Champions Mojo for Masters Swimmers

Ready for a great love story? Former national and world-record-holding Masters swimmer Joe Wotton joins us on deck to share the stories, nicknames, and love that shaped a champion’s life in and out of the pool. Joe Wotton, 66 years young, swims for Swim Melbourne Masters—the Mahis—and brings with him a lifetime in aquatics. His journey began in Massachusetts, continued in backyard pools after his family moved to Florida, and grew through high school swimming and water polo. One of the highlights of his early career includes racing at the Florida state championships alongside Olympic legend Rowdy Gaines, an experience he recounts with humility, humor, and deep appreciation for the moment.
Service, Swimmer Motivation, and Staying in the Water
Joe went on to swim and play water polo at the Air Force Academy, where he captained the water polo team, earned MVP honors, won a national title, and found success in sprint freestyle events. His career later came full circle when he returned to the Academy as a coach, using swimming as both motivation and connection with the athletes he led. Along the way, Masters Swimming became a constant thread—one that provided community, competition, and lifelong friendships wherever life and service took him.
Nicknames, Teasing, and the Gift of Belonging
One of the most entertaining threads in this conversation is Joe’s collection of nicknames, each tied to a distinct chapter of his life. As a young cadet, he was called “Stiletto” for his lean build. In water polo, his squinting without vision correction earned him the name “Squint.” Later, in a moment of good-natured teasing during weight training, an ironic Yoda impression led to the nickname “Power,” a call sign that followed him so persistently that some teammates assumed it was his actual last name. Even today, he still hears it called out in airports by fellow Air Force pilots. These nicknames aren’t just funny—they represent belonging, shared history, and the deep bonds formed through sport and service.
His Greatest Comeback of All Is Love
The most powerful comeback Joe shares, however, has nothing to do with swimming. He tells a beautiful love story about reconnecting with Debbie, the woman he dated in college but didn’t yet understand how to fully love. Years later, after both had gone through divorce, they found their way back to each other. More than 35 years into a happy marriage, Joe describes Debbie as his greatest accomplishment in life—a story that resonates deeply and reminds us that growth, timing, and second chances matter.
Why Masters Feels Like Home
Joe also speaks with gratitude about Masters Swimming itself, describing every meet as a kind of homecoming. He reflects on the joy of seeing familiar faces, encouraging one another, and sharing a love of the sport that transcends age and performance. Whether he’s training for the 50 freestyle, lifting weights, walking golf courses, or spending a month each year in the Florida Keys lobster diving with family, Joe radiates appreciation for a life well lived and shared.
Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

Lauren Anderson proves that speed and joy in swimming are still within reach after 25 years away from the sport. She rebuilt her training from the ground up, and made big time drops in her best events the breaststroke. Her story blends performance insights with honest life change, turning Masters swimming into a blueprint for structure, community, and a fresh start. Lauren is a member of the Palm Beach Masters.

We dig into the practical tools that moved the needle: broken 200s tailored to breaststroke pacing, non-negotiable kick sets to power the second 50, and all-out block work that makes starts, turns, and breakouts automatic under pressure. Lauren shares why many Masters swimmers stall—too much freestyle, not enough stroke specificity—and how to fix it with simple, repeatable sets. She recalls a standout meet in Irvine, racing alongside elite talent, Gabrielle Rose, and explains how those moments of shared excellence energize training for months.

Along the way, Lauren opens up about navigating divorce, moving, and starting a new job during COVID while rediscovering her athletic identity. The pool became a steady ritual and the Masters lane mates a vital community. If you’re ready to return to swimming, sharpen your breaststroke, or find structure amid change, this conversation gives you the mindset, the sets, and the spark to get going.

If this story fires you up, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review on Apple to help more swimmers find us. What’s your best comeback moment? We’d love to hear it.
Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

She calls herself a swimming vagabond! The deck at Fort Lauderdale buzzes, and at 70-years old, Peggy McDonnell brings the kind of energy that makes you want to put on your goggles. She didn’t swim in high school or college. She found Masters after a move to Florida, chased a national title in the 200 IM, and shocked herself with an All-American time that arrived like lightning. Then life happened: knee surgery, a finicky neck, and an honest reckoning that made butterfly and breaststroke hard. Instead of stepping back, she pivoted—leaning into the 200 freestyle, rebuilding confidence, and choosing smarter, kinder training.

We walk through how she trains mostly solo with plans from a trusted friend, then found a 20-year-younger partner who “busts her tail” and helped her return to racing after a multi-year competitive break. She shares practical details that Masters swimmers crave: three swim days a week, 3,400 to 3,800 yards when the stars align, and a simple long course test set that benchmarks fitness without breaking spirit. Her facility routine is a masterclass in persistence—Indian River State College, Leisure Square, and any open water that keeps the habit alive through closures, heater issues, and shifting schedules. It’s the consistency, not the perfect pool, that moves the needle.

Peggy’s story widens beyond the stopwatch. She talks about a broken hand right as she aged up to 60 and still made nationals, her pick for a dream lunch with Mark Spitz, and two and a half decades of volunteering at a dog shelter that led to adopting a sweet, big shepherd after saying goodbye to a tiny chihuahua. And she lights up when recalling the “Golden Girls,” the relay crew who broke five yards records in a single season—only to be topped the next year, and loved the chase anyway. The throughline is grit with warmth: adapt your events, find a partner who pushes you, keep your rituals flexible, and let team joy carry you through.

If you love Masters swimming, comeback stories, and practical training wisdom for aging athletes, you’ll feel right at home here. Listen, share with a teammate, and tell us the one adjustment you’ll make to keep your swim life strong. Subscribe, leave a quick review, and drop your next race goal—we’re cheering for you.
Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

A special episode to get you in the Christmas spirit! We meet Kirk Clear, a force in U.S. Masters Swimming, an Air Force Veteran and a legend in his Florida community for something entirely different: creating a jaw-dropping, music-synchronized Christmas light display that brings joy to thousands each year. Kirk calls himself a "Crazy Christmas Light Illuminator."
Kirk approaches the holidays the same way he approaches Masters swimming—with discipline, creativity, and a deep commitment to community. While many of us are winding down in December, Kirk is climbing bucket trucks, wrapping 50-foot palm trees in lights, syncing music, hosting snow machines for kids, and raising money for veteran-focused charities—all while still showing up at swim practice four to five days a week. Kirk is a member of the Swim Melbourne Masters.
Recorded on deck at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center during the Fall Classic Short Course Meters Meet, this conversation captures Kirk’s energy, humility, and unmistakable love for both swimming and service.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
How Kirk discovered Masters swimming in his early 20s—and why he’s still all-in 35+ years later
The national Masters backstroke record he set by embracing change and opportunity
Why consistency, not excuses, is his approach to training—even after 19 surgeries
The story behind his legendary Christmas and Fourth of July light shows (and why July is “Christmas season” for him)
How giving back—to kids, veterans, and the swimming community—fuels his purpose
Why volunteering is essential to the future of Masters swimming
A reminder that staying young isn’t about avoiding wear and tear—it’s about doing what you love
Kirk Clear is proof that excellence doesn’t have to be loud—but it can be brilliantly lit. Whether he’s flipping at the wall, mentoring volunteers, or turning his front yard into a Christmas masterpiece, Kirk shows us that passion multiplied by consistency can create something truly unforgettable.
Perfect for the holiday season, this episode is about joy, service, resilience, and finding ways to light the way for others—in the pool and beyond.
🎁 Merry Christmas from Champion’s Mojo—and enjoy this inspiring conversation with Kirk Clear
Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

It's on deck with Eddie Tiozzo—age 52, former water polo player, and PhD in exercise physiology—to unpack how smart training, strong shoulders, and a dynamic mindset can carry you through decades in the sport. Eddie’s story moves from Croatia and Italy to Florida pool decks as a member of Swim Ft. Lauderdale Masters, and along the way he shows how curiosity and consistency beat rigid formulas every time.

We dig into his favorite events—the 100 back and 100 IM—and the weekly plan that keeps him fast and healthy: four swims of 3–4.5K, two focused gym sessions, and one stretching session. Eddie breaks down why “broken,” varied sets trump cookie-cutter 10x100s, how to use bands effectively without ignoring weights, and the power of alternating lighter, high-rep days with heavier, low-rep sessions. If pull-ups are out of reach, he shares a scalable assisted variation that builds true pulling strength for better catch mechanics, stronger starts, and shoulder resilience.

Beyond sets and reps, Eddie opens up about earning his PhD later in life, tackling an open water 10K as a dedicated sprinter, and why community keeps him coming back to the blocks. We swap notes on Federica Pellegrini, reading real books, and the quiet discipline that turns good habits into lasting performance. Whether you’re chasing a Masters best time, trying to stay pain-free, or craving a fresh training spark, you’ll find practical ideas you can apply at your next practice.

If this conversation gave you a boost, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review on Apple to help more swimmers find us. Your support keeps the momentum flowing—see you on deck.
Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com