Janet is a well-known face around a deck, both as a coach and a swimmer. Starting her life in the water at the age of eight years with Warrender Baths Club and excelling at all the strokes.
After finishing school, a move to Newcastle Uni to study Mathematics and swim for the University. Following a move to Lancaster to obtain a PHD in Psychology she moved to Glasgow, swimming Nomads before moving to Glenrothes in 1988.
A first Scottish record (While swimming for Incas was set in 2002 achieved in 25 – 29 years age group in the 200m butterfly.
After a hiatus from swimming when her children were born, Janet returned to swimming in 2008, using the public lanes in the early mornings. There were a few in the lanes training for masters’ events, a couple of these were Wendy Szaranek and Lara Ferguson who roped Janet into an upcoming relay event.
This led to a move to Carnegie where she is now embedded in the club as a coach and successful masters’ swimmer, enjoying the longer distance events, specifically 200m fly, 400m IM and 400m freestyle, (not so keen on the breaststroke though!).
Many records have been broken as she moved through the masters’ age groups and won ‘bling’ in the 2025 World Masters’ Championships held in Singapore, specifically Gold in the 200m fly and silver in both the 400m IM and the 400m Freestyle.
When asked about her motivation her reply is ‘best way to start the day’.
East District takes great pleasure in awarding Life Membership to Janet McLean.