Karlyn Pipes Swimming Accomplishments (pool and open water)
August 2022, Karlyn set two FINA Masters World records 60-64 age group 100m back and 400m IM in Mission Viejo, CA
July 2022, Karlyn was second female overall out of 650 at the Across the Lake Swim in Kelowna, BC, Canada
April 2022, at the age of 60, Karlyn was first out of the water at the Lavaman Triathlon, Waikloa HI
April 2022, Karlyn set four FINA Masters World records 60-64 age group 100m fly, 50/100/200m Back in Surry, BC Canada
May 2022, Karlyn set two FINA Masters World records 60-64 age group 50/200m back in Tunis, Tunisia
June 2022, Karlyn was third woman overall and 13th out of 223 at the Hapuna 1-mile Rough Water Swim
Inducted into the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame class of 2018
Inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) class of 2015
International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF) class of 2007
Pipes still holds Masters World Records from the 20th century!
Voted by Swimming World Magazine Top 12 World Masters Swimmer of the Year in 2017
In 2017 Karlyn set 10 FINA Masters World and 20 USMS National records for the 55-59 age-group
Set SIX FINA Masters World records for 55-59 age-group in Europe January 2017
Set FOUR FINA Masters World records for the 55-59 age-group in San Diego July 2017
Voted TOP TEN Masters swimmer of All-Time by Swimming World Magazine
Has set 233 FINA Masters world records to date, 33 records still stand as of Jan. 1, 2019!
Has set over 352 U.S. Masters National records to date
Currently holds 28 FINA Masters World and 64 U.S. Masters National records
Karlyn has set a FINA World and US National Records in every stroke!
Karlyn’s records stand the test of time spanning SIX age-groups: 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49,50-54 & 55-59
8 USMS Long Distance Records for 35-39 & 40-44 (3,000 yd., 6,000 yd, 5k & 1-hour postal)
2012 World Masters Swimmer of the Year voted by Swimming World Magazine
2009, 2008, 2007 & 2004 World Masters Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine
Female U.S. Masters Swimmer of the Year 1997, 2002& 2003
Top Ten Masters Swimmer of the Year 1994 to 1998, 2000, 2002 & 2003
611 time USMS All-American achieved by earning #1 national ranking in an event
18-time USMS All-Star achieved by earning the most #1 rankings in an age-group in a year
Cover of SWIM Magazine April 2005, February 1998 and September 1995
Cover of Fitness Swimmer Magazine, October 1997
Collegiate and USA Swimming
Swam for Cal State Bakersfield on a full-athletic scholarship in 1998 at age 35
NCAA Division II record holder in 200-yard backstroke from 1998 to 2001 with a time of 2:00.54
Oldest athlete to set and/or hold an NCAA record at the age of 35 in 1998
Won three events at NCAA Division II championships 100/200 back, 400 medley 1998
8 time NCAA Div. II All-American for CSUB
Set 4 National Community College and 5 State Community College records in 1996-1997
Set 12 Palomar College school records and two-time Student-Athlete of the year 1996-97
2-time Pacific College Conference Swimmer of the Year
San Diego Hall of Champions Amateur Star of the Month 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000 & 2002
A USA National Qualifier 1995-2000 and 2004 (placing 10th 200 back in both 1996 and 1998)
Triathlon and Aquathlon
Silver medal 2021 USAT Aquathlon National Championships 55-59 age group Long Beach, CA
Bronze medal 2013 ITU World Aquathlon (1k swim, 5k run) Championships, London, UK
Three-time 50-54 age-group winner 2013, 2014 and 2015 at Lavaman Waikoloa Olympic Distance Triathlon
2nd female overall at the Hilo Olympic distance triathlon 2014
2012 USAT Aquathlon (1.5k swim, 10k run) National Champion
Open-Water Swimming
First Masters Overall and Sicilian Regional Champion at the Sicilia Open Water Grand Prix, Italy Sept. 2021
First woman (at age 56) and 13th overall (out of 1,110) in the Across the Lake Swim in Kelowna, BC, July 2018
First woman (at age 55) and fifth over at the Cinco de Mayo Splash, May 2017
Fifth place OVERALL at the 2016 Hapuna Rough Water Swim at age 54
Overall Winner-Kukio Blue Water 1.2 mile swim 2004 & 2006 and overall female winner 2004 to 2008, 2011
Top female, 2nd overall & new course record Hapuna RWS 2004-2010 (Hawaii)
Top female & new course record for the 1.2 King Swim, July 10th 2004, 2008 (Hawaii)
2004 Maui Channel Swim Overall Winning Team RCP Milers (Hawaii)
Overall Winner for the 2004 Cinco De Mayo Splash 1-mile swims at Waikoloa (Hawaii)
2nd female and 12th finisher overall and division winner La Jolla Gatorman 3 mile 2003
1st Female 40-44 age group and 2nd overall 2003 USMS National 3k champs, Clemson, SC
Overall winner of Coronado Optimist One-mile Cable swim from 1995-2003
1999 5k Open-water USMS National Champion for 35-39 age group, Catalina Island
3-time overall (female) winner of the Gatorman 3-mile at La Jolla 1993, 1994 & 1996
Only swimmer to win “Daily-Double” Gatorman 3-mile/one mile swim combo 1994 & 1996
La Jolla Rough Water One-mile Swim Champion for 30-34 & 35-39 from 1994 to 2001
Overall (female) winner Coronado 4th of July Rough Water swim from 1994-2001
Overall winner & course record holder for Base-to-Base Military Swim from 1994-1998