International Highlights: 43 FINA/World Aquatics WORLD RECORDS (16 Long Course, 27 Short Course); 147 WORLD TOP TEN Rankings in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place over 15 years in all strokes (Long Course: 34 #1, 15 #2, 4 #3 & Short Course: 59 #1, 25 #2, 10 #3); WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (2014, 4 silver & 1 bronze); WORLD POINTS: 1612; Competed in four (4) AGE GROUPS (60-64 through 75-79). (Statistics as of December 31, 2023.)
Diann Uustal was taught to swim by her grandmother, Ruth Coburn, at the age of six in the icy ocean waters of Rhode Island and began chlorinated competition at the age of eight, continuing to compete through her high school years where she was a Rhode Island and New England Champion.
In college Diann pursued nursing as her professional passion, but its rigorous university curriculum precluded her opportunity to swim. While working as a lifeguard, she met her future husband, Tom Uustal, who encouraged her to compete again during her senior year of college.
Marriage, career, and children kept her dry until 1977, when she was introduced to Masters Swimming. She immediately made a big splash, winning several titles in her age group at the 1979 USMS Nationals in Fort Lauderdale. But career and family pulled her away from the pool again. While raising two daughters, she became a nationally and internationally recognized educator, ethicist, author, and lecturer as well as a professor of nursing and ethical bioethics.
Then in 2003, Diann‘s car was rear-ended by another car going 60 miles an hour. Doctors told her she would never walk again. Her initial rehab was in a pool. Swimming, she says, is the entire reason she was able to recover. While still recovering from that injury, she took a devastating fall on a slippery floor in a public restroom. She broke her shoulder and tore her rotator cuff, but most devastating was that she also tore all three hamstrings off her hip. She underwent several surgeries, and once again, doctors prescribed swimming for rehabilitation. For her it was emotionally settling and beautiful to return to the water. After not competing for 17 years, she began entering Masters meets in 2009 in the 60+ age group.
Since then, Diann has consistently been a top performer, a world record-breaker, and a regular competitor in USMS Nationals, YMCA Nationals, Canadian Nationals, and FINA/World Aquatics Masters World Championships.
Diann loves the training, enjoys the demands of the hard workouts, and is always mindful of ways to improve in the water. She credits her childhood coach, Bud Latham, for teaching her excellent technique for the time, and her current coach, Rick Walker of the Sarasota Sharks, for introducing her to modern training methods and techniques.Recently, Diann has been dealing with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and debilitating neck, back, and joint injuries that cause persistent pain. During her life, Diann has proven to be an ‘overcomer’ and is quick to share that without her faith, and the love, sacrifice, and incredible support and encouragement from her husband, Tom, and her entire athletic family, she would not be the swimmer she is today!