.
Nancy has swum the EnglishChannel in record-setting time
for women over 50 and completedthe coveted Triple Crown of Open
Water that is, the EnglishChannel, the Catalina Channel
and a 28.5-mile loop aroundManhattan Island.
She holds multiple national andworld records and shows no sign
(01:04):
of slowing down.
Just this past January she setworld records in the 70-74 age
group in the 800 and 1500 free,and last week she added two more
national titles to her mini inthe one mile and the 5K open
water events at US MastersNationals in Sarasota, florida,
beating many of the swimmers inthe younger age groups her time.
(01:27):
And, on a fun side note, she'snot just making solo waves.
Nancy is part of the MightyMermaids, a legendary team of
powerhouse women in their 60sand beyond who have shattered
records together in some of theworld's toughest open water
relay swims.
Nancy.
Not only does she have one ofthe greatest resumes in master
(01:48):
swimming that I've ever seen,she's one of my own personal
heroes.
I'm so excited to talk to you,nancy.
Welcome to Champions Mojo.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Hi, kelly, that was so nice of you to say that, and
I have to add to that that thefirst time I was in your heat in
a distance event I don't knowhow many years ago it was, but
as you know, they put you inheat by time, not just by age.
So when I was in your heat Ifelt like I had made it in the
distance world.
(02:16):
I was in Kelly's heat in 1500or 1650.
I don't even remember what, butit was a distance event and I
was so excited to be in thatheat.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Oh well, I think I might remember that.
I think it might have been theGeorge Mason University, and I
was just as excited, Nancy,let's just start off by telling
us a little bit about what haveyou learned about staying
competitive as you age?
Like what do you think some ofyour secrets are?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I think the biggest thing for me with entering
competition and staying fit isthat setting goals allows me to
train better.
I couldn't just get in the pooland swim up and down.
I need something that I'mlooking forward to, whether it
be an open water event or a poolevent or just accomplishing
(03:07):
something in a workout andworking toward that, like doing
a set of something you know in acertain time or doing a
distance event in the pool andpractice.
But setting goals has kept memotivated.
And the other thing that haskept me motivated in swimming
meets lately is my mother, whowas, you know, one of my
(03:27):
inspirations.
She still holds all the NewJersey records as I age up in
the backstroke events.
So that gives me a goal.
But I just look forward to, youknow, accomplishing different
things and that gives me mymotivation to go to practice
every morning.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah, setting goals, that's such a great secret.
If you don't have goals, you'renot really you're not really
focused.
But how cool, you're trying tobreak your mom's record.
So tell us a little bit aboutthat.
Like you know, you come from aswimming family.
Your dad was a coach.
Your mom started into masters,you know, many years ago, but
(04:08):
late in her life.
So give us a little backgroundon the family tradition.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
My mother, Dara Stedman, that's.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Stedman was her married name.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, but my mother was a swimmer as a youngster.
In fact, she held a worldrecord for a short period of
time in a 40 meter backstroke.
It was when they had those 20meter pools and she set a record
, I think when she was 17, aworld record in that 50
backstroke.
She was a total backstroker andshe didn't swim wash.
(04:41):
You know, the whole time shewas raising, you know her
children myself and I have threesiblings.
She didn't swim at all, likewhen I was growing up.
She'd get in once in a while,but not really to do a workout
or not to um, you know, swimlaps.
And then when I started goingin masters at age 25 to 29
because that was the theyoungest age group at time she
(05:04):
went to meets with me and Ithink she started timing the
people that were in her agegroup which at the time was 55
to 59, and figured you know whatI can get back and do this.
And the Nationals in the nextyear were in Fort Lauderdale,
one of our favorite places to goin the winter.
So she trained and then, fromthen on, she was hooked.
(05:27):
She was setting world recordsin all the backstroke events and
, in fact, in 2022, she gotinducted into the International
Swimming Hall of Fame forMasters Swimmers.
She had passed away by thattime, but she holds, and has
held, almost all the New Jerseyrecords in the backstroke.
I'm not traditionally abackstroker, but I started doing
(05:51):
a lot more backstroke because Iwanted to beat her times as I
aged up, and then it's been funtrying to break her records.
I'll go to a meet.
The toughest ones for me to getare always her 50 backstrokes
and I just got her 50 back inthe 70 to 74, but I feel like
she's almost next to me in thenext lane when I take off,
(06:13):
because it's really close.
In the 65 to 69, it took mefour years in that age group and
I finally did it at nationalsby one one hundredth of a second
.
So it that's been fun.
It makes me feel like mymother's right there with me and
is your mom still with us or no?
now.
She passed away um in 2013 andwhen she got in, when they
(06:37):
inducted her in 2022 to theinternational swimming hall of
fame, my brother and I went umto the event and I picked up her
award and I somewhat felt likeCinderella because it was so fun
but it wasn't my ball.
You know, I felt a little likeit's not really my award, but I
almost felt like it was.
(06:58):
It was just such a fun eventthey had all the Olympians were
there, you know Craig Beersley,greg Louganis, dabra Torres was
the host.
It was an incredible event and,oh, my mother would have loved
it.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
up here just a minute and tell us how in the world
you have time to train at such ahigh level with being an
attorney, a partner, a seniorpartner in your law firm and
working full time.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Fortunately, I have two excellent law partners, a
father and his son, and we bothhave other.
We all have other interests.
They love to play golf, I liketo swim and therefore we try to
accommodate each other'sschedules when I'm away to meet
and one of them is in the office.
But we work together to do ourjob.
(08:00):
And you know I get up early.
My first dive in the pool isusually at 5.05 AM and you know
I get up early.
My I my first dive in the poolis usually at 5 0, 5 am and you
can make time, and then thatsets me in a great uh attitude.
For the entire day I feel likeI've done my swim.
You know I still get to theoffice, you know, by like 8, 15,
8 o'clock, um, I swim for aboutan hour 45 minutes and it just
(08:24):
sets my day on such a betternote after I've had a swim
practice.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Oh for sure.
How many days a week are youdoing that?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
People tell me I shouldn't be doing this.
But I need to be in the waterevery day.
I swim seven days a week.
There's a couple of days whereI'll do a lighter workout and in
the summer, a couple of dayswhere I'll do a lighter workout
and in the summer, as soon asit's well even actually starting
in the spring we'll do oceanswims, myself and a couple of
friends of mine, and that's kindof a relaxing swim for me.
(08:54):
I, you know, just do a long,easy swim in the ocean and
they're kind of my off days.
But I generally do swim sevendays a week.
I'll take off sometimes beforein the week, before some meet,
and I will try to taper a littlebit when I'm going to a big
meet.
But I need to be in the watereach day.
I don't feel right if I'm not.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
What, what kind of yardage are you doing on a daily
basis?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
I do about 4,500 to 5,000 five days a week and, like
I said, a couple of days are alittle bit lighter, but I I just
like to do about 45 each day.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
And any strength training.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
I do some dry land a couple of days a week.
I do need to incorporate moreweights.
I know that as as you age, youknow you get weaker and I do
need to incorporate more weighttraining and I can do that at
the facility where I go.
It's hard to fit everything intime wise, but I do need to do
some weight training and I'mgoing to try to incorporate that
(09:57):
as my goal for the summer.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Very good.
Yeah, that'll be scary if youcan add any strength training.
Have you done any hormonereplacement therapy?
No, I never have.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I kind of hesitate in taking any kind of supplement.
I felt like I was going throughmenopause.
I just kept looking forward andgoing ahead.
This is part of life.
I'll deal with it and I justkept going forward.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I always think, well, my grandmothers didn't have any
of that stuff and they were outthere working kicking butt all
their lives.
I think as athletes, weprobably have an easier time
with it.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I think exercise probably helps everything that
we do, so it does, and I guess Ifeel like the body is such an
amazing machine that I feel likethose, the natural changes that
you go through, it's importantto like, acknowledge them, but
not to let them stop what you'redoing or not to let them
interfere with what you're doing.
(10:54):
When I was getting close to 70,I was fighting 70 with all my
might, like I was working harderin the pool, I was training
more often, doing more yardage,and I thought, oh, that's going
to keep me young, and it does toa certain extent.
But yet I sometimes do have toacknowledge I'm 70 and I might
need more rest.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, do you notice a big difference from 50 to 60 to
70?
Speaker 2 (11:23):
I probably notice the biggest difference with 70.
And as my intervals and mytimes, when those intervals get
a little slower in workout,where I don't recover quite as
fast as I used to.
For example, I was just inSarasota and I did the mile on
Friday and the 5K on SaturdayFelt fantastic both days and
(11:45):
then and part of that's probablythe traveling when I came home
I always have a delayed reactionto an event or to stiffness,
but I definitely was very muchslower in the pool on Tuesday
and Wednesday and now I feellike I'm coming back again, but
(12:05):
I take a little bit longer torecover.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
Do you have anything that youuse as a barometer?
I'll give you an example, justbecause it's my barometer for
aging.
For me is the 500 free, and Ifeel like the 500 free is a good
distance for kind of being along sprint.
(12:29):
I don't even think of it asreally a distance.
It's kind of like you've got tohave speed to swim a good 500
and you've got to have endurance.
I think hitting a 530-ish 500free is a good time.
I think I was at, you know, 527in my 40s and then this year in
(12:49):
the 60 to 64 age group, I went538.
So I I feel like, okay, I'mstill in the 530s.
This next year I'll hit the,you know, the 65 to 69.
So I'm I'm like going to belooking at my 500 free, thinking
Can I maintain that speed?
Can I maintain that endurance?
Do you have something pull-upsor sit-ups, or a set of 10 100s
(13:11):
on a certain interval, orsomething that you track your
progress with?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
It's funny that you mentioned the 500, because
that's my barometer.
It meets also is my 500 time,mainly because you know I'm a
distance swimmer but you canpush a 500.
It's different than a 1,000 ora 1,650.
And I use that as my barometertoo.
In fact they always call melike one pace Nancy.
(13:37):
In practice I do my warmup andwe usually do a 600, but I
always note my 500 on the waybecause then I can pretty much
tell how the rest of myworkout's going.
I always try to be under sevenon the way in my 500.
And if I'm over, I'm like, oh,I'm not feeling it today or I'm
(13:59):
tired today.
But that's kind of the event Iuse as my barometer on how I'm
feeling on a daily basis inpractice and then how I'm doing
it in me.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
So, nancy, what other rituals or routines do you use
to be so successful in your lawcareer, in your swimming?
Are there certain things thatyou do that set you up for
success in the pool?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
I guess setting me up for success in the pool has
been pulling inspiration fromthe people that I surround
myself with.
I try to always be aroundpositive people who set goals
and who want to work toward them, no matter what level they are
you know, faster than me, slowerthan me in a pool or just in
(14:49):
general in life.
I like to be around positivepeople that inspire me, and
there's so many around me thatdo inspire me.
You know friends that inspireme with their kindness and try
to make me you know it helpsmake me a better person or my
law partners who are dedicatedto helping injured workers.
(15:11):
That inspires me.
So I pull inspiration from alot of different people and I
think being around positivepeople with goals is definitely
a big plus in my success.
And focusing on other things,like when I look around, you
(15:31):
know, some people might put uptheir awards.
I was noticing this when I wasthinking about the podcast.
The things that are on my wallsin my house are pictures of the
people I swim with.
My mighty mermaids take up afew walls because we've been
together for now 20 years and weare constantly, you know,
(15:53):
involved with each other.
We have our Zoom meetings we doa lot of talking and texting
and it's just they inspire me.
And each one of my MightyMermaid friends inspires me in
very different ways becausewe're very different personality
wise.
So that's how I pull strengthin my law practice and in my
(16:15):
swimming and just in life ingeneral.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Oh, that's a beautiful technique.
Certainly, the people that wesurround ourselves with have
such an influence on our overalloutcomes in life.
They say look at your fiveclosest friends and that's
really who you're going to belike.
So I love that.
So I would love to hear whatyou would consider one of your
very best comeback stories.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
I have to say that it was when I had pneumonia and
needed lung surgery and cameback from that In 2017, I did a
10K swim in Bermuda and did verywell.
I came home and about five, sixdays later I started feeling
(17:01):
like I had the flu or was tiredand I just kept kind of pushing
it through and then I reallyfelt horrible.
So I finally did go to awalk-in clinic and they said you
have pneumonia, you got to goto the hospital and in the
hospital my pneumonia had turnedinto an odd infection and I
(17:26):
ended up needing lung surgery.
I was in the hospital for 10days and they had to go aside
from this between my ribs and, Iguess, clean out my lungs.
I don't know really exactlywhat it was, but I then it took
me a month or two to recover.
I don't think that was thelongest period I've gone in my
entire life with not swimming.
(17:47):
I missed about six weeks whereI couldn't go to the pool after
the 10 days in the hospital andthen coming back from that was a
challenge and I still do feelevery once in a while in my left
side, in my left lung, that Ihave to warm up and take deep
breaths and it feels like it'stighter than the other one.
(18:09):
But coming back from that was achallenge and it was my goal to
come back stronger than when Ihad pneumonia and I feel like I
accomplished that goal Wow.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
That is quite a comeback story.
Oh my gosh, I can't evenimagine thinking you're going to
get some medicine and end up inthe hospital and in surgery.
Wow, how did you handle thatmentally?
Did you kind of freak out orwhat was what were?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I'm more of a person that I always look forward and I
don't dwell on like, oh youknow, I did ask myself how in
the world did I get pneumonia?
I had never.
I'd never been sick, never beenin the hospital.
I, you know, had a clean billof health all my life.
So this was really a shock tome.
But one of the lessons that myfather, who was also my swim
(19:02):
coach, always would say to mewas you're only as good as your
next race.
So don't gloat on what you didand don't cry about what you did
.
Just look forward and you'reonly as good as your next one.
And it's been a really goodlife lesson for me.
It was good in overcomingpneumonia.
(19:22):
I just looked forward and saidI'm getting over this and I'm
going to be better than I wasand it's not going to limit me.
My husband had passed away in2009, and that was a difficult
time, but I still.
I always looked forward andtried to make the best of a
situation.
I took over his business inaddition to my law practice,
(19:44):
which was supplying lifeguardsto different beaches and condos,
so that helped me get throughthat period of time.
I always look ahead at goals orwhat my, but I can do without
limitation.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yeah, that's beautiful and that sounds like a
really great mindset.
What is your mindset when youare in the middle of a difficult
swim?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
The first part of any long distance swim, like
Manhattan or Catalina.
That's my hardest time.
I almost feel like I wonder ifmy boat will notice if I go down
to the bottom and just staythere Like I don't feel like
swimming.
I it's.
It's a horrible feeling andI've gotten it in almost every
(20:28):
long distance swim I have doneUm, probably except the English
channel, but I I did Tampa Bayand I felt that way.
Manhattan Island, I think allfour times I felt that way and I
get through that by trying tofocus on the other people that
are in my life or that arecounting on me to, you know, to
(20:49):
keep going and that gets methrough it.
And I do an odd thing when I,when I do a really long one, I
pretend I'm being interviewedabout my life from somebody that
goes the whole swim, like Istarted off when I was a kid,
and I pretend I'm beinginterviewed and that's what got
me through a lot of longdistance swims when I feel like
(21:11):
I just want to quit and go tothe bottom of the sea.
But when I'm in a 1650, Iprobably do something that I
know is not probably recommendedby others, but right from the
beginning I focus on somebodyelse, Like I'd love to have
somebody next to me that's alittle faster or that's near me.
And even if they're a lotfaster, I'll concentrate on
(21:36):
trying to stay with them or nothave them lap me so much if
that's the heat I'm in, likewhen I'm with you.
I try to focus on anotherperson because it seems to take
away the pain that I'm feelingor the fact that I'm thinking oh
no, I've got 20 laps to go.
That helps me get through mostof my thousands, or 1650s.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah, I can see that.
I think part of that is justsounds like distraction, which
is great Sometimes when I can dothat, get in there, sing a song
or do something else, but well,that's good.
So let's see, is there anythingin master swimming that you
really haven't accomplished thatyou want to?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Oh yes, one of my travel buddies to swim meets was
a woman named Julia Dulce, andI loved her goal so much I want
it to be mine.
And her goal was to be the lastone standing is the true winner
in a master's competition.
So when you're the oldest oneand you're standing on the side
(22:41):
of the pool ready to race in 800, you're the winner.
In other words, you've survivedeverybody else and you're still
active enough to still be doingthe sport and the events that
you love.
So that's a goal for me.
My other goal is to keepholding on as best I can.
I know I'm not going to do someof my fastest times, but
(23:05):
holding on as best I can as Iage up.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Yeah, it's got to be pretty satisfying knowing that
you just turned 70 into the 70age group and you're the fastest
70-year-old woman ever to swimthe 1,500-meter free in the
world.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
I'm the fastest one in short course meters, but my
Mighty Mermaid teammate, ChristySerrallo, holds the long course
.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Oh right, the long course, the short course.
You're in the short course, butI'm the short course one.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
But Christy and I have a real fun dynamic where we
want to see the other onesucceed and because we want to
try to do better than that onein the next one.
So we've gone back and forth alittle bit on that.
But she does hold the longcourse and I hold the short
course.
But I know she's gunning for myshort course and I'm gunning
for her long course, so we havea lot of fun with that.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Yeah, and I love that .
Let's talk a little bit aboutthe Mighty Mermaids.
These are some of the mostdecorated women in master
swimming.
Were some qualifications to getinto the mermaid group.
Christy started it a long timeago.
Tell us a little bit about itand how that has affected you
being such a great swimmer.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Well, the Mighty Mermaids started, as you said,
by Christy Serrallo, who wantedto do some relays and some fun
events and she wanted to becompetitive.
So she went through and lookedto see who were the fastest
distance swimmers in her agegroup and around that age so
that we could come together anddo a relay.
(24:39):
And I didn't really knowChristy well at all.
I had met her and swam againsther in a national competition in
Fort Lauderdale we had.
When we compared notes later onwe realized we had gone to some
other open water races, one inHawaii earlier on.
But she got the group together.
(25:00):
She called me and of course youknow somebody wanting to do an
open water relay.
I was on board immediately.
And then Tracy Grilly has becomelike we call her the queen of
our mighty mermaids because shejust holds us all together.
And then we have KarenEisleinler, who's one of the top
(25:20):
distance swimmers and EnglishChannel swimmer and just an
incredible swimmer.
And then Ronnie Hibben, who'sour speed demon and who can do
distance also but open water,and she's a real spreader in the
pool.
So we've had a blast.
We've been together 20 years.
We started when all of us were50 to 54 so that we could do the
(25:44):
Lake Tahoe really as our firstrace, and then we've been
together ever since and we'vebeen very fortunate that Tracy's
husband, david Grilly, hasbecome our merman.
He goes on all our trips withus and keeps us all together.
When we have a disagreementabout something, he's our
referee and our calminginfluence on all of us, and he's
(26:05):
fantastic.
That's where I stayed when Iwas in Sarasota and it was.
It was great fun.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Oh, yes, that's wonderful.
When you just went to theNationals down there.
Yeah, I know you guys also, youhave matching bathing suits and
you meet at places and, youknow, do open water swims
together, obviously, but it'sreally.
You guys are a super fun groupand I got to spend some time
with you guys when nationalswere last summer.
We're out in Mission Viejo andwe swam in La Jolla Cove and
(26:34):
that was really cool.
That was a lot of fun.
Yeah, the Mighty Mermaids arevery cool and I noticed you guys
even have your own OpenWaterpedia page.
So if people want to check outand get more information on you
on the Mighty Mermaids, it's agood place to check it out.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
I have probably a full-size bureau of Mighty
Mermaid clothes.
Mighty Mermaid clothes becauseevery swim we go in we get new
bathing suits, we get newsweatshirts, we get the whole
gamut going of attire, jewelry,everything.
It's just a fun thing.
When we go on a swim, weusually make it a week of a
(27:12):
Mighty Mermaid adventure.
So we go on side trips.
That's how we ended up in lajolla cove.
You know, we all did nationals,then we did our san diego swim
and then we came together anddid some activities.
So it's been such a fun group.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Yeah, you guys yeah, I know every single one of you.
I know all.
Actually, I don't know veronicaor ronnie as you her.
I know her as a studly swimmerjust being Veronica Hibben and
seeing her in the record books,but I know Karen and Tracy and
Christy and you, of course,really well.
Did I leave anybody out there?
Speaker 2 (27:50):
We had a couple of different ones in the beginning,
but this is our five.
And then last year we had aguest mermaid, susan Helmrich,
who's very involved in the swimacross America, and she was a
wonderful guest mermaid.
And we've had so many peoplecome up to us that are in our
age group and want to be amermaid and we say, well, you
(28:10):
can start your own group.
We don't have the lock or thepatent on Mighty Mermaid Group,
but we've had so much funtogether and I think people see
that and want to be a mermaid.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Yes, it's a great.
It's a great group, Reallyreally fun.
Okay, so is there anything thatI haven't asked you that you
would like to share with usbefore we do our sprint around
of fun questions?
Speaker 2 (28:37):
I guess one thing I'd like to say is people say blood
is thicker than water and it is.
But I'd have to say water ispretty thick and we're all
connected, like in the swimmingcommunity, by water and it's
such a beautiful thing.
I have a poster in my kitchenthat says out of water I am
nothing and I just need water tosurvive.
(29:00):
But the friendships I've madeand I know we have a mutual
friend of Kay Andres, but thecommunity that's around us is
just such a beautiful thing.
You know, water's pretty thick,um, it's a, it's a very
meaningful like bond that we allshare with each other.
And it's just such a nice thingto be a master swimmer and you
(29:20):
know, know and have met thepeople that I have met and all
the connections that are inbetween us.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
That's so true.
And yes, when I found out Ishould have put it together, you
being a New Jersey girl.
But yeah, kay and I swamagainst each other, even though
we were friends in college.
It was just cool to know thatyou guys are friends.
And then now we're all thethree of us are on a little text
chain yes, connected with Kayand I'm going to put it out here
(29:49):
on the national podcast herethat we want Kay to make a
swimming comeback right and swima magic sneak?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Oh for sure.
I really wish she would do that.
And she can.
You know she can get in thewater.
She loves the water, she lovesfloating around in it.
But now she's got to startswimming in it.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Yes, yes, and we can do her comeback story.
I already texted her that.
So, nancy, are you ready toplay some Sprinter Round?
Okay, okay, I'll give it a try.
Okay, what is your favoritesandwich?
Peanut butter and jelly.
What do you own that you shouldthrow out?
(30:27):
Lots of shoes, not old mermaidsuits.
It's hard for me to part withbathing suits, I know.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
I did a contest once with somebody how many days we
could go with wearing adifferent suit every day.
I got to over 100.
I got rid of a lot of them.
I gave them to this charitygroup.
Some of them I don't wear verymuch, but I could throw out some
bathing suits scariest animalto you, probably a wolf A wolf,
(31:04):
of course, the wolf pack.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
We're scary.
I'm not sure they're my friendsin the ocean.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Yeah, all right.
What celebrity would you mostlike to meet?
Oh, I should know the answer tothis, because there's so many
Howard Stern and I know thatmight seem odd.
I listen to him every day andI've just felt like Howard's.
I would love to be interviewedby Howard.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Yeah, I could see that.
I think Howard's veryinteresting.
I think that's cool.
All right, what is the hardestswimming event in the pool?
Speaker 2 (31:43):
200 Butterfly for me.
Speaker 1 (31:46):
Favorite movie.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Favorite movie is Field of Dreams or the Big Blue.
It's about deep water diving,but Field of Dreams is probably
one of my favorites.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Both really good ones .
Speaker 2 (32:02):
How about your favorite smell.
I like the smell of chlorine.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Okay, I probably should say salt.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
I like the ocean smell better.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
Okay.
Smell of the sea Okay.
Do you make your bed everymorning?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Yes, before I go swimming?
Yes, okay, yes, do you makeyour bed every morning?
Yes, before.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
I go swimming.
Yes, okay, kickboard or nokickboard, no kickboard.
Favorite type of music.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
I like all genres, but I'd have to say probably
rock and roll, beatles, rollingStones.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Okay, window or aisle .
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Oh, definitely aisle Des describe your life in five
words challenging, interesting,fun, inspirational, and, oh, I
(33:00):
can't think of another one, ohmy, oh, I guess wet, wet, wet,
okay, yes, wet would definitelybe it, yes, water that's what I
would say yes, okay all right.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Um, what word comes to mind when you dive in the
water?
Not necessarily, necessarilywhen you're racing, but just,
this is more of a spiritualquestion I'm home.
Oh my gosh, no way, yes, I'mhome.
Okay, so that's mine, which I'm?
Yeah, no one has ever said that, but I've said it before on the
podcast.
I always say I'm home, likethat's exactly, I'm home.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
That's the way I feel every time I go in the water.
I'm home.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Yeah, yeah, totally yeah.
Nobody said that we can gothrough 300 podcasts here almost
, and that's pretty cool.
Yeah, it is.
It's like you're home.
So maybe I'm a mermaid too, andI just didn't know it.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
I think you are.
We're mermaids in other lives,yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Thank you so much for spending this time with us.
There's, you know, we couldhave spent hours chatting, but
really, really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Well, thank you.
You gave me inspiration and nowI got to start working a little
harder.
Tomorrow because of you, know.
I know what all you'veaccomplished and that inspires
me.
I take inspiration fromeverybody I talk to.
That's a swimmer like you, sothank you for that.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Well, I appreciate it and I will see you around the
pool deck.
Yes, okay, bye Kelly, all right.
Hello friends, I'm Kelly Pallis, the host of the
Champions Mojo podcast.
While some 70-year-olds mightbe slowing down, today we're
meeting a force of nature whojust keeps getting better with
age.
Stick around.
You are going to want to beinspired by our guest today,
nancy Stedman Martin.
(00:20):
She is a world record-holdingmaster swimmer and a full-time
senior partner at the law firmof Martin Melody LLC in Little
Silver, new Jersey, where shespecializes in workers'
compensation and employment law.
Somehow in between her busylegal career, she's built one of
(00:41):
the most impressive masterswimming resumes I've ever seen.
She's built one of the mostimpressive master swimming
resumes I've ever seen.
Nancy has swum the EnglishChannel in record-setting time
for women over 50 and completedthe coveted Triple Crown of Open
Water that is, the EnglishChannel, the Catalina Channel
and a 28.5-mile loop aroundManhattan Island.
She holds multiple national andworld records and shows no sign
(01:04):
of slowing down.
Just this past January she setworld records in the 70-74 age
group in the 800 and 1500 free,and last week she added two more
national titles to her mini inthe one mile and the 5K open
water events at US MastersNationals in Sarasota, florida,
beating many of the swimmers inthe younger age groups her time.
(01:27):
And, on a fun side note, she'snot just making solo waves.
Nancy is part of the MightyMermaids, a legendary team of
powerhouse women in their 60sand beyond who have shattered
records together in some of theworld's toughest open water
relay swims.
Nancy.
Not only does she have one ofthe greatest resumes in master
(01:48):
swimming that I've ever seen,she's one of my own personal
heroes.
I'm so excited to talk to you,nancy.
Welcome to Champions Mojo.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Hi, kelly, that was so nice of you to say that, and
I have to add to that that thefirst time I was in your heat in
a distance event I don't knowhow many years ago it was, but
as you know, they put you inheat by time, not just by age.
So when I was in your heat Ifelt like I had made it in the
distance world.
(02:16):
I was in Kelly's heat in 1500or 1650.
I don't even remember what, butit was a distance event and I
was so excited to be in thatheat.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Oh well, I think I might remember that.
I think it might have been theGeorge Mason University, and I
was just as excited, Nancy,let's just start off by telling
us a little bit about what haveyou learned about staying
competitive as you age?
Like what do you think some ofyour secrets are?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I think the biggest thing for me with entering
competition and staying fit isthat setting goals allows me to
train better.
I couldn't just get in the pooland swim up and down.
I need something that I'mlooking forward to, whether it
be an open water event or a poolevent or just accomplishing
(03:07):
something in a workout andworking toward that, like doing
a set of something you know in acertain time or doing a
distance event in the pool andpractice.
But setting goals has kept memotivated.
And the other thing that haskept me motivated in swimming
meets lately is my mother, whowas, you know, one of my
(03:27):
inspirations.
She still holds all the NewJersey records as I age up in
the backstroke events.
So that gives me a goal.
But I just look forward to, youknow, accomplishing different
things and that gives me mymotivation to go to practice
every morning.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah, setting goals, that's such a great secret.
If you don't have goals, you'renot really you're not really
focused.
But how cool, you're trying tobreak your mom's record.
So tell us a little bit aboutthat.
Like you know, you come from aswimming family.
Your dad was a coach.
Your mom started into masters,you know, many years ago, but
(04:08):
late in her life.
So give us a little backgroundon the family tradition.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
My mother, Dara Stedman, that's.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Stedman was her married name.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, but my mother was a swimmer as a youngster.
In fact, she held a worldrecord for a short period of
time in a 40 meter backstroke.
It was when they had those 20meter pools and she set a record
, I think when she was 17, aworld record in that 50
backstroke.
She was a total backstroker andshe didn't swim wash.
(04:41):
You know, the whole time shewas raising, you know her
children myself and I have threesiblings.
She didn't swim at all, likewhen I was growing up.
She'd get in once in a while,but not really to do a workout
or not to um, you know, swimlaps.
And then when I started goingin masters at age 25 to 29
because that was the theyoungest age group at time she
(05:04):
went to meets with me and Ithink she started timing the
people that were in her agegroup which at the time was 55
to 59, and figured you know whatI can get back and do this.
And the Nationals in the nextyear were in Fort Lauderdale,
one of our favorite places to goin the winter.
So she trained and then, fromthen on, she was hooked.
(05:27):
She was setting world recordsin all the backstroke events and
, in fact, in 2022, she gotinducted into the International
Swimming Hall of Fame forMasters Swimmers.
She had passed away by thattime, but she holds, and has
held, almost all the New Jerseyrecords in the backstroke.
I'm not traditionally abackstroker, but I started doing
(05:51):
a lot more backstroke because Iwanted to beat her times as I
aged up, and then it's been funtrying to break her records.
I'll go to a meet.
The toughest ones for me to getare always her 50 backstrokes
and I just got her 50 back inthe 70 to 74, but I feel like
she's almost next to me in thenext lane when I take off,
(06:13):
because it's really close.
In the 65 to 69, it took mefour years in that age group and
I finally did it at nationalsby one one hundredth of a second
.
So it that's been fun.
It makes me feel like mymother's right there with me and
is your mom still with us or no?
now.
She passed away um in 2013 andwhen she got in, when they
(06:37):
inducted her in 2022 to theinternational swimming hall of
fame, my brother and I went umto the event and I picked up her
award and I somewhat felt likeCinderella because it was so fun
but it wasn't my ball.
You know, I felt a little likeit's not really my award, but I
almost felt like it was.
(06:58):
It was just such a fun eventthey had all the Olympians were
there, you know Craig Beersley,greg Louganis, dabra Torres was
the host.
It was an incredible event and,oh, my mother would have loved
it.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
up here just a minute and tell us how in the world
you have time to train at such ahigh level with being an
attorney, a partner, a seniorpartner in your law firm and
working full time.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Fortunately, I have two excellent law partners, a
father and his son, and we bothhave other.
We all have other interests.
They love to play golf, I liketo swim and therefore we try to
accommodate each other'sschedules when I'm away to meet
and one of them is in the office.
But we work together to do ourjob.
(08:00):
And you know I get up early.
My first dive in the pool isusually at 5.05 AM and you know
I get up early.
My I my first dive in the poolis usually at 5 0, 5 am and you
can make time, and then thatsets me in a great uh attitude.
For the entire day I feel likeI've done my swim.
You know I still get to theoffice, you know, by like 8, 15,
8 o'clock, um, I swim for aboutan hour 45 minutes and it just
(08:24):
sets my day on such a betternote after I've had a swim
practice.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Oh for sure.
How many days a week are youdoing that?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
People tell me I shouldn't be doing this.
But I need to be in the waterevery day.
I swim seven days a week.
There's a couple of days whereI'll do a lighter workout and in
the summer, a couple of dayswhere I'll do a lighter workout
and in the summer, as soon asit's well even actually starting
in the spring we'll do oceanswims, myself and a couple of
friends of mine, and that's kindof a relaxing swim for me.
(08:54):
I, you know, just do a long,easy swim in the ocean and
they're kind of my off days.
But I generally do swim sevendays a week.
I'll take off sometimes beforein the week, before some meet,
and I will try to taper a littlebit when I'm going to a big
meet.
But I need to be in the watereach day.
I don't feel right if I'm not.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
What, what kind of yardage are you doing on a daily
basis?
Speaker 2 (09:19):
I do about 4,500 to 5,000 five days a week and, like
I said, a couple of days are alittle bit lighter, but I I just
like to do about 45 each day.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
And any strength training.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
I do some dry land a couple of days a week.
I do need to incorporate moreweights.
I know that as as you age, youknow you get weaker and I do
need to incorporate more weighttraining and I can do that at
the facility where I go.
It's hard to fit everything intime wise, but I do need to do
some weight training and I'mgoing to try to incorporate that
(09:57):
as my goal for the summer.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Very good.
Yeah, that'll be scary if youcan add any strength training.
Have you done any hormonereplacement therapy?
No, I never have.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
I kind of hesitate in taking any kind of supplement.
I felt like I was going throughmenopause.
I just kept looking forward andgoing ahead.
This is part of life.
I'll deal with it and I justkept going forward.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I always think, well, my grandmothers didn't have any
of that stuff and they were outthere working kicking butt all
their lives.
I think as athletes, weprobably have an easier time
with it.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
I think exercise probably helps everything that
we do, so it does, and I guess Ifeel like the body is such an
amazing machine that I feel likethose, the natural changes that
you go through, it's importantto like, acknowledge them, but
not to let them stop what you'redoing or not to let them
interfere with what you're doing.
(10:54):
When I was getting close to 70,I was fighting 70 with all my
might, like I was working harderin the pool, I was training
more often, doing more yardage,and I thought, oh, that's going
to keep me young, and it does toa certain extent.
But yet I sometimes do have toacknowledge I'm 70 and I might
need more rest.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, do you notice a big difference from 50 to 60 to
70?
Speaker 2 (11:23):
I probably notice the biggest difference with 70.
And as my intervals and mytimes, when those intervals get
a little slower in workout,where I don't recover quite as
fast as I used to.
For example, I was just inSarasota and I did the mile on
Friday and the 5K on SaturdayFelt fantastic both days and
(11:45):
then and part of that's probablythe traveling when I came home
I always have a delayed reactionto an event or to stiffness,
but I definitely was very muchslower in the pool on Tuesday
and Wednesday and now I feellike I'm coming back again, but
(12:05):
I take a little bit longer torecover.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
Do you have anything that youuse as a barometer?
I'll give you an example, justbecause it's my barometer for
aging.
For me is the 500 free, and Ifeel like the 500 free is a good
distance for kind of being along sprint.
(12:29):
I don't even think of it asreally a distance.
It's kind of like you've got tohave speed to swim a good 500
and you've got to have endurance.
I think hitting a 530-ish 500free is a good time.
I think I was at, you know, 527in my 40s and then this year in
(12:49):
the 60 to 64 age group, I went538.
So I I feel like, okay, I'mstill in the 530s.
This next year I'll hit the,you know, the 65 to 69.
So I'm I'm like going to belooking at my 500 free, thinking
Can I maintain that speed?
Can I maintain that endurance?
Do you have something pull-upsor sit-ups, or a set of 10 100s
(13:11):
on a certain interval, orsomething that you track your
progress with?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
It's funny that you mentioned the 500, because
that's my barometer.
It meets also is my 500 time,mainly because you know I'm a
distance swimmer but you canpush a 500.
It's different than a 1,000 ora 1,650.
And I use that as my barometertoo.
In fact they always call melike one pace Nancy.
(13:37):
In practice I do my warmup andwe usually do a 600, but I
always note my 500 on the waybecause then I can pretty much
tell how the rest of myworkout's going.
I always try to be under sevenon the way in my 500.
And if I'm over, I'm like, oh,I'm not feeling it today or I'm
(13:59):
tired today.
But that's kind of the event Iuse as my barometer on how I'm
feeling on a daily basis inpractice and then how I'm doing
it in me.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
So, nancy, what other rituals or routines do you use
to be so successful in your lawcareer, in your swimming?
Are there certain things thatyou do that set you up for
success in the pool?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
I guess setting me up for success in the pool has
been pulling inspiration fromthe people that I surround
myself with.
I try to always be aroundpositive people who set goals
and who want to work toward them, no matter what level they are
you know, faster than me, slowerthan me in a pool or just in
(14:49):
general in life.
I like to be around positivepeople that inspire me, and
there's so many around me thatdo inspire me.
You know friends that inspireme with their kindness and try
to make me you know it helpsmake me a better person or my
law partners who are dedicatedto helping injured workers.
(15:11):
That inspires me.
So I pull inspiration from alot of different people and I
think being around positivepeople with goals is definitely
a big plus in my success.
And focusing on other things,like when I look around, you
(15:31):
know, some people might put uptheir awards.
I was noticing this when I wasthinking about the podcast.
The things that are on my wallsin my house are pictures of the
people I swim with.
My mighty mermaids take up afew walls because we've been
together for now 20 years and weare constantly, you know,
(15:53):
involved with each other.
We have our Zoom meetings we doa lot of talking and texting
and it's just they inspire me.
And each one of my MightyMermaid friends inspires me in
very different ways becausewe're very different personality
wise.
So that's how I pull strengthin my law practice and in my
(16:15):
swimming and just in life ingeneral.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Oh, that's a beautiful technique.
Certainly, the people that wesurround ourselves with have
such an influence on our overalloutcomes in life.
They say look at your fiveclosest friends and that's
really who you're going to belike.
So I love that.
So I would love to hear whatyou would consider one of your
very best comeback stories.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
I have to say that it was when I had pneumonia and
needed lung surgery and cameback from that In 2017, I did a
10K swim in Bermuda and did verywell.
I came home and about five, sixdays later I started feeling
(17:01):
like I had the flu or was tiredand I just kept kind of pushing
it through and then I reallyfelt horrible.
So I finally did go to awalk-in clinic and they said you
have pneumonia, you got to goto the hospital and in the
hospital my pneumonia had turnedinto an odd infection and I
(17:26):
ended up needing lung surgery.
I was in the hospital for 10days and they had to go aside
from this between my ribs and, Iguess, clean out my lungs.
I don't know really exactlywhat it was, but I then it took
me a month or two to recover.
I don't think that was thelongest period I've gone in my
entire life with not swimming.
(17:47):
I missed about six weeks whereI couldn't go to the pool after
the 10 days in the hospital andthen coming back from that was a
challenge and I still do feelevery once in a while in my left
side, in my left lung, that Ihave to warm up and take deep
breaths and it feels like it'stighter than the other one.
(18:09):
But coming back from that was achallenge and it was my goal to
come back stronger than when Ihad pneumonia and I feel like I
accomplished that goal Wow.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
That is quite a comeback story.
Oh my gosh, I can't evenimagine thinking you're going to
get some medicine and end up inthe hospital and in surgery.
Wow, how did you handle thatmentally?
Did you kind of freak out orwhat was what were?
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I'm more of a person that I always look forward and I
don't dwell on like, oh youknow, I did ask myself how in
the world did I get pneumonia?
I had never.
I'd never been sick, never beenin the hospital.
I, you know, had a clean billof health all my life.
So this was really a shock tome.
But one of the lessons that myfather, who was also my swim
(19:02):
coach, always would say to mewas you're only as good as your
next race.
So don't gloat on what you didand don't cry about what you did
.
Just look forward and you'reonly as good as your next one.
And it's been a really goodlife lesson for me.
It was good in overcomingpneumonia.
(19:22):
I just looked forward and saidI'm getting over this and I'm
going to be better than I wasand it's not going to limit me.
My husband had passed away in2009, and that was a difficult
time, but I still.
I always looked forward andtried to make the best of a
situation.
I took over his business inaddition to my law practice,
(19:44):
which was supplying lifeguardsto different beaches and condos,
so that helped me get throughthat period of time.
I always look ahead at goals orwhat my, but I can do without
limitation.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yeah, that's beautiful and that sounds like a
really great mindset.
What is your mindset when youare in the middle of a difficult
swim?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
The first part of any long distance swim, like
Manhattan or Catalina.
That's my hardest time.
I almost feel like I wonder ifmy boat will notice if I go down
to the bottom and just staythere Like I don't feel like
swimming.
I it's.
It's a horrible feeling andI've gotten it in almost every
(20:28):
long distance swim I have doneUm, probably except the English
channel, but I I did Tampa Bayand I felt that way.
Manhattan Island, I think allfour times I felt that way and I
get through that by trying tofocus on the other people that
are in my life or that arecounting on me to, you know, to
(20:49):
keep going and that gets methrough it.
And I do an odd thing when I,when I do a really long one, I
pretend I'm being interviewedabout my life from somebody that
goes the whole swim, like Istarted off when I was a kid,
and I pretend I'm beinginterviewed and that's what got
me through a lot of longdistance swims when I feel like
(21:11):
I just want to quit and go tothe bottom of the sea.
But when I'm in a 1650, Iprobably do something that I
know is not probably recommendedby others, but right from the
beginning I focus on somebodyelse, Like I'd love to have
somebody next to me that's alittle faster or that's near me.
And even if they're a lotfaster, I'll concentrate on
(21:36):
trying to stay with them or nothave them lap me so much if
that's the heat I'm in, likewhen I'm with you.
I try to focus on anotherperson because it seems to take
away the pain that I'm feelingor the fact that I'm thinking oh
no, I've got 20 laps to go.
That helps me get through mostof my thousands, or 1650s.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah, I can see that.
I think part of that is justsounds like distraction, which
is great Sometimes when I can dothat, get in there, sing a song
or do something else, but well,that's good.
So let's see, is there anythingin master swimming that you
really haven't accomplished thatyou want to?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Oh yes, one of my travel buddies to swim meets was
a woman named Julia Dulce, andI loved her goal so much I want
it to be mine.
And her goal was to be the lastone standing is the true winner
in a master's competition.
So when you're the oldest oneand you're standing on the side
(22:41):
of the pool ready to race in 800, you're the winner.
In other words, you've survivedeverybody else and you're still
active enough to still be doingthe sport and the events that
you love.
So that's a goal for me.
My other goal is to keepholding on as best I can.
I know I'm not going to do someof my fastest times, but
(23:05):
holding on as best I can as Iage up.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Yeah, it's got to be pretty satisfying knowing that
you just turned 70 into the 70age group and you're the fastest
70-year-old woman ever to swimthe 1,500-meter free in the
world.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
I'm the fastest one in short course meters, but my
Mighty Mermaid teammate, ChristySerrallo, holds the long course
.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Oh right, the long course, the short course.
You're in the short course, butI'm the short course one.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
But Christy and I have a real fun dynamic where we
want to see the other onesucceed and because we want to
try to do better than that onein the next one.
So we've gone back and forth alittle bit on that.
But she does hold the longcourse and I hold the short
course.
But I know she's gunning for myshort course and I'm gunning
for her long course, so we havea lot of fun with that.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Yeah, and I love that .
Let's talk a little bit aboutthe Mighty Mermaids.
These are some of the mostdecorated women in master
swimming.
Were some qualifications to getinto the mermaid group.
Christy started it a long timeago.
Tell us a little bit about itand how that has affected you
being such a great swimmer.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Well, the Mighty Mermaids started, as you said,
by Christy Serrallo, who wantedto do some relays and some fun
events and she wanted to becompetitive.
So she went through and lookedto see who were the fastest
distance swimmers in her agegroup and around that age so
that we could come together anddo a relay.
(24:39):
And I didn't really knowChristy well at all.
I had met her and swam againsther in a national competition in
Fort Lauderdale we had.
When we compared notes later onwe realized we had gone to some
other open water races, one inHawaii earlier on.
But she got the group together.
(25:00):
She called me and of course youknow somebody wanting to do an
open water relay.
I was on board immediately.
And then Tracy Grilly has becomelike we call her the queen of
our mighty mermaids because shejust holds us all together.
And then we have KarenEisleinler, who's one of the top
(25:20):
distance swimmers and EnglishChannel swimmer and just an
incredible swimmer.
And then Ronnie Hibben, who'sour speed demon and who can do
distance also but open water,and she's a real spreader in the
pool.
So we've had a blast.
We've been together 20 years.
We started when all of us were50 to 54 so that we could do the
(25:44):
Lake Tahoe really as our firstrace, and then we've been
together ever since and we'vebeen very fortunate that Tracy's
husband, david Grilly, hasbecome our merman.
He goes on all our trips withus and keeps us all together.
When we have a disagreementabout something, he's our
referee and our calminginfluence on all of us, and he's
(26:05):
fantastic.
That's where I stayed when Iwas in Sarasota and it was.
It was great fun.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Oh, yes, that's wonderful.
When you just went to theNationals down there.
Yeah, I know you guys also, youhave matching bathing suits and
you meet at places and, youknow, do open water swims
together, obviously, but it'sreally.
You guys are a super fun groupand I got to spend some time
with you guys when nationalswere last summer.
We're out in Mission Viejo andwe swam in La Jolla Cove and
(26:34):
that was really cool.
That was a lot of fun.
Yeah, the Mighty Mermaids arevery cool and I noticed you guys
even have your own OpenWaterpedia page.
So if people want to check outand get more information on you
on the Mighty Mermaids, it's agood place to check it out.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
I have probably a full-size bureau of Mighty
Mermaid clothes.
Mighty Mermaid clothes becauseevery swim we go in we get new
bathing suits, we get newsweatshirts, we get the whole
gamut going of attire, jewelry,everything.
It's just a fun thing.
When we go on a swim, weusually make it a week of a
(27:12):
Mighty Mermaid adventure.
So we go on side trips.
That's how we ended up in lajolla cove.
You know, we all did nationals,then we did our san diego swim
and then we came together anddid some activities.
So it's been such a fun group.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Yeah, you guys yeah, I know every single one of you.
I know all.
Actually, I don't know veronicaor ronnie as you her.
I know her as a studly swimmerjust being Veronica Hibben and
seeing her in the record books,but I know Karen and Tracy and
Christy and you, of course,really well.
Did I leave anybody out there?
Speaker 2 (27:50):
We had a couple of different ones in the beginning,
but this is our five.
And then last year we had aguest mermaid, susan Helmrich,
who's very involved in the swimacross America, and she was a
wonderful guest mermaid.
And we've had so many peoplecome up to us that are in our
age group and want to be amermaid and we say, well, you
(28:10):
can start your own group.
We don't have the lock or thepatent on Mighty Mermaid Group,
but we've had so much funtogether and I think people see
that and want to be a mermaid.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Yes, it's a great.
It's a great group, Reallyreally fun.
Okay, so is there anything thatI haven't asked you that you
would like to share with usbefore we do our sprint around
of fun questions?
Speaker 2 (28:37):
I guess one thing I'd like to say is people say blood
is thicker than water and it is.
But I'd have to say water ispretty thick and we're all
connected, like in the swimmingcommunity, by water and it's
such a beautiful thing.
I have a poster in my kitchenthat says out of water I am
nothing and I just need water tosurvive.
(29:00):
But the friendships I've madeand I know we have a mutual
friend of Kay Andres, but thecommunity that's around us is
just such a beautiful thing.
You know, water's pretty thick,um, it's a, it's a very
meaningful like bond that we allshare with each other.
And it's just such a nice thingto be a master swimmer and you
(29:20):
know, know and have met thepeople that I have met and all
the connections that are inbetween us.
Speaker 1 (29:27):
That's so true.
And yes, when I found out Ishould have put it together, you
being a New Jersey girl.
But yeah, kay and I swamagainst each other, even though
we were friends in college.
It was just cool to know thatyou guys are friends.
And then now we're all thethree of us are on a little text
chain yes, connected with Kayand I'm going to put it out here
(29:49):
on the national podcast herethat we want Kay to make a
swimming comeback right and swima magic sneak?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
Oh for sure.
I really wish she would do that.
And she can.
You know she can get in thewater.
She loves the water, she lovesfloating around in it.
But now she's got to startswimming in it.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
Yes, yes, and we can do her comeback story.
I already texted her that.
So, nancy, are you ready toplay some Sprinter Round?
Okay, okay, I'll give it a try.
Okay, what is your favoritesandwich?
Peanut butter and jelly.
What do you own that you shouldthrow out?
(30:27):
Lots of shoes, not old mermaidsuits.
It's hard for me to part withbathing suits, I know.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
I did a contest once with somebody how many days we
could go with wearing adifferent suit every day.
I got to over 100.
I got rid of a lot of them.
I gave them to this charitygroup.
Some of them I don't wear verymuch, but I could throw out some
bathing suits scariest animalto you, probably a wolf A wolf,
(31:04):
of course, the wolf pack.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
We're scary.
I'm not sure they're my friendsin the ocean.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Yeah, all right.
What celebrity would you mostlike to meet?
Oh, I should know the answer tothis, because there's so many
Howard Stern and I know thatmight seem odd.
I listen to him every day andI've just felt like Howard's.
I would love to be interviewedby Howard.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Yeah, I could see that.
I think Howard's veryinteresting.
I think that's cool.
All right, what is the hardestswimming event in the pool?
Speaker 2 (31:43):
200 Butterfly for me.
Speaker 1 (31:46):
Favorite movie.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Favorite movie is Field of Dreams or the Big Blue.
It's about deep water diving,but Field of Dreams is probably
one of my favorites.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Both really good ones .
Speaker 2 (32:02):
How about your favorite smell.
I like the smell of chlorine.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
Okay, I probably should say salt.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
I like the ocean smell better.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
Okay.
Smell of the sea Okay.
Do you make your bed everymorning?
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Yes, before I go swimming?
Yes, okay, yes, do you makeyour bed every morning?
Yes, before.
Speaker 1 (32:20):
I go swimming.
Yes, okay, kickboard or nokickboard, no kickboard.
Favorite type of music.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
I like all genres, but I'd have to say probably
rock and roll, beatles, rollingStones.
Speaker 1 (32:35):
Okay, window or aisle .
Speaker 2 (32:38):
Oh, definitely aisle Des describe your life in five
words challenging, interesting,fun, inspirational, and, oh, I
(33:00):
can't think of another one, ohmy, oh, I guess wet, wet, wet,
okay, yes, wet would definitelybe it, yes, water that's what I
would say yes, okay all right.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Um, what word comes to mind when you dive in the
water?
Not necessarily, necessarilywhen you're racing, but just,
this is more of a spiritualquestion I'm home.
Oh my gosh, no way, yes, I'mhome.
Okay, so that's mine, which I'm?
Yeah, no one has ever said that, but I've said it before on the
podcast.
I always say I'm home, likethat's exactly, I'm home.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
That's the way I feel every time I go in the water.
I'm home.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Yeah, yeah, totally yeah.
Nobody said that we can gothrough 300 podcasts here almost
, and that's pretty cool.
Yeah, it is.
It's like you're home.
So maybe I'm a mermaid too, andI just didn't know it.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
I think you are.
We're mermaids in other lives,yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Thank you so much for spending this time with us.
There's, you know, we couldhave spent hours chatting, but
really, really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
Well, thank you.
You gave me inspiration and nowI got to start working a little
harder.
Tomorrow because of you, know.
I know what all you'veaccomplished and that inspires
me.
I take inspiration fromeverybody I talk to.
That's a swimmer like you, sothank you for that.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Well, I appreciate it and I will see you around the
pool deck.
Yes, okay, bye Kelly, all right.
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