I've been swimming with the Chicago Smelts for more than seven years. And for seven years, the Smelts have been a second family. I've seen countless friendships forged and have even attended a few Smelts weddings--including a couple who met on the team. I've also seen people across ages, swimming abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, geographic, ethnic and religious backgrounds come together to swim and cheer each other on. We have hardcore competitive athletes and causal fitness swimmer who come to practices when they can. They've all been welcomed and, generally, treated with respect. We have a big team, but it doesn't feel that way. The camaraderie exists at the lane level and the team level. You can be as involved as you want--whether simply attending practices from time to time or helping plan the annual pride parade decorations. The only expectation is that you be nice and swim. I mean, you need to know how to swim and follow lane etiquette, but let's start with you joining us for a practice. Pop by and decide for yourself if you want to join. Hope to see you there! read more

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Wow a 1 star review and the things said in that review are extremely upsetting. First off if you need to mention the word insecure 4 times in a review it makes me question how insecure they may be themselves. I am an aquatic professional and not only have I been a part of a few masters swim teams I have also been in charge of a few. The biggest thing about the chicago smelts is how unique they are. Here are few interesting facts about the Smelts: 1. Most masters teams are a program within a club, gym, YMCA, etc. Smelts is it's own entity 2. It is a non profit organization. It is not about making money and if any money is left over we always give back to the community. New lane lines to an out door pool we frequent, money to help with the swim team at Gill park, donation made to other local charities. We even do fundraising at events to help raise extra money for this reason. 3. It is run by volunteers. Everyone who coaches puts their time and energy in for the team. it is run by a board of members and not one single coach is paid. This means they do it because they love it. It's not just another job for them. 4. It's a family. Lots of teams I've seen it's people paying for a service. You go in, get your coached workout and then leave. That's it. Do not expect that from this team. There are some pretty close connections with the members of this team. Best friends formed, marriages, etc. have been created through this team. Some people rely on the friends they have found on this team as if they were family. There are always non sponsored events happening. Once a month a group of people plan a monthly 5K. Do we always get along with everyone, NO. Why should you. There are a ton of people on this team and if everyone got along with everyone then I think we would have found world peace by now. Gill park is a park district pool we utilize but it is not ours. We have no control of how the locker rooms, showers, pool area is run. That is all up to the Chicago Park District. We do our best to try and help out. Remember the raising money I talked about earlier well that's helped pay for some of the improvements made in the facility. We do what we can to help out but in the end it's up to the City of Chicago. I have been on this team for about 6 years and never have I seen a group of committed individuals as this one here. when you talk about goals for state meets many people do not list their times as their goal but how many new people they can meet in the weekend. If you are looking for a team that has no passion, you just want to go in and out without making friends along the way, you want everything to be done for you and want nothing to do with anything that requires the littlest bit of your time and energy outside of the pool then this may not be the place for you. We are about living life, making friends, having fun, and enjoying adventures together. read more

I moved to Chicago from NYC in October 2016, and my first Smelts practice was the first time I felt at home since I'd moved. I was a high school and college swimmer, but after a decade my swimming skills were pretty rusty. However, the team is incredibly welcoming and inclusive to all regardless of identification or swimming ability. You can try out a couple practices for free, and then decide to be as involved as you want to be. Gill park has its quirks, but has a great location and keeps it inexpensive to participate with the team. Nothing but rave reviews from me! read more

I'm so surprised to see the review from CR below. I have had the BEST experience with the Smelts since I joined in the fall of 2015. The team is incredibly welcoming, friendly, and competitive. As a former college swimmer, it's a team that keeps practices fun and challenging and makes sure that everyone of every ability level has a great environment to swim in. On top of that, the team has access to two pools since I've been with them. Gill Park is the year-round option which isn't perfect but it gets the job done and then Jones College Prep during the school year which is an awesome pool. In the summer, there are always groups finding public lap swim times for team swims at Holstein Park and Portage Park. In addition, the team makes a point to support local groups (including the pools we swim in) and has regular social events/activities welcome to everyone. The team is not only LGBT friendly, it's LGBT proud! We have a great mix of people from all walks of life, and the team celebrates that regularly. If you're looking for a great masters team with awesome coaches, look no further! read more

I had moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern Law School, and I was excited about swimming with this team. Little did I know that it would be my worst Masters Swimming experience. I did meet a handful of nice people on this team, and the only coach that I liked was Steve (very cool guy), if only the rest could be like him. I sensed insecurity rather than a gay welcoming atmosphere that I had hoped for. One day before practice had begun, I said "Hi Chris" to one of the coaches, and he rolled his eyes and rudely looked the other way, rather than saying hi back. I found him to be unfriendly and unpleasant. There were 2 board members on this swimming team when I was there; both were unfriendly. During a social event, one of the board members, Victoria, told me in the most bitter tone, that she thought Northwestern Law students were "groomed" to get into that law school, and they likely got in because their "daddies had a wing named after them." I found her to be incredibly bitter. One day during practice Victoria punched me in my arm and said "get your shit together" because I wasn't swimming according to her instructions, like I cared for her stupid instructions. It's a Masters Swimming team and I was there to have fun, and there's nothing wrong with the way I swim, because I am aware of pool etiquette. She on the other hand is clearly not aware that she's not supposed to talk in that fashion to her academic superiors, or anyone else for that matter. I have never encountered that type of low class behavior on any other swim team, and I have swam with Master Swimming teams at Harvard, UC Berkeley, etc. In my opinion, I think that Victoria felt insecure because she was a Ph.D. student in English at Loyola University and not at Northwestern, which is absurd, because it shouldn't matter which university one attends. However, it absolutely doesn't justify her outrageously rude behavior. Interestingly, after this incident, I looked up top English programs & Berkeley is the #1 English program in the country (my alma mater). One of the swimmers on the Chicago Smelts team told me that many swimmers leave the smelts swim team after swimming with them for a short period, and NOW I KNOW WHY. Besides that, I found the Gill Park pool to be one of worst pools that I have swam in. The lines on the bottom of the pool were not aligned with the lane lines, in the locker room there was no machine to dry my swimsuit in, and the showers were too hot, it was as if there wasn't any cold water. I quit this swim team and joined the Lakeview Athletic Club, which was full of nice people, great pool, nice lockers rooms, plus they gave Northwestern students a discount. I contacted United States Masters Swimming because I wanted Victoria suspended from the team, but they don't govern individual teams, so I contacted the Gill Park manager, but sadly he doesn't regulate this team. So my only recourse was to contact the other board member who told me that Victoria doesn't recall the incident. I don't buy that crap for one second. I don't recommend the Chicago Smelts Swimming Team to any one. I would never want to swim with this team again, nor would I ever want to befriend some of the people I met on this team. I am in New York City now, at Columbia University, and I have had the privilege of meeting nothing but smart, confident and classy people. I love New York and I hope I never meet another bitter person like Victoria again. I feel sorry for her. read more

As a veteran Masters Coach and seasoned masters swimmer not only do Chicago Smelts do a fantastic job managing to get their large membership serviced ALL BY VOLUNTEER COACHES AND BOARD MEMBERS, they do good work in the community. Their generosity of time and spirit has always impressed me so much so that the moment I left my masters coaching position of 20 years, I joined the Smelts on the spot. If you're looking for a country club masters team or a posh pool with posh locker rooms, this might not be the team for you. What Smelts offer in camaraderie and team spirit far out weighs having to carry my own towel to the pool. read more