Doris Prokopi, 62, learned to swim in her German school, at age 12. The only stroke they taught was breast. At age 21, she came to the United States. Her son, Eric, joined a swim team when he was seven. Doris supported his efforts by driving him to practice and to his swim meets,
until he became a college freshman at Gainesville. She says she learned alot about competitive swimming by watching Eric, although in all those years, she never got back in a pool. With Eric away at college, Doris missed the action in the pool. At age 56, Eric's coach at Brandon Blue Waves encouraged her to join Masters. This was the first she knew about this sport. Several months later, she swam in her first meet, in Tampa. She swam 10 events, won the high point award, and was hooked. Since then, she always swims the maximum number of events. She is a regular participant in the senior games, and in 1995, was the Florida Female Athlete of the Year. At the last three Sr. Nationals, she frequently placed in the top 6, her highest medal being 3rd in the 100 m breast. In Nov., 1996, she was one of the founders of the Florida Maverick Masters. She competed in the last two LCM Nationals, and has enjoyed the excitement and fun with her new team. She placed in all of her events, her best being a 3rd in the 100 m fly. She practices in Tampa, 3000 yds, 5 days a week. She lives in Land O'Lakes with her husband, Bill and son, Eric.

back to history | back to newsletter