After suffering a heart attack six years ago, Jerome Smith’s heart only pumps at 34 percent of a healthy one. But that hasn’t kept the 73-year-old from blasting away at SCAQ Masters swim workouts. And now he plans to compete in his first swim meet in 15 years.

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Many remember scoring that goal or winning a race fondly from childhood. But growing up doesn’t have to mean the end of team sports! Two swimmers, Rossella Pescatori and Chris Wall, have kept competing as adults, which helps them both remember how they fell in love with the water in the first place.

Pescatori, 45, was heartbreakingly close to competing in the…

Two swimmers, Bob Beresh and David Walters, are opposites when it comes to skill-level. Beresh, a beginner, started attending organized, coached workouts about two months ago. Walters, a national standout, competed on the U.S. 4x200 freestyle relay with Michael Phelps in the 2008 Olympics.

But they both share a struggle that anyone trying to exercise…

Jason May and Melanie Webber, two local triathletes, have excelled in competition and both started out in the pool. One has reached the elite level and the other is a novice swimmer, but they both enjoy the sport and the time they spend swimming laps.

Triathlon season is approaching! And they’re gearing up again.

Melanie Webber has competed in nine triathlons,…

This year, Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ) has expanded its 2015 Ocean Swim Series to include safe, high quality; affordable and fun swim options during the week as well as both morning and evening sessions. SCAQ is an adult swim club that also offers pool practices at nine locations, including USC and Echo Park. Ocean swimming is great workout for…

Lewis Carter, 77, (right) and Jerome Smith, 71, (left) discovered a passion that boosted their health.

State University of New York says swimmers have lower heart rates compared to those of non-swimmers.  Swimming was also found to be a viable workout for people in cardiac rehabilitation and recovering from heart failure or artery disease. …

Most people ring in the New Year with champagne and a late night. But a group of dedicated “Penguins” choose to commemorate it with a cold dip in the ocean.

Cecelia Kilger, a Los Angeles transplant, began the tradition in 1952.  As a child, she swam in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan.  After getting caught in the surf off Playa del Rey, she got a tip to try…

Nineteen seconds. For most of us, that’s not a lot of time to accomplish much, maybe fill up a glass of water, walk up the stairs, or get a leash for the dog.

But for aspiring Olympian Derek Toomey, that’s enough time to swim two laps of the pool.

Toomey, who just finished his college swimming career at the University of Minnesota, moved to Los…