Sports
Consistency in Masters Swimming: Thomas Kinugawa and APMN's Journey
Discover how discipline and adaptability drive longevity and success in aquatic sports.
Thomas Kinugawa, a legendary figure in Brazilian masters swimming and leader of APMN, shares his philosophy on consistency, mental and physical health, and the behind-the-scenes of a successful circuit. His conversation on Natação Stemma reveals how a passion for the sport can transform lives, even after 60, and the evolution of competitions for mature athletes.
On the Natação Stemma podcast, hosts Samir Barel and Wanderley Santos welcome Thomas Kinugawa, a true reference in Brazilian masters swimming. With a career marked by passion and dedication, Thomas shares his experiences as an athlete, APMN manager, and above all, an example of sports longevity driven by consistency.
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Consistency: The Secret to an Active Life in Masters Swimming
Thomas Kinugawa, who started swimming at 14, transformed swimming into an inseparable part of his life. His passion for the sport not only led him to represent Brazil in various masters world championships, achieving South American records, but also helped him overcome personal challenges. He reveals how swimming was crucial in fighting depression and maintaining enviable health, defying a genetic predisposition to heart problems. Over 60 years old, Thomas swims five times a week and emphasizes: “If you woke up, train. If you didn't wake up, you don't need to train.” His philosophy prioritizes discipline over motivation, stating that habit sustains long-term performance.
Beyond the physical, Thomas highlights the importance of mental health, mentioning a study on Japanese people and their daily writing practice to preserve memory. He adopted the habit of writing for at least half an hour a day, a strategy to keep his brain active and improve information retention, showing that the body is an integrated system.
APMN: Nearly Three Decades of Competition and Adaptation
Leading the Associação Paulista Master de Natação (APMN) since 2000, Thomas Kinugawa details the circuit's 29-year history. Inspired by João Sasaki, his goal has always been to keep masters swimmers active throughout the year, encouraging the practice of various strokes and not just specialization. “Old people have to swim medley,” he jokes, reinforcing the need to change strategies to keep the body and mind active.
One of the biggest challenges in organizing the circuit is finding pools that meet FINA standards, as many traditional pools do not have the correct dimensions. Another crucial point is officiating. Thomas demands excellence and respect, stressing that while it's difficult to disqualify an athlete, rules must be applied with integrity to ensure the competition's credibility. He also mentions the evolution of swimmers' characteristics, with an increase in distance and middle-distance athletes, and the need to adapt the circuit to include more events like 400m, 800m, and even 1500m.
Performance, Nutrition, and Mind: The Complete Masters Athlete
Thomas Kinugawa maintains a strong competitive drive, constantly seeking performance improvement. He sees his training partners not as adversaries, but as friends and motivators to be better. The pursuit of new challenges, such as swimming events in different strokes (from backstroke to freestyle) and testing the Marathon Triple Crown, serves as a stimulus to continue evolving.
Nutrition plays a fundamental role in this lifestyle. Thomas emphasizes that “the best way to age is to eat well” and highlights the importance of adequate nutrition to sustain exercise and general health. The conversation also addresses the importance of collaboration among different sports organizations, such as APMN and FAP, which should act as partners and complements to strengthen swimming as a whole.
At the end of the interview, Thomas shares a valuable lesson: "settle things with life." He advocates that everyone should take care of themselves – eat well, sleep well, exercise – or, if they choose not to, be at peace with that decision. The life of a masters athlete is a testament that, with passion and commitment, it's possible to defy the limits of time and inspire everyone to seek their best version, in and out of the water.
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