The CSLA (Côte Saint Luc Aquatics) swimmer has been immersed in the sport for 30 years, but this year she adds a new distinction to her name: recipient of the Masters Swimming Excellence Award, presented to swimmers who have demonstrated consisten and outstanding results at the highest levels of competition in Masters Swimming.
The award recognizes not just results, but a spirit of dedication, sportsmanship and love for the sport—qualities Lowensteyn embodies in and out of the pool. It’s being presented at this weekend’s Speedo Canadian Masters Championships, running Friday through Sunday in Saskatoon. A total of 479 swimmers from 79 clubs are competing across a range of age groups in a celebration of swimming as a lifestyle of fitness and health.
“I have always been involved in swimming,” she said. “I swam from age nine to 17. I coached in my 20s and even did research on swimmers for my masters and PhD. After grad school, I started swimming laps at a local pool, and they happened to have a masters team. I joined their team after about six months of swimming on my own.”
That decision turned into a defining chapter of Lowensteyn’s life.
Since then, she’s added plenty of accolades to her resume, including an extensive list of provincial records across at least three age groups; and she’s a Canadian record holder in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay—a record made even more memorable by the fact she earned it alongside her husband, Michael, whom she met at a masters swim meet.
“It is so much fun doing relays with your partner, and getting a Canadian record together just adds to the fun,” Lowensteyn says. “We’re waiting for our kids to join so we can break a record as a family.”
Lowensteyn never misses a practice, is always among the first to sign up for provincial and national competitions and continues to shine across multiple age categories.
Her presence is a constant at meets, but it’s her off-deck contributions that speak equally to her character. She helps organize team lunches, volunteers at youth swim meets, and is known for lifting the spirits of everyone around her.
Lowensteyn shows up for everyone—and it’s clear the Masters swimming community has also shown up for her.
“They are my people,” she says. “Being involved in the sport my entire life, I feel so comfortable with these interesting, fun, and down-to-earth people.
“Canada has some of the top female Masters swimmers in the world, so it is a real honour to be recognized,” she says. “To receive an award for something that you love to do is just icing on the cake.”