Swim in community

Swimming has long been a prohibitive sport to marginalized athletes– including trans+, BIPOC, and fat/plus size swimmers. Swim Affinity Nights aim to reduce these barriers by providing access in a relatively safer setting– a coached swim practice and dedicated pool time open only to swimmers who share a given identity.

Upcoming Swim Affinity Nights:

• Trans+ Affinity Night - 6/10/26, 7:30pm
• Trans+ Affinity Night - 6/24/26, 7:30pm
• Fat/Plus Size affinity night - Dates coming soon!
• BIPOC affinity night - Dates coming soon!

Who it’s for: Trans, fat, and BIPOC swimmers of all levels who meet the following criteria: Are comfortable navigating a 25 yard pool with a deep end and have a basic understanding of the freestyle swim stroke.

How it’s structured: On any given Swim Affinity Night, between 1-3 lanes will be dedicated to each of the following (all participants can choose the lane/option they’re interested in):

1. Swim fundamentals lesson - A 1-hour lesson on swimming basics. On any given night, topics that might be covered include body position, breathing, freestyle kick, freestyle pull, basic drills, lane etiquette, flip turns, and more. If you’re interested in building the skills required for lap swimming or participating on a masters team, this is a great option for you!
2. Masters swim workout - A 1-hour, 2000-3000 yard workout featuring a combination of aerobic, sprint, stroke-specific and technique sets– akin to a typical USMS workout. If you have past swimming experience and want a structured practice, this is the option for you!
3. Unstructured lane time - Open lane time for continuous swimming of your own workout/at your own pace. A great option for folks who already understand swimming basics and want to be in the water but don’t want a highly structured practice.

Location: Matt Dishman Community Center | 77 NE Knott St. Portland OR 97212

Cost: $10 per person

FAQ

I don’t have any formal swimming experience– can I still join?

Yes! As long as you have a basic understanding of the freestyle swim stroke, this event is for you! Past experience with swim lessons or on a swim team is not required. 

What does an affinity group setting look like in a community center?

The MDCC pool (6-lane lap pool) will be open only to our group. The rest of the community center, including the locker rooms, will be open to other patrons. 

What is the locker room situation?

MDCC has women’s and men’s locker rooms as well as all-user restrooms/changing rooms which can be unlocked at the request of a staff person at the front desk. 

Is there an age requirement?

Swim Affinity Nights are open to swimmers age 13 and older.

How much does it cost?

$10 per swimmer. If cost is a barrier, send us an email at masters@swimpac.org