2026 Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic
- January 30-February 1, 2026
- Rosen Aquatic and Fitness Center, Orlando, Florida
- Short Course Meters (25 meters)
- Live Meet Results (also on Meet Mobile)
Mary T. (Meagher) Plant broke a second individual World Record and contributed to a second relay World Record on Sunday at the Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic.
In the 100 fly, she swam 1:06.30, to crack almost a second and a half off the old record of 1:07.79. The prior record was set in 2024 by American Ellen Reynolds, a Masters swimming legend who dominates the 60-64 age group record books.
That swim followed Plant’s 200 fly World Record of 2:36.16 in the 200 fly on Saturday, which knocked almost four seconds off that World Record.
Plant also swam 28.95 in the 50 free, missing the World Record of 28.13, and swam a leg of a winning and Meet-Record setting 200 free relay on Saturday.
Plant ended her meet combining with teammates to break a World Record in the 240-279 (combined ages) 400 meter free relay. The team’s final time of 4:20.00 crushed the old record of 4:23.64 set by American relay Team Redbird in 2024.
Plant, 62; Alison Hayden, 55; Erika Braun, 54; and Penny Noyes, 72; combined for the new record setting relay. Their combined ages are 243, based on ages at the end of the year (Plant has not actually had her birthday yet this year, but Masters swimming uses ages at the end of the year).
Mary T Meagher, Erika Braun, Alison Hayden, and Penny Noyes combined to break another World Record on Sunday. Courtesy: Erika Braun
That same quartet broke the record in the 800 free relay on Friday by more than 15 seconds.
After decades away from competition, Plant returned to the pool as a Masters swimmer in 2025, swimming at several meets across the country
During her professional career, Plant won five Olympic medals, including golds in the 100 fly, 200 fly, and 400 medley relay at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She accumulated nine World Championship medals as well, two of which were gold. She held the World Record in the 100-meter fly from 1980 until 1999 and the 200 fly from 1979 until 2000, setting those records when she was 15 and 14, respectively.
Her 200 fly time of 2:05.96 from 1981 remains the U.S. National Age Group Record in that event 44 years later, one of the oldest records on the books.
Steve shared a Mary T story via DP.
https://youtu.be/gHwG4nCsPuE
Mary T’s best LC 200m Fly time – from 1981 in a practice suit and no goggles – would have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
I wonder what time she would have put up if she had that Arena suit at Brown Deer…
Without any other changes whatsoever, probably 2:03.5?
Not kidding modern day stuff she either would have had the WR until 09’ or she’d still have it.
And goggles. And legit lane lines. And average underwaters for this era…
She looks great and is swimming fast. Good for her!
Looking great for 62! She and Janet Evans were my favorite swimmers of that era, both legends!
Mary T drinking the fountain of youth! Would be interesting to see other all-time greats make a comeback at age 60. What do you say, Janet Evans?!
Lakeside proud.
Inspiring!
BTW, the article refers to her “professional” career, but I think in her era top-level elite swimmers were not professional, at least not in the sense of making money. Olympic athletes were still required to be amateurs in the late 70s/early 80s.
Correct, until 1988 Olympians were amateurs. After 1988 you could earn pro dollars, but they went into a trust fund managed by the USOC (wasn’t the USOPC back then). With more athlete advocacy, the USOC relinquished their power over monies earned, the trust fund ended, and Olympians were allowed to receive monies earned directly as professional athletes.