Masters swimmers in the greater Boston area who enjoy open water swimming will have no doubt crossed paths with Jennifer Downing at some point over the last two decades. The welcoming and talented open water swimmer and volunteer’s lengthy resume of high-performance in open water is certainly impressive:

Downing finished first overall in the 2021 Boston Light Swim. She has also been a frequent supporter of the event, crewing for Tommy Gainer, Lauren Au, Helen Lin, Jessica Stokes, Alana Aubin, and others over the years.
On August 10, 2023, Downing completed the first one-way Nantasket to Nahant Solo Swim, sanctioned and observed by the Massachusetts Open Water Swimming Association. Her course record of 4:05:01 still stands.
The long-time Swim Across America supporter has been involved with the organization since 2006 and serves as a leading member of the SAA Boston Organizing Committee. She had been an angel swimmer, top fundraiser, and volunteer coordinator for many years for both SAA Boston and SAA Rhode Island.
Downing serves as a kayak captain for the 1-mile Charles River Swim every year.
Downing has competed and podiumed at a range of local races over the years including the Maspee SuperSwim, the Salem Wildish and Salem Swim & Fin events, the Nubble Light Challenge, and many others.
She has also taken her enthusiastic support of other open water swimmers on the road; in 2015, she crewed for Maura Twomey in her successful solo crossing of the English Channel and supported Dori Miller on her several swims in that storied waterway.

Beyond open water, Downing is a fierce pool competitor who has represented New England Masters at USMS Nationals more than 13 times and competed at FINA World Masters Championships four times. She’s notched more than 150 Top 10 times and achieved All-American and All-Star honors.

Ever the volunteer, Downing has served as the Open Water Sanctions Chair, LMSC Postals Chair, and Secretary for the New England LMSC. She currently works for Harvard University as Associate Director of Development, Athletics overseeing all aspects of stewardship for Athletics. She’s been involved in numerous capital projects to develop and renovative athletic facilities and groups on campus and has been instrumental in securing 15 head coach endowments along with numerous endowment funds supporting 42 varsity programs and additional club teams.

As an undergraduate at Wellesley College, Downing was a four-year Academic All-American swimmer and senior captain. She served two years on the school’s Student-Athletes Advisory Committee and worked special events for the department of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics.

The Charles River Masters Swim Club member served as social chair for the club (formerly Cambridge Masters at Harvard University) for more than 12 years. Downing coordinated social events, post-meet functions, and organized the annual coaches' gifts. She joined the New England Masters Board of Directors as Swim Coordinator in December 2018.