Aberdeen Sports Village welcomed swimmers from across the UK, Ireland and beyond for the 2026 British Masters Swimming Championships from 12-14 June.
Held at our Aquatics Centre, the event brought together hundreds of competitors aged 18 and over, with athletes travelling from across Britain and as far afield as the United States.
The championships last took place in Aberdeen in 2022 and returned this year for three days of racing, records and remarkable performances.
Records from the start
Records began falling from the opening session.
Aberdeen's Audrey Cooper, representing Silver City Blues, broke the European record in the women's 1500m freestyle for the 70-74 age group with a time of 22:55.66.
Her 800m split of 12:14.35 also set a new British record.
Over the weekend, swimmers broke multiple world, European and British records across individual and relay events.
Among the highlights were:
- Three world records set by relay teams on the opening day
- Multiple European records across a range of age groups
- British records broken in freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke, medley and relay events
- A world record from 95-year-old Jane Asher in the 400m freestyle
Jane's swim drew huge applause from the crowd as she became the latest Masters swimmer to show that age is no barrier to achievement in the pool.
Celebrating the Masters community
The championships were about more than medals and records.
The event also celebrated the volunteers, officials and organisers who help Masters swimming thrive throughout the year.
During the weekend, Jonathan Mills received the Vivienne and Leonard Cherriman Award, presented annually to recognise an outstanding contribution to Masters swimming in Great Britain.
The award recognised his work developing and supporting the entries system used widely throughout the Masters swimming community.
Local clubs shine
There was particular cause for celebration for north-east swimmers on the final day.
Aberdeen's Silver City Blues won the prestigious Cupar Trophy, awarded to the club that accumulates the most points across the championships.
The club finished top of the standings with 552 points.
The top three teams were:
- Silver City Blues – 552 points
- Otter – 435 points
- Dyce – 296 points
The result capped an outstanding weekend for local swimmers, with both Silver City Blues and Dyce featuring among the leading clubs in Britain.
A memorable weekend in Aberdeen
From first-time competitors to world record holders, the championships showcased the strength and spirit of the Masters swimming community.
Across three days of competition, swimmers demonstrated that dedication, enjoyment and high performance can go hand in hand at every age.
For Aberdeen Sports Village, it was another opportunity to host a major national event and welcome athletes, officials, volunteers and supporters from across the country to the city.
